What Is Claude Code? Installation (Windows, Mac), Commands, Is It Free, Pricing, Limits, Permissions and Security

Claude Code isn't a chat window that writes code; it's a tool that works in the project folder on your computer: it reads and changes files, runs commands and tests, and handles Git operations. You describe what you want in a plain sentence ("block empty submissions on the login form"), and it finds the relevant files and shows you the change.

Who it's for: anyone who works with code: a business building its own site or internal tool, an agency with developers, a software engineer. For someone who doesn't write code, the chat app is enough to start with.

Installation is a single command: open a terminal and paste the line for your operating system. The command shows no progress while downloading; when it finishes, open a new terminal window. You need a Claude subscription (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise) or a Console account first; the Free Claude plan doesn't work.

Installation takes one command, but it runs the program you download. Only copy the command from the official docs (claude.ai/install.sh, claude.ai/install.ps1); don't run a command with a different address that you've seen on another site.

1. 1Check that it's installed: open a new terminal and type claude --version. If it works, it shows the version number followed by "(Claude Code)". If you get a "not found" error, the installation directory isn't on your PATH (see "Common problems" below).
2. 2Detailed check: claude doctor reads the installation health and settings without starting a session.
3. 3Go to your project folder and start: in the terminal, cd folder-name, then claude.
4. 4Log in: on first launch a browser opens; confirm the login with your Claude account. Your credentials are saved, so you don't log in every time. To switch accounts, type /login inside the session.
5. 5Ask your first question: try a question like "what does this project do?" (you can ask in Turkish too). Claude reads your files itself; you don't need to add context piece by piece.

If you've never opened a terminal, the official "terminal guide" page shows step by step how to open one and paste a command.

First have it explain the project, then ask for a small task. When a change comes in, Claude shows it; if it asks for approval, say Yes. If the mode means it doesn't ask, you can still see what it did afterward with /diff. You can change the session's permission mode at any time with Shift+Tab.

!Claude Code can make mistakes. On an important project, track changes with Git and read them with /diff before committing; /rewind is there to undo.

More ready-made prompts: image and photo prompt examples

There are two kinds of commands. What you type in the terminal to start with claude are shell commands; what you type with / while Claude Code is open are slash commands. The ones below are selected from the official command list; for the full list, type /help in a session.

Source: code.claude.com/docs/en/commands (October 14, 2026). The list changes between versions; some commands may be removed in newer versions. Some commands depend on your plan or version (e.g., /privacy-settings is Pro and Max only).

Claude Code uses Claude's models. Type /model in a session and pick from the list; you can also set it at launch, like claude --model sonnet. The default model on Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise and API accounts is Opus 5.5. A bigger model thinks more deeply but is slower and uses up your allowance faster.

Source: code.claude.com/docs/en/model-config (October 14, 2026) and the Claude models overview (speeds and descriptions, October 13, 2026). Model versions change often; this section was checked on October 14, 2026.

Claude guide: choosing a model in the chat app →

Claude Code edits files and runs commands, which means the responsibility sits on your computer. The permission mode decides when it asks. The mode is chosen per session and you can change it at any time with Shift+Tab.

!In v2.1.283 and later, terminal and VS Code sessions open in auto mode by default: Claude works without asking for approval, and a second model checks its actions in the background. The docs say this "does not guarantee safety." If you want to see every step, switch to Manual mode with Shift+Tab.

No. Claude Code isn't on the Free Claude plan. It works in one of two ways: a paid Claude subscription (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise) or a pay-as-you-go Console account. With a subscription, usage comes out of the same pool as the chat app.

In-app prices come only from the App Store (if you subscribe inside the app, Apple bills you). If you buy on the web, the price is in US dollars and excludes tax; tax is added based on your card's billing address. The Claude guide has the details on the amount and tax.

Claude guide: plans, tax and App Store pricing →

The official pages don't list a separate student program or discount code for Claude Code. The Claude guide also notes that there's no free or discounted offer for individual students in Turkey.

Prices from claude.com/pricing and the App Store listing, October 14, 2026. Prices and plan contents may change; check the current page before you pay. This is not financial advice.

Official pricing page last checked on October 28, 2026.

!If the ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable is set on your computer, Claude Code uses that key instead of your subscription and charges API fees. To have it use your subscription, remove the variable, type /logout and log in again with your Claude account.

1. 1Type /clear when the topic changes. Context left over from the old topic is reprocessed with every new message and uses up your allowance. If you want to come back to it, first /rename, then /resume.
2. 2If the same topic runs long, type /compact. It summarizes the conversation. You can say what to keep: /compact keep the code examples.
3. 3Pick a lighter model for simple work. The docs say most coding work is done well with Sonnet and recommend saving Opus for complex work (/model).
4. 4Turn off MCP servers you don't use. See them with /mcp, and check what's filling the context with /context.

Commands (/clear, /model) and error messages are in English. The tables on this page explain what they do.

While it works, Claude Code sends your prompts, Claude's responses and the relevant code snippets to Anthropic over the internet (encrypted with TLS). Your project files stay on your computer, but the parts Claude reads are sent to produce a response.

The software is closed source: the license file in the repository says "all rights reserved" and ties its use to Anthropic's Commercial Terms. You're responsible for the accuracy of the output and for making sure it doesn't infringe anyone else's rights.

Sources: code.claude.com/docs/en/data-usage, security (October 14, 2026); for output rights and prohibitions, Consumer Terms Sections 3–4 (October 13, 2026, Claude guide). This is not legal advice. If you'll work with client data regularly, look at the commercial terms for Team, Enterprise or the API.

Claude Code isn't a separate subscription; it's part of your Claude plan. What you cancel is the Pro or Max plan; you uninstall the program separately.

1. 1Cancel the subscription: on claude.ai, click your name in the bottom left › Settings› then Billing› then Cancel. If you subscribed through an app store, cancel in your Apple or Google subscription settings.
2. 2Mind the timing: cancellation takes effect at the end of the billing period; to avoid a new charge, cancel at least 24 hours before your next billing date.
3. 3Uninstall the program: run the command below that matches how you installed it.

Uninstalling the program doesn't delete the settings and past conversations on your computer (the ~/.claude folder); delete them manually if you want.

These are tools that have AI write code, or that run somewhere other than Claude. The comparison below draws only on the guides on this site; there's no guide or official source on this site yet for a comparison with OpenAI Codex, so prices and limits aren't compared.

Claude (chat app)Chat, documents and file preparation with the same Claude models; no code project needed.CursorA code editor with a built-in AI agent.OpenCodeAn open-source agent that runs in the terminal; you connect your own model provider.