How to use Claude Code for free?
There is no fully free way to run Claude Code for real work. The CLI is free to download, but usage requires a paid Claude plan (Pro from $20/month) or metered API tokens. New API accounts get a small one-time credit to test, and free API credits from cloud providers can offset cost, but sustained free use isn't offered as of 2026-07.
Why — the first-principles explanation
The confusion comes from mixing up two things: the software and the compute. The Claude Code program is free—anyone can install the `claude` command at no charge. But every task sends your code to Anthropic's models, which run on expensive GPUs. Someone has to pay for that compute, and that's what a plan or API bill covers.
This is why 'free' claims usually have an asterisk. New Anthropic API accounts receive a small amount of free credits to test the service, but they're a trial, not an ongoing tier. Similarly, cloud providers sometimes hand out promotional credits you can point Claude Code at, but those run out. The consumer Free plan does not include Claude Code—access begins at Pro.
The honest framing is that Claude Code is free to try and cheap to start, not free to run. The cheapest legitimate path to steady use is the $20/month Pro plan, which caps your cost no matter how many tokens you burn. Anything promising unlimited free access is either a short trial, a shared cloud credit, or an unofficial workaround that can break or violate Anthropic's terms.
An example that makes it click
It's like a food truck that gives away the recipe book for free. The book (the app) costs nothing, but the ingredients (the AI compute) aren't free—you still buy the groceries. The truck might hand first-time visitors a free sample cup (the trial credits), but you can't feed your family on samples forever. Eventually you pay for the meal, and the cheapest meal deal here is the $20 Pro plan.
How to do it
- Install the free CLI (`curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash` on Mac/Linux, `irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex` on Windows).
- To test at no cost, create an Anthropic Console account and use the small one-time free API credits new users receive.
- Watch the meter: run `/usage` to see how much of your free credit you've spent.
- When the trial credit runs low, move to Claude Pro at $20/month (or $17 billed annually) for capped, predictable cost.
- Avoid unofficial "free" proxies or shared keys—they can break, expose your code, or violate Anthropic's terms.
Key facts
- The Claude Code CLI is free to install, but usage requires payment via a plan or API tokens (as of 2026-07).
- The consumer Free plan does not include Claude Code; access starts at the Pro plan.
- New Anthropic API accounts receive a small one-time free credit to test the service.
- The cheapest ongoing paid option is Claude Pro at $20/month, or $17/month billed annually.
- Cloud providers (Bedrock, Google Cloud, Foundry) sometimes offer promotional credits, but these are temporary.
Anthropic's agentic coding tool that works in your terminal.
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Can you use Claude Code for free? Sort of, but not for long. Here's the honest answer. The tool itself is free to download and install—that part costs nothing. What you actually pay for is the AI compute behind every task, which runs on expensive hardware. So the free routes are all trials. If you make a new Anthropic API account, you get a small one-time credit to test things out. Cloud providers sometimes hand out promo credits too. But the consumer Free plan does not include Claude Code, and there's no unlimited free tier. Watch your spend with the slash-usage command. When the trial runs dry, the cheapest real option is Claude Pro at twenty dollars a month, which caps your cost no matter how much you code. Skip the sketchy 'free' proxies—they can break or expose your code. Free to try, cheap to start, not free to run.
What authoritative sources say
People also ask
Is there a free plan that includes Claude Code?
No. The consumer Free plan does not include Claude Code. Paid access starts with Pro at $20/month.
How can I try Claude Code without paying?
Create an Anthropic Console account and use the small one-time free API credits new users receive to test it.
Are 'free Claude Code' proxies safe?
Unofficial free proxies or shared keys are risky—they can break, expose your code, or violate Anthropic's terms of service.
What's the cheapest paid option?
Claude Pro at $20/month ($17 billed annually) is the lowest-cost plan that includes Claude Code.