Anthropic has introduced a new tiered plan for its Claude chatbot called Max that targets power users with deeper pockets and an appetite for significantly higher usage limits.
Key Points
- New Claude Max plan starts at $100/month, tops out at $200/month
- Up to 20x higher usage limits and early access to features
- Aimed at power users in fast-moving, high-stakes roles
- Underscores Anthropic’s push for new revenue streams amid soaring model costs
The new offering comes in two flavors: a $100 monthly tier providing five times the usage limits of the standard $20 Claude Pro subscription, and a $200 monthly option that ups the ante to 20 times more usage. Both tiers promise priority access to Anthropic's newest AI models and features, including Claude's forthcoming voice mode.
This pricing structure positions the high-end tier directly against OpenAI's $200 monthly ChatGPT Pro subscription, intensifying competition between the two leading consumer AI chatbot providers.
It’s a calculated move at a time when AI model development is increasingly expensive and competitive. With Claude 3.7 Sonnet—Anthropic’s new “reasoning model”—demand is reportedly surging. Meanwhile, Claude for Education and enterprise deployments are expanding, and Anthropic recently hit a $61.5 billion valuation. A robust premium tier could meaningfully contribute to revenue, much like ChatGPT Pro did for OpenAI, which claimed a $300 million boost in annualized revenue shortly after launch.
Still, unlike OpenAI’s plan, Claude Max doesn’t offer unlimited usage. The company also didn't rule out pricier tiers in the future—possibly even a $500/month plan—highlighting the company’s openness to adapt based on user feedback.
What’s clear is that the consumer-grade chatbot space is maturing fast. Free and low-cost options are now table stakes; the battle for power users—those running their lives, teams, or businesses through AI—is where margins lie.
For startups racing deadlines, professionals juggling data-heavy workflows, or creatives iterating on long-form content, the Max plan promises fewer interruptions and faster access to cutting-edge AI. Whether that’s worth $200 a month is up to users. But for Anthropic, it’s another step in a high-stakes game to build—and fund—the future of frontier AI.