Updated November 2026. Yes, Claude is free to use. Anyone can sign up at claude.ai and chat with Claude on the web, in the desktop app for Mac, Windows and Linux, and on iPhone and Android without paying. The free plan has usage limits that reset every few hours and leaves out some features, such as Claude Code, Opus models and Research. If you use Claude every day for work, you will probably hit those limits and want Pro.
What the free Claude plan includes
- Chat on the web, desktop apps and mobile apps
- A capable Claude model for writing, analysis, coding help and brainstorming
- Uploading documents and images for Claude to read
- Web search with links to sources
- File creation and code execution, so Claude can produce spreadsheets, documents and charts
- Memory of earlier conversations
- Artifacts, plus Claude’s slides, docs and design tools
What needs a paid plan
- Claude Code, Anthropic’s agentic coding tool (Pro and above)
- Opus models for the hardest tasks (Pro and above), and Fable (Max and Ultra)
- Research for deep, multi-source reports
- Projects for keeping files and instructions together
- Cowork, which hands off multi-step tasks and runs scheduled tasks
- Claude in Chrome and Claude for Microsoft 365
- Higher usage limits and priority access when demand is high
How the free usage limits work
Anthropic does not publish a fixed number of free messages. Your allowance depends on how long your messages are, how many files you attach and how long the conversation has grown. Long chats with big documents use more of your limit, because Claude rereads the whole conversation each time you send a message. Limits reset on a rolling basis every few hours.
When you get close to the limit, Claude shows a warning and the time your allowance resets. Everything you use in Claude (chat, the desktop app and mobile) draws from the same allowance.
Free vs Pro vs Max vs Ultra
| Free | Pro | Max | Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (US) | $0 | $20/month, or $17/month billed yearly | $100/month | $200/month |
| Usage | Base limits | More than Free | 5x Pro | 10x Pro weekly, no 5-hour limit for verified accounts |
| Opus models | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fable | No | No | Yes, up to half of weekly limits | Yes |
| Claude Code | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Research and Projects | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly API credits | No | No | $100 | $200 |
| Best for | Occasional use | Daily professional use | Power users and developers | All-day heavy use |
Teams can choose Claude Team ($25 per seat monthly, or $20 billed yearly) with admin controls and Claude Code included. Prices were checked in November 2026 and may differ in your country. See Claude’s pricing page for current details.
Is the Claude API free?
No. The Claude API is pay-as-you-go and separate from the chat plans. You buy credits in the Claude Console. The exception is Max and Ultra, which now include $100 and $200 of API credits a month. Follow our guide on how to get a Claude API key.
How to get more out of Claude for free
- Start new chats often. Long conversations eat your allowance faster. When you change topic, open a new chat.
- Share only what matters. Upload the pages or sections you need instead of a 300-page PDF.
- Batch your questions. Ask three related questions in one message rather than three separate messages.
- Write precise prompts. Clear instructions mean fewer retries. Our prompting guide shows how.
- Mix tools. Use Claude for writing and analysis, and another free assistant for quick lookups. See our list of the best AI chatbots and assistants.
Is Claude Pro worth it?
Pro is worth it if you hit the free limit more than a couple of times a week, need Claude Code, work with large documents regularly, or rely on Claude for client work. It also adds Research, Projects, Opus models and Cowork. If you only use AI now and then, the free plan is enough.
Compare Claude with its main rival in Claude vs ChatGPT, and learn the basics in What is Claude AI?
Free alternatives to Claude
- ChatGPT Free: unlimited text chats, image generation and voice, with ads in many countries. See ChatGPT plans explained.
- Google Gemini: free and built into Google apps.
- Perplexity: free answers with sources for research. See Perplexity vs ChatGPT.
- DeepSeek: free reasoning help, with privacy caveats. See DeepSeek vs ChatGPT.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claude completely free?
The basic plan is free with usage limits. Pro, Max, Ultra, Team and Enterprise are paid.
Can I use Claude Code for free?
No. Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan or API credits.
How many messages can I send on Claude’s free plan?
There is no fixed number. It depends on message length, attachments and conversation length. Limits reset every few hours.
Does the free plan include the desktop app?
Yes. The Mac, Windows and Linux (beta) desktop apps and the mobile apps all work on the free plan.
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