Comparison
Chat vs Cowork vs Code
Three harnesses side by side, using Anthropic’s products as a clear illustration — same vendor, different ways of working.
What stays yours: Picking the mode for each task and signing off what it changes.
Which level of help each one gives: Assist, Augment, Adapt explained.
| Field | Claude (chat app) | Claude Cowork | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works with you | You ask, it answers | It does steps, you review | It works in your files |
| How much it does on its own | Helps you think | Does steps, you checkWorks on its own | Works on its own |
| Which plans include it, and cost | Free and up; Claude in Chrome + Claude for Microsoft 365 from Pro | Pro ($20/mo monthly, $17/mo annual), Max (from $100/mo), Team, Enterprise (opt-in for some features) | All paid Claude plans (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise); shares plan usage pool |
| Where you can use it | web, iOS, Android, desktop | desktop (Mac/Windows), web (beta), mobile (beta) | terminal, desktop app, VS Code, JetBrains |
| What it can connect to | Connectors and Skills on all plans incl. Free | Connectors + plugins (skills, connectors, sub-agents); built-in browser on desktop for Pro/Max/Team | MCP supported (not re-verified on fetched page) |
| Can it open and edit your files? | Uploads; creates/edits files via code execution | Reads/edits/creates files in folders you choose (desktop); deletions need approval | Works directly on files in a workspace |
- How it works with you
- You ask, it answers
- How much it does on its own
- Helps you think
- Which plans include it, and cost
- Free and up; Claude in Chrome + Claude for Microsoft 365 from Pro
- Where you can use it
- web, iOS, Android, desktop
- What it can connect to
- Connectors and Skills on all plans incl. Free
- Can it open and edit your files?
- Uploads; creates/edits files via code execution
- How it works with you
- It does steps, you review
- How much it does on its own
- Does steps, you checkWorks on its own
- Which plans include it, and cost
- Pro ($20/mo monthly, $17/mo annual), Max (from $100/mo), Team, Enterprise (opt-in for some features)
- Where you can use it
- desktop (Mac/Windows), web (beta), mobile (beta)
- What it can connect to
- Connectors + plugins (skills, connectors, sub-agents); built-in browser on desktop for Pro/Max/Team
- Can it open and edit your files?
- Reads/edits/creates files in folders you choose (desktop); deletions need approval
- How it works with you
- It works in your files
- How much it does on its own
- Works on its own
- Which plans include it, and cost
- All paid Claude plans (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise); shares plan usage pool
- Where you can use it
- terminal, desktop app, VS Code, JetBrains
- What it can connect to
- MCP supported (not re-verified on fetched page)
- Can it open and edit your files?
- Works directly on files in a workspace
Use this when someone asks “should I use chat or an agent?” — the better question is how the tool should work with you, and how much of the work the AI may carry.
You ask, it answers is for thinking while you decide. It does several steps, you review is for multi-step work with your check. It works directly in your files is for file-level change with stop-and-recover paths (mostly for technical users).