Claude Code
Anthropic's agentic coding tool for the terminal, IDEs, desktop and web
What is Claude Code?
Claude Code is Anthropic's coding agent. It reads a codebase, edits files, runs commands and works with git to create commits and pull requests. It runs in the terminal, in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, in the Claude desktop app and on the web, and is included in paid Claude plans or billed through an Anthropic Console account.
Good for
- Fixing a bug by pasting in the error message
- Writing tests and updating dependencies across a project
- Automating code review on GitHub
Key features
- Reads the codebase, edits files and runs commands
- Creates commits, branches and pull requests
- Connects to external tools through MCP
- Project instructions in CLAUDE.md files, plus skills and hooks
- Parallel subagents and scheduled routines
- GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD and Slack integrations
Limitations to know about
- Not included in the free Claude plan
- Usage counts against the same limits as the Claude subscription
- The desktop app requires a paid subscription
Claude Code pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Pro | $20/month, or $17/month billed annually | Includes Claude Code |
| Claude Max | $100/month (5x) or $200/month (20x) | 5x or 20x Pro usage |
| Team | Standard $25/seat/month ($20 billed annually); Premium $125/seat/month ($100 billed annually) | Claude Code on Standard and Premium seats |
| Enterprise | $20/seat/month billed annually, plus usage at API rates | Admin spend limits, SCIM, audit logs |
| Anthropic Console (API) | Pay per token at API rates | For example Sonnet 5 at $2 input / $10 output per million tokens |
Claude Code alternatives
OpenAI Codex
OpenAI's coding agent for the terminal, IDEs, desktop app and cloud
Cursor
AI code editor with agents that write and change code
GitHub Copilot
GitHub's AI coding assistant for code completion, chat, agents and review
Devin Desktop
AI code editor from Cognition, renamed Devin Desktop in June 2026
Mistral Vibe
Mistral AI's assistant for chat, work tasks and coding, now called Vibe
Lovable
AI app and website builder that creates apps from chat prompts
Head to head: Claude Code vs OpenAI Codex
Frequently asked questions
Is Claude Code free?
No, Claude Code does not have a free plan. Paid plans start at $17/mo billed annually.
How much does Claude Code cost?
Claude Code's cheapest paid plan, Claude Pro, costs $20 a month billed monthly and $17 a month billed annually. Claude Code is included in Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise and shares usage limits with the subscription. Annual Pro billing is $200 up front. Console accounts pay standard API rates instead. There is also an enterprise plan priced on request. Prices as published on Claude Code's pricing page on 23 September 2026.
What is Claude Code used for?
Claude Code is Anthropic's coding agent. People use it for fixing a bug by pasting in the error message, writing tests and updating dependencies across a project and automating code review on GitHub.
What are the alternatives to Claude Code?
Tools that do a similar job include OpenAI Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Devin Desktop and Mistral Vibe. Each has its own page here with its plans, limits and prices.
Who makes Claude Code?
Claude Code is made by Anthropic, based in San Francisco, California, US. The company was founded in 2021.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Anthropic's own pages, read on the dates shown.
- code.claude.com/docs/en/overview (what it does, surfaces, install options, access requirements) read 23 September 2026
- claude.com/product/claude-code (pricing and surfaces) read 23 September 2026
- claude.com/pricing (plan prices, Claude Code inclusion by plan, API prices) read 23 September 2026
- support.claude.com/en/articles/11049741-what-is-the-max-plan (Max 5x and Max 20x prices) read 23 September 2026
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropic (company founded and HQ) read 23 September 2026