Claude Code review
Anthropic's agentic coding tool that works directly in your terminal, IDE and desktop app.
Claude Code is an AI coding agent: it reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands and tests, and can handle multi-step engineering tasks. It works in the terminal, in VS Code and JetBrains, in the Claude desktop app and on the web.
There is no separate Claude Code subscription: it is included in Claude Pro and Max plans, or you can pay per token through the Anthropic API. Heavy users usually pick a Max plan for predictable cost.
Best for
Pros
- Works on real projects end to end
- Included in Pro/Max - no extra subscription
- Terminal, IDE, desktop and web
Cons
- Pro limits can run out on heavy days
- API usage can get expensive without limits
- Best results need a developer in the loop
How Claude Code scores
Editorial scores for the tool overall, not a lab test. How we score
- Writing
- 6
- Coding
- 10
- Research
- 6
- Images
- 0
- Study
- 6
- Work
- 7
- Everyday
- 3
- Value
- 8
Claude Code plans
Claude Pro
$16.67/month when billed annually
- Text, documents, code and projects
- Claude Code included
- Dynamic limits shared by chat and Claude Code
Claude Max 5x
- 5x Pro usage level
- Consider when Pro limits are not enough - not an automatic choice for developers
Claude Max 20x
- 20x Pro usage level
US prices before tax. Last checked 2026-10-07. Full pricing details
Frequently asked questions
How much does Claude Code cost?
Claude Code is included in Claude Pro ($20/month, or $17/month billed annually) and Claude Max ($100 or $200/month). You can also pay per token via the Anthropic API.
Is there a separate Claude Code subscription?
No. You get Claude Code with a Claude Pro or Max subscription, or by using an API key.
Which plan is best for Claude Code?
Pro is enough for learning and small projects. Developers who code with Claude every day usually choose Max 5x or Max 20x.