Is Claude Code Free? (Plus 12 Questions You're Googling)
Real costs ($6/day typical), Cursor vs Claude Code differences, what Skills do, and whether you can use Claude Code offline. No fluff answers.
Is Claude Code free?
Claude Code itself is free to install, but you need either an Anthropic API key or a Claude subscription to use it. The API charges per token used - expect roughly $6 per day for typical development work, with 90% of users staying under $12 daily. Alternatively, Claude Pro ($20/month) includes Claude Code access with usage limits, while Max plans ($100-200/month) offer higher limits and access to Claude 4 Opus.
Check our native installer guide for one-command setup, or the complete installation guide for all options.
What models does Claude Code use?
Claude Code runs on the Claude 4 model family. Claude 4 Sonnet is the default, balancing speed, capability, and cost for daily development. Claude 4 Opus offers superior reasoning for complex architectural decisions but runs slower and costs more.
You can switch models using aliases instead of full model names: sonnet, opus, haiku, and opusplan. The opusplan alias is a hybrid strategy that uses Opus for planning and Sonnet for execution, giving you stronger reasoning where it matters most while keeping costs reasonable.
Model priority (highest to lowest): /model during session > --model at startup > ANTHROPIC_MODEL env var > model in settings.json. You can also control sub-agent models separately with the CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_MODEL environment variable.
Learn model selection strategies in our model selection guide.
What's the difference between Claude Code vs Cursor?
Claude Code is a terminal-first AI agent - it sees your entire codebase, executes commands, and handles multi-file operations autonomously. Cursor is an AI-enhanced IDE with real-time code completion and inline suggestions. Think of it as: Claude Code = AI drives, you supervise while Cursor = you drive, AI assists. Many developers use both together - Cursor as the IDE and Claude Code for complex reasoning and automation tasks.
Deep dive: Claude Code vs Cursor comparison.
What are Claude Code Skills?
Skills are modular expertise packages that extend Claude's capabilities. Each Skill contains instructions, scripts, and resources in a folder that Claude automatically loads when relevant. For example, a "code-review" skill teaches Claude your team's review standards without you explaining them every time. Skills live in ~/.claude/skills/ (personal) or .claude/skills/ (project-specific).
Master this powerful feature: Claude Code Skills guide.
What's CLAUDE.md and why do I need it?
CLAUDE.md is your project's memory file - it gives Claude persistent context about your codebase, conventions, and preferences. Unlike chat messages that fade, CLAUDE.md loads automatically every session. Put it in your project root with tech stack details, code style rules, and common commands. Keep it under 300 lines; Claude follows these instructions more strictly than chat prompts.
Complete setup: CLAUDE.md mastery guide.
How do I manage API costs?
Track usage with the ccusage tool, use Claude 4 Sonnet (not Opus) for routine work, and leverage prompt caching for repeated operations. The /compact command compresses context to reduce token usage. For heavy usage, Max subscriptions ($100-200/month) provide better value than pay-per-token API billing.
Detailed strategies: usage optimization guide.
Can Claude Code write tests and deploy apps?
Yes to tests - Claude Code writes unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests across frameworks like Jest, Pytest, and Vitest. For deployment, Claude generates scripts, Dockerfiles, and CI/CD configs but doesn't execute production deployments directly. It prepares everything; you run the final deploy command for safety.
See testing workflows: feedback loops guide.
Does Claude Code work offline?
No. Claude Code requires internet connectivity to communicate with Anthropic's API for all AI processing. Your code stays local, but queries go to Anthropic's servers. There's no offline mode - plan for connectivity when using Claude Code in production workflows.
How do I configure Claude Code for my project?
Claude Code has two configuration systems working together. CLAUDE.md files give Claude instructions and context (what to do), while settings.json files control permissions, tools, and behavior (how to operate).
For instructions, use CLAUDE.md in your project root for codebase context, Skills in .claude/skills/ for reusable workflows, and slash commands in .claude/commands/ for custom actions. Start with /init to generate a baseline CLAUDE.md.
For configuration, settings.json uses a 4-scope hierarchy: Managed (IT-deployed, highest priority), Local (.claude/settings.local.json, personal per-project), Project (.claude/settings.json, shared with your team), and User (~/.claude/settings.json, your global defaults). More specific scopes override broader ones, so you can set team standards in Project scope and personal overrides in Local scope.
Configuration deep dive: configuration basics. Full settings key reference: settings reference.
What can Claude Code actually do?
Claude Code builds complete applications from scratch, refactors across hundreds of files, debugs complex issues by reading logs and tracing code, writes comprehensive tests, manages git operations, and runs terminal commands. It maintains a 200K token context window, so it actually remembers your entire conversation and codebase structure. Unlike chatbots that forget context, Claude Code sees and understands your full project.
Start building: first project tutorial.
How do I fix "command not found" errors?
This usually means the installation didn't add Claude to your PATH. The native installer handles this automatically. Try reinstalling:
More fixes: troubleshooting guide.
Do I need programming experience?
No prior coding experience required. Claude Code explains every action, suggests next steps, and teaches concepts as it works. Non-technical founders have successfully built and launched MVPs using natural language instructions. That said, basic terminal familiarity helps - know how to navigate folders and run commands.
How does Claude Code handle privacy?
Your code transmits to Anthropic's API for processing - necessary for AI analysis. Anthropic states they don't train models on API data. For sensitive codebases, review Anthropic's security documentation and consider enterprise agreements with additional guarantees. Code remains on your local machine; only the context you actively share gets sent to the API.
Privacy details: Anthropic's data policy.
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