What is Claude Cowork?

Claude Cowork is Anthropic's agent capability in Claude that takes a goal and completes multi-step work across files and tools, such as building a report, a spreadsheet or a deck. It uses the same agentic architecture as Claude Code, without a terminal, and runs in the cloud so tasks continue when your laptop is closed. It requires a paid Claude plan.

What can you do with it?

Anthropic describes Cowork as the place you hand Claude real work: you describe the outcome, Claude works in the files and tools you choose, and you come back to finished documents, organised files or synthesised research. Its example is a Monday marketing readout that pulls numbers from Amplitude and a Drive tracker, compares them with the previous week and builds the slides.

Cowork shows each step, the files it opens and tools it uses, so you can redirect it. Large projects are split into parts that run at the same time, and a built-in browser in the side panel handles web pages and forms separately from your own browser and logins. Plugins bundle skills, connectors and sub-agents for roles such as legal review.

Try it on a small task

Suggested workflow: pick a folder of 20 to 30 mixed files you have meant to tidy. In Claude, choose Cowork if your message box still shows Chat and Cowork, or simply ask, and request that Claude sort the files into dated subfolders and write a one-page index of what is where.

Before approving changes, follow the steps it shows and check that nothing is deleted. Then open the index and spot-check five entries against the actual files. For local files, the Claude Desktop app for macOS or Windows must be open and connected.

Pricing and access

Cowork is available only on paid plans. Per Anthropic's help center, Claude Desktop for macOS, Windows and Linux (beta) works on all paid plans; web and mobile on Pro, Max and Team (beta on Team), and on Enterprise when an owner enables it. Claude Pro costs $20 a month billed monthly or $17 a month billed annually, and Max starts at $100 a month. Usage limits apply, with no fixed task count.

Since October 6, 2026, new Cowork tasks on Pro and Max run in the cloud, and the option to run only on your computer was removed. Anthropic is merging chat and Cowork into one Claude: it is rolling out to Pro and Max, was made generally available for Enterprise on October 23, and Team and Free plans are to follow.

What stands out

Runs in the cloud, keeps working with no device online
Scheduled tasks on any cadence
Built-in browser in the Cowork side panel
Plugins bundling skills, connectors and sub-agents

Before you choose

Not available on the Free plan.
Local files, browser use and computer use need the desktop app open.
Pro and Max tasks run in the cloud with no local-only option.

Plans & pricing

Current pricing on claude.com

Go to the source

Sources & further reading

Based on the official documentation below. Features and access can change; check the provider before making a decision.

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Claude Cowork