AI coding · Ranked 9 of 9 in Best AI coding assistants
What is Claude Code?
Short answer
Claude Code is a AI coding assistant from Anthropic, best for terminal-based agentic coding. It has no free plan; paid plans start at $17 / mo.
| Fact | Claude Code | AI coding median (6 tools) |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | 8 of 9 have one |
| Entry price | $17 / mo | $12.50 / mo |
| Top plan | $100 / mo | $150.00 / mo |
| 1st year | $204 | $150 |
| Paid plans | 2 | 2.5 |
| Platforms | macOS, Linux, Windows | — |
What does Claude Code do?
Claude Code covers these jobs, as listed on Anthropic's pricing and feature pages.
- Agentic coding in the terminal
- Included in Claude subscription plans
- Higher usage tiers on Max
- Works with Claude models
- Projects and connectors
How much does Claude Code cost?
$17 / mo to $100 / mo.
| Plan | Price | Billed monthly | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | $17 / mo | $20 / mo | Claude Code included in Pro |
| Max | $100 / mo | — | 5x or 20x more usage than Pro |
| Team | Custom | — | Per seat: standard $20, premium $100 billed annually; see notes |
What are the best Claude Code alternatives?
Closest on first-year cost: Gemini CLI, Devin, Cursor.
| Alternative | Free plan | From |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini CLI | Yes | $19.99 / mo |
| Devin | Yes | $20 / mo |
| Cursor | Yes | $8 / mo |
Is Claude Code better than Cursor?
Claude Code is best for terminal-based agentic coding; Cursor for AI-first code editor. First year: $204 vs $96.
Sources
| Vendor page | URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code pricing | claude.com/pricing | 27 Oct 2026 |
Prices in USD as published by each vendor, billed yearly where offered. How we compare