Claude

Claude is a chat-based AI assistant made by Anthropic. It runs in a browser, as a desktop app, and on mobile, and you can sign in with Google, Apple, email, or single sign-on. Within a conversation it can search the web, create files, and run code, and it keeps memory across conversations so context carries over between sessions.

The Free plan covers the core chat experience on all platforms, plus connectors for linking your other apps and tools. Pro costs $17 per month with an annual subscription ($200 billed up front) or $20 billed monthly, and adds more usage, Projects, Claude Code, Claude Science, access to more Claude models, Claude in Chrome, and Claude in Microsoft 365. Pro also lets you hand off tasks and get back finished docs, slides, sheets, and designs. Max starts at $100 per month and is aimed at people who work with the assistant all day: it offers 5x or 20x more usage than Pro, higher output limits, early access to advanced features, and priority access at high-traffic times.

Anthropic lists several models behind the product — Opus, Sonnet, Haiku, Mythos, and Fable appear in its model lineup. Beyond the consumer app, there is a developer platform with an API and console, a marketplace of connectors and plugins, and team and enterprise plans organized around departments like customer support, legal, sales, and cybersecurity, plus industry-specific offerings for healthcare, government, education, and more.

Best for

• Writing, editing, and analysis in a chat interface on web, desktop, or mobile
• Developers who want Claude Code and an API for programming work
• Research that combines web search with file creation and code execution
• Pro and Max users handing off tasks that produce finished docs, slides, or sheets
• People who want the assistant connected to Chrome, Google Workspace, or Microsoft 365
• Anyone looking for a free AI chat with memory across conversations

Frequently asked questions

What is Claude?

A chat-based AI assistant from Anthropic. It works in a browser, a desktop app, and on mobile, and can search the web, create files, and run code from within a conversation.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. Free includes chat on web, desktop, and mobile, web search, file creation, code execution, memory across conversations, and app connectors, subject to usage limits.

How much does Pro cost?

$17 per month with an annual subscription ($200 billed up front) or $20 billed monthly. The Max plan starts at $100 per month. Anthropic notes that prices don't include tax and can change.

What does Max add over Pro?

Max offers a choice of 5x or 20x more usage than Pro, higher output limits for all tasks, early access to advanced features, and priority access when traffic is high.

Does it connect to other tools?

Yes. There is a marketplace of connectors and plugins, plus dedicated extensions: Claude in Chrome, Claude for Google Workspace, and Claude for Microsoft 365.

Is there an API for developers?

Yes. Anthropic provides a developer platform with an API, a console, and documentation, along with enterprise options for Claude Code.

Alternatives

• Triplo AI — an all-in-one AI assistant if you want productivity features working across multiple applications rather than one chat app.
• Afforai — for document-heavy research, it searches, summarizes, and translates across hundreds of documents at once.
• Brevy — a writing assistant focused on posts, replies, and DMs if quick contextual drafting is your main need.