Claude Code: what it is, how to install, and pricing

Claude Code is Anthropic's AI coding tool that works right in your terminal. Unlike a simple autocomplete, it is agentic: it reads your code, edits multiple files, runs commands, executes tests, and opens pull requests — all from natural-language instructions. This guide covers what it is, how to install it, what it costs, and whether it is worth it.

What is Claude Code?

Claude Code is an AI coding assistant that understands your entire project and acts on it. You describe a task in plain language and it plans the approach, writes the code across multiple files, and verifies it works. Beyond the terminal, it is also available as a VS Code and JetBrains extension, a desktop app, and on the web (claude.ai/code) — all powered by the same engine.

What is Claude Code used for?

It is built to take repetitive work off your plate and speed up development. In practice you can use it to:

• Build features and fix bugs by describing what you want
• Write tests, fix lint errors, and resolve merge conflicts
• Create commits and branches and open pull requests automatically
• Connect external tools via MCP (Jira, Slack, Google Drive, etc.)
• Automate workflows with hooks, skills, and subagents
• Run in CI/CD (GitHub Actions, GitLab) for code review and triage

How does it work in the terminal?

Once installed, you go into your project folder and run claude. The first time, it prompts you to log in via the browser. From there you just talk to it: you ask, it reads the codebase, proposes a plan, and executes — asking for confirmation on sensitive actions.

cd your-project
claude

It follows the Unix philosophy and is composable — you can pipe other commands into it: tail -200 app.log | claude -p "Slack me if you see anomalies".

Is Claude Code an IDE?

No. Claude Code is not an IDE — it is a command-line tool (CLI) that works alongside your IDE. You can use it in a plain terminal, inside VS Code/Cursor or JetBrains via the extension, or through the desktop app. If you want an editor with built-in AI, that is Cursor; Claude Code is the agent that does the work.

How to install Claude Code

The recommended method is the native installer, which auto-updates in the background.

How to install on Mac and Linux

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

On Mac you can also use Homebrew:

brew install --cask claude-code

How to install on Windows

In PowerShell:

irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Or via WinGet:

winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode

On native Windows, installing Git for Windows is optional but recommended so Claude Code can use Bash. You can also run it inside WSL.

Install via npm

If you already have Node.js 18 or later, you can install it as a global package:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

System requirements: macOS 10.15+, Windows 10+ or Ubuntu 20.04+/Debian 10+, 4 GB of RAM, and an internet connection.

Is Claude Code free?

There is no free Claude Code plan: the free Claude.ai plan does not include access. To use it you need a Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise subscription, or an Anthropic Console account (pay-as-you-go via the API). Installing is free; what you pay for is access to the model.

How much does Claude Code cost?

The prices below were verified in May 2026 and may change — always confirm at claude.com/pricing.

For personal use, Pro at $20/mo is the entry point. Heavy daily users typically move to Max, which offers much higher limits.

Claude Code limits

How much you can use depends on your plan. The subscription plans (Pro, Max) have usage limits that reset periodically — Max offers a far larger allowance than Pro. With the API model (Console) there is no fixed cap: you pay for the tokens you consume. For heavy workloads or teams, the API or Enterprise tend to be more predictable.

Claude Code vs Cursor, GitHub Copilot and Codex

Each tool solves the problem differently:

In short: Copilot completes code as you type; Cursor is a whole editor built around AI; Claude Code and Codex are agents that execute tasks end to end. Claude Code stands out by working in any terminal and integrating multiple surfaces (terminal, IDE, web) with the same engine.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Truly agentic: edits multiple files, runs tests, opens PRs
• Works in any terminal, IDE, desktop, and on the web
• Extensible with MCP, hooks, skills, and subagents
• Great for automation and CI/CD

Cons:

• Requires a paid subscription (no free plan)
• The initial terminal learning curve can intimidate CLI newcomers
• Heavy use can hit the Pro plan limits

Is Claude Code worth it?

If you code professionally and want to automate repetitive tasks, write tests, refactor, and open PRs with AI help, Claude Code usually pays for itself quickly in saved time. If you only want editor autocomplete, Copilot may be enough. If you want a powerful, flexible agent in the terminal, it is one of the best options available today.