Claude Code
by Anthropic · San Francisco, USA · Founded 2021
Agentic coding from the terminal, built on Claude
Reviewed by the the30top research team · Last reviewed 2026-10-27
Overview
Claude Code is Anthropic's coding agent, used from the terminal and IDE extensions to plan, edit and test across a repository, with MCP support for connecting outside tools. It is included in the Claude Pro plan at $20 a month (or $17 billed annually) and in Max from $100, and is not included in the free Claude plan. Usage on subscription plans is capped, so very heavy daily use pushes people toward the Max tiers.
Our verdict
A capable agent for serious refactors and long tasks, with solid tool connectivity. The lack of a free tier and plan usage caps are the practical trade-offs.
Best for
Developers who are comfortable in the terminal and want an agent for large, multi-step changes.
Avoid if
You want a free tool or a purely graphical IDE-first experience.
Pros
- Strong at multi-file reasoning and long tasks
- MCP support for connecting tools and data
- Works in terminal and inside editors
Cons
- No free plan for Claude Code
- Subscription usage limits can bind on heavy days
- Terminal-first workflow suits some developers more than others
Key capabilities
Frequently asked questions
How much does Claude Code cost?
It is included with Claude Pro at $20 per month ($17 per month billed annually) and with Max plans from $100 per month. It is not included in the free plan.
Does Claude Code support MCP?
Yes. It can connect to MCP servers so the agent can reach external tools and data.
Where can I use Claude Code?
It runs in the terminal and has IDE extensions, so you can use it alongside your usual editor.