Anthropic Tests Claude Code on $100 Max Plans, Reverses Quickly
Anthropic updated its claude.com/pricing page without any public notice. The change shifted Claude Code exclusively to the $100 per month or $200 per month Max plans. Previously, this feature sat under the $20 per month Pro plan. The update appeared as a small checkbox detail, which the page already removed by the time observers noted it.
Internet Archive captures from the day before confirm the checkbox existed on the Pro plan earlier. The company's Choosing a Claude plan page stayed unchanged, even ranking higher in Google results. Hours after the shift surfaced, Anthropic rolled it back, as noted in an update to the original observations.
Backlash Ignites Across Platforms
Word spread fast. Reddit, Hacker News, and Twitter buzzed with reactions. Initial screenshots raised doubts due to the lack of any official word from Anthropic beyond the pricing grid itself.
Anthropic's Head of Growth, Amol Avasare, addressed the issue on Twitter. He stated, "For clarity, we're running a small test on ~2% of new prosumer signups. Existing Pro and Max subscribers aren't affected." This marked the nearest thing to an official statement.
Skepticism lingered. Many users reported seeing the new grid right away. Internet Archive evidence backed that up. The 2% claim might refer to a short-lived test period affecting a fraction of signups overall.
Claude Cowork stayed listed on the $20 Pro plan. Observers see it as a milder rename of Claude Code.
Concerns Over Strategy and Accessibility
The move drew sharp criticism. Even if just a test that fails, the fallout lingers. For instance, a recent tutorial on coding agents for data analysis at the NICAR data journalism conference targeted journalists. Instructors hesitate to rely on tools needing $100 monthly fees for such groups.
Anthropic built Claude Code as a leader in coding agents. It drives billions in yearly revenue and holds a strong name. Yet jumping from $20 trials to $100 entry could erode that edge.
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Competitors like OpenAI push Codex to close the gap. Codex engineering lead Thibault Sottiaux commented: "I don't know what they are doing over there, but Codex will continue to be available both in the FREE and PLUS ($20) plans. We have the compute and efficient models to support it. For important changes, we will engage with the community well ahead of making them. Transparency and trust are two principles we will not break, even if it means momentarily earning less. A reminder that you vote with your subscription for the values you want to see in this world."
Users who pay for premium access, like the $200 Max plan, still value it. Free past access came from Anthropic perks, but current full payment continues happily. Accessibility matters for teaching, though. Free or $20 Codex tiers make it preferable for shared learning on coding agents.
Testing Culture Meets Brand Risks
Revenue pushes likely drove the idea to gate Claude Code behind Max tiers. Testing norms push even risky concepts live to gauge results.
This rollout ignored the instant outcry once spotted. Long-term trust took a hit too.
Regaining confidence demands a clear pledge, such as committing to keep Claude Code on the $20 Pro plan indefinitely.
Codex now appears a steadier choice for time investment in skills and materials.
Quick Reversal, Questions Remain
While drafting notes on the issue, the pricing page restored the Pro checkbox for Claude Code. No formal notice followed.
Anthropic faces calls for a solid explanation or apology to mend the day's trust damage.
Anthropic, founded in 2021 by ex-OpenAI leaders, focuses on safe AI systems. Its Claude models compete in large language models. Claude Code emerged as a pioneering coding agent, aiding developers with code generation and analysis. Simon Willison, a prominent developer known for Datasette and SQLite expertise, highlighted the confusion. OpenAI's Codex, part of its developer tools, offers code assistance across tiers.