I see people suggesting API subscription instead of normal web subscription can you please tell us the benefits

UPDATE: This page is helpful and sets some expectation on limits https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/11145838-using-claude-code-with-your-pro-or-max-plan

Thanks for the replies.

It seems Pro is a good stepping stone, and more effective than throwing cash at the API with Free plan

I'm very disappointed the Max plan is simply 5x Pro messages at 5x the cost.... You'd think offering a higher plan would mean higher savings, but no. I guess model access is the main difference, but still sucks.

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Am a slow starter on AI and was actually feeling very happy about Claude Code after some research, which is a first for me in this space.

Threw in $20 on Free plan just to see.

I asked it a dumb question: "What is a Claude Token?"

Total cost: $0.1427
Total duration (API): 49s
Total duration (wall): 53m 58.6s
Total code changes: 0 lines added, 0 lines removed
Token usage by model:
claude-3-5-haiku: 3.4k input, 181 output, 0 cache read, 0 cache write
claude-sonnet: 23 input, 357 output, 28.3k cache read, 33.4k cache write

14c to answer a simple question has me worried!

Won't I chew throw $20 credit very quickly once I ask actual code questions?

Even if Pro is "5 times Free", I'm still thinking it won't a solid week of coding?

This is what claude said:"With the Claude Pro plan, you're using the web interface, but Claude Code is a separate command-line tool that requires API access. Unfortunately, your Pro plan subscription doesn't automatically give you access to Claude Code without an API key.

Here are your options:

Option 1: Get API Access

Even with a Pro plan, you'll need separate API credits to use Claude Code. You can:

• Sign up for API access at https://console.anthropic.com

• API usage is billed separately from your Pro subscription"

Option 2: Use Claude Web Interface

Since you have Pro, you can:

• Use the web interface at claude.ai for coding help

• Copy/paste code between VS Code and the Claude web chat

• Use Claude's artifact feature for code generation and editing

Option 3: VS Code Extensions

While not Claude specifically, you might find these helpful:

• GitHub Copilot (if you have access)

• Other AI coding assistants that integrate directly with VS Code

Unfortunately, there isn't currently a way to use Claude Code with just a Pro subscription - it requires API access with separate billing. The Pro plan gives you enhanced access to the web interface, but the command-line tool is a different product that needs API credentials.

I thought you got claude code with pro but the same rate limits as the web interface. Bummer.

EDIT: Yes , you CAN use claude code with VS code if you are on a pro subscription WITHOUT using API credits. (just install claude through npm in the integrated terminal and type claude - it will present an option to login with your pro account)

I use Claude pro 4-5 times a week for writing tasks. I usually finish around the time the limit's up. Would anyone know if I'll pay less then the monthly $20 if I use the API instead?

Edit: it seems the major opinion is the API will be cheaper. Would love some tips how or where to start my API journey

I highly recommend using Claude 3 Opus from the API, especially if you just want to try it out. It’s not free but the API doesn’t require an upfront flat fee and doesn’t have rate limits etc!

There’s some options for desktop like TypingMind.

For iOS I wanted to suggest my app called Pal Chat that lets you use your own API Key to chat with Claude, and it’s completely free to download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pal-ai-chat-client/id6447545085

(The app also has no backend and takes absolutely no usage data. You can verify this by going to the app privacy report in iOS settings!)

Hello, I’m wondering how you pay for Claude ai for coding ? Is it better to use the pro version or the api pay for use ? Or maybe both ?

I’m using Claude for other things like generating legal documents and also for coding but Claude by itself is limited to understand the all code base. I’ve tried cursor and windsurf. But they add additional api payment. So maybe someone have an advice to optimize the use ?

Every time someone comes here to say there's no bread in the bakery, a dozen people snidely and flippantly respond "BAKE."

I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO BAKE.

I'm paying for bread.

And now the patisserie doesn't even warn me when it's going to run out for HOURS.

I shouldn't have to pick up a whole new career to get something whose marketing TOLD me I could get it as a regular degular lover of cinnamon rolls.

"Just bake it yourself" feels so condescending and presumptive. We are not all bakers here, and if we need to be be bakers to use the product, then the bakery should tell the truth about that before taking our money.

It makes me so frustrated and sad.

(ok i assume i will be flogged now.)

Claude removed free access to Claude 3.5 Sonnet on the website. If you'd still like to use it without having to pay a flat $20/month, I highly recommend using Claude 3.5 Sonnet through the API - you won't have rate limits, and with its cheaper cost you'll likely be spending less than a subscription to Claude Pro!

