# Claude Code pricing explained

> Claude Code comes with paid Claude plans and shares their usage limits. Past those limits you wait, upgrade, or pay API rates through usage credits.
> From official pages checked 2026-11-03.

- Canonical page: https://usewhichtool.com/pricing/claude-code
- Last verified: 2026-11-03
- Publisher: Use Which Tool (https://usewhichtool.com), run by Sameer Chowdhry
- Cite as: Use Which Tool, "Claude Code pricing explained", https://usewhichtool.com/pricing/claude-code (last verified 2026-11-03)

## What uses credits

- Claude Code and Claude chat share one set of limits on Pro, Max and Ultra. ([source](https://claude.com/pricing))
- Pro and Max have a rolling 5-hour limit plus a weekly limit. Ultra has a weekly limit only. Max and Ultra also have a separate weekly limit for Fable. ([source](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11145838-use-claude-code-with-your-pro-max-or-ultra-plan))
- If the ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable is set, Claude Code bills the API instead of your plan. ([source](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11145838-use-claude-code-with-your-pro-max-or-ultra-plan))

## Where to see your usage

- Settings, then Usage, shows progress bars for your session and weekly limits. ([source](https://claude.com/pricing))
- If you hit the 5-hour limit mid-response, Claude Code shows "Usage limit reached · wrapping up" and finishes the step in progress. That small allowance counts toward your weekly limit. ([source](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11145838-use-claude-code-with-your-pro-max-or-ultra-plan))

## How to cap spend

- Usage credits only apply after you enable them. You set a monthly spend limit for them, or choose unlimited. ([source](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12429409-manage-usage-credits-for-paid-claude-plans))
- You can prepay with Add funds, and turn auto-reload and usage alerts on or off. ([source](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12429409-manage-usage-credits-for-paid-claude-plans))
- Usage credits are billed at standard API rates. ([source](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12429409-manage-usage-credits-for-paid-claude-plans))

## What the plan price does not cover

- API usage through Console is billed separately from the plan. ([source](https://claude.com/pricing))
- The $100 or $200 monthly API credits on Max and Ultra do not pay for Claude Code usage credits. ([source](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12429409-manage-usage-credits-for-paid-claude-plans))
- Claude Code is not on the Free plan. ([source](https://claude.com/pricing))

## Cost by plan

| Price | What's included | Usage unit | When limits reset | Past the limit | Can you cap spend? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $0 | Claude Code not included | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| $20/mo ($17/mo billed annually) | Claude Code and Claude chat, shared limits | Usage limits shared with Claude chat, measured per session and per week (no fixed message count) | Pro and Max: a rolling 5-hour session limit plus a weekly limit. Ultra: weekly limit only, with no 5-hour limit for verified accounts. | Wait for the reset, upgrade, turn on usage credits billed at standard API rates, or switch to a Console (API) account. | Yes, for usage credits: set a monthly spend limit in Settings > Usage, or prepay with auto-reload off. |
| $100/mo | 5x Pro usage (5-hour and weekly); $100 monthly API credits | Usage limits shared with Claude chat, measured per session and per week (no fixed message count) | Pro and Max: a rolling 5-hour session limit plus a weekly limit. Ultra: weekly limit only, with no 5-hour limit for verified accounts. | Wait for the reset, upgrade, turn on usage credits billed at standard API rates, or switch to a Console (API) account. | Yes, for usage credits: set a monthly spend limit in Settings > Usage, or prepay with auto-reload off. |
| $200/mo | 10x Pro weekly usage; $200 monthly API credits | Usage limits shared with Claude chat, measured per session and per week (no fixed message count) | Weekly only (no 5-hour limit for verified accounts) | Wait for the reset, upgrade, turn on usage credits billed at standard API rates, or switch to a Console (API) account. | Yes, for usage credits: set a monthly spend limit in Settings > Usage, or prepay with auto-reload off. |

Not in the plan price:

- API usage is billed separately
- The $100 or $200 monthly API credits on Max and Ultra do not pay for Claude Code usage credits

Sources: [Claude Code: official pricing page](https://claude.com/pricing) (checked 2026-11-03); [Claude help: Use Claude Code with your Pro, Max, or Ultra plan](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11145838-use-claude-code-with-your-pro-max-or-ultra-plan) (checked 2026-11-03); [Claude help: Manage usage credits for paid Claude plans](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12429409-manage-usage-credits-for-paid-claude-plans) (checked 2026-11-03). "Not published" means the value was not found on these official pages.

Full review: https://usewhichtool.com/tools/claude-code

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