Claude Code
Anthropic's terminal-first coding agent, bundled with Claude subscriptions.
Data profile only — not hands-on tested
| Vendor | Anthropic |
|---|---|
| Free tier | No free tier |
| Entry paid plan | $20/mo (Claude Pro) |
| Form | CLI, IDE extensions, web |
| Platforms | CLI (terminal) · VS Code extension · JetBrains extension · Web |
| Official site | https://claude.com/product/claude-code |
Claude Code is Anthropic's agent, and it is terminal-first: the CLI is the main surface, with VS Code and JetBrains extensions and a web surface alongside. Like OpenAI's Codex, it is not sold separately — it comes with a Claude subscription, or through pay-as-you-go API billing.
One fact shapes this whole profile: there is no free tier. Claude's free plan does not include Claude Code, so hands-on evaluation starts at a paid plan — which is also why this profile is data-only for now (see the test section below).
Claude Code pricing
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Pro | $20/mo | $17/mo on annual billing; includes Claude Code |
| Claude Max 5× | $100/mo | Includes Claude Code with a larger usage allowance |
| Claude Max 20× | $200/mo | Includes Claude Code with the largest allowance |
| API | Pay as you go | Usage-based API billing as an alternative to a subscription |
Prices read from the official pricing page on October 22, 2026. Vendors in this category change pricing often — check the official page before buying.
Free tier in detail
There is no free plan.
- Claude's free plan does not include Claude Code
- Access starts with a paid Claude plan (Pro and up), or with API pay-as-you-go billing
Features and form
- Terminal-native agent; IDE extensions and a web surface are the secondary surfaces
- Sold as part of the Claude subscription rather than as a standalone product
- API pay-as-you-go billing is available as an alternative to a subscription
Who Claude Code suits
- Terminal-centric developers who live in the shell
- Existing Claude subscribers who want the coding agent in the same plan
Our hands-on test
Data profile only for now — Claude Code has no free tier, and our benchmark protocol runs every tool on its standing free tier (see How We Test). Hands-on results will be added if that changes.
Pros and cons
Based on published product data (official pricing pages and documentation), not on hands-on use. Hands-on findings will be added here when the benchmark runs complete.
Pros
- One subscription covers Claude chat and the coding agent
- API pay-as-you-go is an alternative to seat subscriptions
- Terminal, IDE and web surfaces from one product
Cons
- No free tier — with Tabnine, one of only two tools here that cannot be tried free on a standing plan
- Hands-on evaluation requires paying for a plan first
Frequently asked questions
Is Claude Code free?
No. Claude's free plan does not include Claude Code. Access starts with Claude Pro at $20/month ($17/month billed annually), or through pay-as-you-go API billing.
How much does Claude Code cost?
It follows the Claude subscription: Pro $20/month, Max 5× $100/month and Max 20× $200/month, with API pay-as-you-go as an alternative. Prices read from Anthropic's official pricing page on October 22, 2026.
Is Claude Code only a terminal tool?
The CLI is the main surface, but Claude Code also offers VS Code and JetBrains extensions and a web surface.
Why is there no test score for Claude Code here?
Our benchmark runs every tool on its standing free tier, and Claude Code has no free tier. Until that changes, this profile is data-only and is labeled as such — we do not publish hands-on claims for tools we have not run.