Automate Basics

Claude Code: pricing, features and alternatives

Anthropic's agentic coding tool for the terminal, IDEs, desktop and web

CodingFrom $17/mo

Visit websitePricing page

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

Claude Code has no free plan. Paid plans start at $17 a month billed annually (Claude Pro).

PlanPriceWhat you get
Claude Pro$20/month, or $17/month billed annuallyIncludes Claude Code
Claude Max$100/month (5x) or $200/month (20x)5x or 20x Pro usage
TeamStandard $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 ratesAdmin spend limits, SCIM, audit logs
Anthropic Console (API)Pay per token at API ratesFor example Sonnet 5 at $2 input / $10 output per million tokens

Prices in US dollars as published on Claude Code's pricing page on 23 September 2026. Vendors change prices often; check theirs before you buy. Current prices

Claude Code alternatives

OpenAI Codex

OpenAI's coding agent for the terminal, IDEs, desktop app and cloud

CodingFree plan · from $8/mo

Cursor

AI code editor with agents that write and change code

CodingFree plan · from $20/mo

GitHub Copilot

GitHub's AI coding assistant for code completion, chat, agents and review

CodingFree plan · from $10/mo

Devin Desktop

AI code editor from Cognition, renamed Devin Desktop in June 2026

CodingFree plan · from $20/moFormerly Windsurf

Mistral Vibe

Mistral AI's assistant for chat, work tasks and coding, now called Vibe

Chat assistantsFree plan · from $14.99/moFormerly Le Chat

Lovable

AI app and website builder that creates apps from chat prompts

App buildersFree plan · from $21/mo

Compare Claude Code with these side by side

Head to head: Claude Code vs OpenAI Codex · Claude Code vs GitHub Copilot

Guides that use Claude Code

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, or $17 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 the pages below, read on the dates shown: Anthropic's own pages first, and a named public reference where they are silent.

  1. code.claude.com/docs/en/overview (what it does, surfaces, install options, access requirements) read 23 September 2026
  2. claude.com/product/claude-code (pricing and surfaces) read 23 September 2026
  3. claude.com/pricing (plan prices, Claude Code inclusion by plan, API prices) read 23 September 2026
  4. support.claude.com/en/articles/11049741-what-is-the-max-plan (Max 5x and Max 20x prices) read 23 September 2026
  5. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropic (company founded and headquarters) read 23 September 2026

Compiled by from the sources above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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