Claude Code
Anthropic's AI coding agent that plans, edits code, runs tests and opens pull requests from your terminal or IDE.
Claude Code is an AI coding agent from Anthropic that plans programming tasks, edits files, runs tests and opens pull requests inside your repository. Claude Code is used from the terminal, a desktop app, the web, mobile, VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, GitHub or Slack by describing the task and then steering and reviewing the work.
Best for Developers and engineering teams who want to delegate bug fixes, tests, refactors and migrations to an agent that works in their existing tools.
- Platforms
- macOS, Linux, Windows, Web, iOS, Android, Plugin, MCP
- Pricing model
- Subscription
- Made by
- Anthropic
- Added
Last verified: . Information taken from claude.com.
What is Claude Code?
Claude Code is an AI coding agent from Anthropic that carries out programming tasks inside a real codebase. You describe a goal, such as fixing a bug, adding tests or migrating a module, and it searches the repository, drafts a plan, asks clarifying questions, edits files, runs commands and tests, and can open a pull request. It started as a terminal program and is now also reachable through a desktop app, the browser, mobile apps, extensions for VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, GitHub and Slack. In the terminal it works with existing command-line tools such as Git and can connect to MCP servers. The agent requests permission before changing files or executing commands. Access comes with Claude Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans, or through a Claude Console account billed for API tokens.
Key Features
Agentic Codebase Search
Explores project structure and dependencies on its own to explain a repository, without the user selecting context files by hand.
Issue to Pull Request
Reads an issue, writes the change, runs the tests and opens a pull request, working with GitHub, GitLab and command-line tools.
Long-Running Refactors
Follows imports across a repository, runs the test suite and continues after failures during migrations that last hours.
Editor Extensions
Provides native extensions for VS Code, including forks such as Cursor, and for JetBrains IDEs.
Parallel Sessions and Projects
Runs several tasks at once; the Projects feature on the desktop app groups related sessions for supervision.
Permission Prompts
Asks before modifying files or running commands, and an auto mode on Pro, Max and Team plans lets it work longer while still checking risky commands.
How Claude Code works
Install and sign in
Download Claude Code and log in with Claude or Console credentials.
Describe the task
State what you want done, from a bug fix to a multi-day migration.
Let it plan and work
The agent builds a plan, asks clarifying questions, writes code and runs tests.
Review the result
Check the changes or the pull request it opens and give further direction.
Use Cases
- Onboarding to a New Codebase
- Ask for an overview of a repository's purpose, structure and main components.
- Fixing a Reported Bug
- Hand over a bug description and review the proposed patch and its tests.
- Framework or Dependency Migration
- Delegate a multi-step migration and steer it as it progresses.
- Writing Tests
- Have tests generated for an existing module and run locally.
- Starting Tasks from Slack
- Kick off a coding task from a team conversation and review the result later.
Things to know
- Needs a paid plan or Console account
- The site lists Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans or a Claude Console account as the ways to access Claude Code.
- Usage limits apply
- Subscription plans include Claude Code with usage limits, and the Max tiers are described as offering more usage than Pro.
- Fast mode is a research preview
- A higher-speed configuration is offered in research preview at a higher per-token cost, on consumption-based plans or through usage credits.
- Self-hosted environments in beta
- Running sessions on your own infrastructure is announced as a public beta.
FAQs
What is Claude Code?
Claude Code is Anthropic's AI coding agent. It plans work, edits code, runs tests and opens pull requests in your own repository.
What is Claude Code used for?
Claude Code is used for everyday jobs such as fixing bugs and writing tests, and for larger, long-running jobs such as refactors, migrations and new features.
Who makes Claude Code?
Claude Code is made by Anthropic, the company behind the Claude models.
Which platforms does Claude Code support?
Claude Code runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and can also be used in a browser, in mobile apps, in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, and from GitHub and Slack.
How do I get access to Claude Code?
Claude Code is available to subscribers on the Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans and to holders of a Claude Console account, after downloading it and signing in.
How much does Claude Code cost?
Claude Code is included in Claude subscription plans, and with a Console account it consumes API tokens at standard API rates. For current figures, see the official pricing page.
Is Claude Code secure?
Anthropic states that Claude Code runs locally in the terminal, talks directly to model APIs without a remote code index, and asks permission before changing files or running commands.
Does Claude Code work with existing tools?
Yes. Claude Code runs alongside your IDE and can call command-line programs such as Git as well as MCP servers, GitHub's among them.
Who it's for
- Software engineers
- Engineering teams
- Data scientists
- Enterprises
- Open-source maintainers
Used in these workflows
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Comments
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Alternatives to Claude Code
| Tool | Free plan | Starting price | API |
|---|---|---|---|
 CursorAI coding agent and editor that plans, writes and reviews code on the desktop, in the terminal and in the cloud. |
Yes | — | — |
 DevinAutonomous AI software engineer from Cognition that plans, writes, tests and reviews code and opens pull requests. |
Yes | — | Yes |
 GreptileAI code review agent that indexes a repository and comments on pull requests with whole-codebase context. |
Yes | — | — |
 OpenCodeOpen source AI coding agent for the terminal, desktop and IDE that works with models from many providers. |
Yes | — | — |
 OrcaOpen-source agent development environment that runs many CLI coding agents in parallel git worktrees. |
Yes | — | — |
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