Is Claude Code free?
Updated October 13, 2026
No. Claude Code is not included in Claude's Free plan. You need a paid plan, starting with Pro at $17 a month billed yearly ($20 monthly), or an API account where you pay for each token you use.
- Claude Code on the Free plan
- No
- Cheapest plan: Pro, billed yearly
- $17/mo
- Pro, billed monthly
- $20/mo
Your options
| Option | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | $0 | Chat only. Claude Code is not included |
| Pro, billed yearly | $17 a month | Regular, light use. The cheapest plan with Claude Code |
| Pro, billed monthly | $20 a month | Trying Claude Code for a month or two |
| Pay per token (API) | Per million tokens | Occasional use, automation, CI |
When paying per token is cheaper
With an API account you pay only for what you use. At our estimate for quick help on Sonnet (about $2.50 a day), you would need more than 8 active days a month before Pro costs less. Use it once a week like that and it comes to about $11 a month.
For anything more than occasional use, a plan wins by a wide margin. A developer who builds features every weekday uses hundreds of dollars a month at API rates. See what your usage is worth.
Common questions
- Can I use Claude Code on the Free plan?
- No. Claude Code needs Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or an API account.
- What is the cheapest plan with Claude Code?
- Pro billed yearly, at $17 a month.
- Is installing Claude Code free?
- Installing it costs nothing, but you need a paid plan or API account to use it.