How much does Claude cost? The plans explained

The free tier

On claude.ai, a free account gives access to Claude with usage limits: a capped message volume and, at peak times, sometimes a switch to a lighter model. It is enough to try the tool and for occasional use, but you hit the ceiling quickly under heavy use.

Personal plans (Pro, Max)

Paid personal plans — Pro, then Max — raise quotas, give priority access to the most capable models and unlock more features, including heavier use of Claude Code. Max is the most generous plan for power users. These are subscriptions, typically monthly or annual.

Team and enterprise use

For organizations, Anthropic offers plans designed for teams and enterprise, with user management and suitable assurances. The exact scope and terms live on Anthropic's dedicated pages. See also our guide to Claude for enterprise for the overall picture.

The API, billed per token

For developers, the API is billed per usage, per token (input + output), independently of claude.ai subscriptions. Real cost depends on the model: fast tiers like Haiku are far cheaper than an Opus model. It is the option that scales, but it means watching your consumption. See our API guide.

How much does Claude cost?

Claude has a free tier on claude.ai (with limits), paid personal subscriptions (Pro then Max) that raise quotas and model access, team/enterprise plans, and a per-token API. Amounts change: check them on anthropic.com.

Is there a free version of Claude?

Yes, on claude.ai, with usage limits. For heavy use, a paid plan (Pro or Max) quickly lifts the ceilings.

How does pricing differ between models on the API?

Cost depends on the model: fast tiers like Haiku are far cheaper than an Opus model. Billing is per token, on input and output.

Which plan should I choose?

Occasional use: free is enough. Heavy daily use: Pro or Max. Integration into an app: the API. Check anthropic.com for current pricing.