I have a free native iOS app that supports chatting to Claude 3.5 Sonnet (and all other LLMs) using your own API Key which you could use: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pal-chat-ai-chat-client/id6447545085?platform=iphone

For the last 3 months I've been using Claude's API for web development support and it's certainly helped me a lot, but the cost was WAY too high for my financial standards, I was spending 130 dollars a month on the API. Then Anthropic launched the claude code for the pro plan and I was a bit wary of signing up for the pro due to complaints that the rate limits were too low and so on, but I still signed up and I've been VERY surprised by how much I'm using it and only 1 day so far have I reached the daily limit. Of course, this month I realize that I'm using claude code less because I don't have so many demands that need its help and also the ccusage is just an estimate, but even so I realize that in fact I would have already spent at least 70 dollars with the things I've already done in the month, I usually edit and refactor several files with more than a thousand lines and claude pro has supported this very well and without reaching the daily limit. The MAX subscription is certainly better, but for those who don't need Claude to do tasks in huge codebases, claude pro is an excellent value for money from Anthropic.

Hi all, I was using the Claude Opus API and this is kinda my first time using an API for an AI model. I was wondering if there are any tips or tricks when using an API to save on money. atm I have $5.00 to use on credit, and I noticed that if I write a prompt, and get an output, I can add that output to my chat or I can just continue and disregard whatever the model wrote and start anew. Is there any benefit to adding the old chats to the list for context, or does it become wayy to costly if I always do that?

Also what would be the most efficient way to use the API for personal use? Or should I just get a general subscription plan, which one would be better in the longrun do you think? Is there a fundamental difference between the API or subscription.

I just paid for the Pro version of Claude. Downloaded Cursor and when I went to add the 'API key', it seems like I also need to pay for Anthropic?

I am a little confused. First time doing the Cursor IDE setup. I am a Rider dev.

I want to be able to use Cursor without any limitations. Not bragging but money is not a concern. I make enough as a Software Consultant to afford those memberships.

Also, I heard about bolt.new or something along those lines? I checked it out but it seems towards opinionated out-of-the-box frontend applications.

Any advice?

Thanks!!!

Ive searched this subreddit for answers and I’ve also asked Google, Copilot, and free Claude. I’m sure the answers are out there, so please forgive me that I can’t find them.

Hence I ask for your help. What’s the easiest way for a programming noob to use the Claude API? All I want initially is to ask questions via the API, similar to the subscription version. I want to use the API vs subscription because maybe it’ll be cheaper and I also just want experience with it.

I signed up for an account and have purchased API tokens. I have an API key. But I’m struggling finding concise directions on how to use it.

I’m familiar with the $20/month subscription and want to become familiar with the API as well.

Is there a way to use Claude AI for free? I primarily use it for writing code, and it performs better than all the other available options. However, after 3-4 chats, it prompts me to subscribe. I currently have six accounts that I use alternately, but the context from the initial prompts gets lost when switching between them. Is there any way to use it completely for free? I can’t really afford the subscription right now. yes, the classic Indian problem. Haha

Is it better to use Claude Code with Vscode using Pro subscription or Roo Code with vscode using API credits?

I know, I probably shouldn't say anything because this is absolutely subsidized launch pricing to drive up interest and I'm going to jinx it and they'll eventually slow down the gravy train but damn. I saw someone else post their $20 in 2 days breaking even and thought I might as well share my own experience - I broke even day 1. I've actually only gotten rate limited once, and it was for about an hour and a half on that first day when I burned $30 in equivalent API use.

I'm a heavy roo code user via API and get everything for free at work so I generally look for the right tool for the job more than anything else, and while I still think roo modes shine where claude code hasn't quite nailed yet, it's a very solid product. In my own time, I had been going more gemini heavy in roo because sonnet struggles with big context and have mad love for that beautiful month of free 2.5 pro exp... and I was willing to overlook a lot of the 05-06 flaws. Jury is still out on 06-05, but I decided to give the $20 plan a shot and see if claude code would cut my API bills and damn. It did almost immediately. First day was 06/06, the 06/01 and 06/05 were using my direct anthropic API. This is not an ad, it's good shit and you might as well get some VC funded discount claude code usage while it's still out there.

We’re introducing a new Usage and Cost API, giving you near real-time visibility into your Claude usage.

With this API you can:

• See how token consumption changes as you adjust prompts, agent architecture, and tool options

• Understand how you use tokens to improve prompt caching and token efficiency

• Analyze rates usage to avoid hitting rate limits

You can access this data via new integrations with Datadog, Honeycomb, and Grafana (coming soon), or build your own dashboards with the API.

To learn more about the Usage and Cost API, explore our documentation or cookbook to get started.

i freaking thought it was connected to the claude plus, BUT IT WAS PULLING FROM THE API AND IT WAS LIKE $5 FOR 2-3 QUERIES! DONT END UP LIKE ME OR WORSE, USE CLAUDE CODE THINKING IT WONT CHARGE YOU EXTRA!