The Business Owner's Guide

Claude isn't just a chatbot. It runs your business.

Chat asks questions. Code builds software. Cowork handles everything else. Here's every platform, what each one does, and which is right for you.

Which Platform Is Right for Me? See All Platforms

Updated March 2026 Official Anthropic data only By Muhammad Asmal

Built with Claude Code

claude

// Chat: Ask questions

Claude What's our revenue this month?

// Code: Build software

$ /morning-briefing

Revenue: $4,280 | Leads: 12

// Cowork: Create deliverables

Cowork Create a weekly report with charts

Created: weekly-report.xlsx

$ _

What is Claude?

Claude is Anthropic's AI assistant. It comes in three distinct experiences, each designed for a different type of work.

Chat

A conversation. You ask, Claude answers. Upload files, search the web, create artifacts.

Everyone

Code

An autonomous developer. Reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, builds features.

Developers + Power Users

Cowork

An autonomous knowledge worker. Creates documents, organizes files, runs research, builds deliverables.

Business Owners + Operators

The simple distinction: Chat responds to each message. Code and Cowork work autonomously, breaking complex tasks into parallel workstreams using sub-agents. They do the work while you step away.

All Platforms

Where Claude Lives

Same AI brain, different interfaces. Pick the one that matches how you work.

GA

Claude Chat

The starting point. Ask questions, upload documents, create artifacts, search the web. Available everywhere.

Web Desktop Mobile

GA

Terminal (CLI)

The most powerful Code surface. Type instructions in plain English, Claude does the rest.

macOS Windows Linux

GA

Desktop App

The only surface with all three: Chat, Code, and Cowork in one window. Most visual and beginner-friendly.

macOS Windows

PREVIEW

Cowork

Your autonomous knowledge worker. Describe the outcome, step away, come back to finished deliverables.

Desktop Dispatch

GA

VS Code

Claude Code inside your editor. Visual diffs, @-mentions, checkpoints.

VS Code Cursor

PREVIEW

Web (claude.ai/code)

Nothing to install. Open browser, give a coding task, walk away.

Browser iOS Android

BETA

JetBrains

For IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm. Still in beta.

IntelliJ PyCharm

GA v1.0

GitHub Actions

Automated code review, CI fixes, and PR handling.

GitHub CI/CD

Also Available On

iOS / Android

Chat + Monitor tasks

Xcode

Native SDK integration

Slack

@Claude in channels

Chrome

Quick access + debugging

Excel / PowerPoint

Office add-ins

Dispatch

Phone to Desktop

Pricing

Who Gets Access to What?

Chat is free. Code and Cowork start at Pro ($20/month). Max 20x ($200/month) is what I run my business on.

Plan	Price	Chat	Code	Cowork	Web Code	Best For
Free	$0	Yes	No	No	No	Chat with Haiku and Sonnet only
Pro START HERE	$20/mo	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Full access to all three experiences
Max 5x	$100/mo	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	5x the usage of Pro
Max 20x WHAT I USE	$200/mo	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	20x usage. For running your business all day.
Team (Standard)	$25/seat	Yes	No	Yes	No	Chat + Cowork, no Code
Team (Premium)	$125/seat	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Teams that need everything
Enterprise	Custom	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Large orgs, admin controls, 500K context
API (Console)	Per token	No	CLI Only	No	No	Developers, automation

Third-party providers: You can also connect Claude Code to Amazon Bedrock, Google Vertex AI, or Microsoft Foundry if your organization uses those cloud platforms.

Platform Deep Dives

What You Get On Each Platform

Tap to expand. Translated for business owners, not developers.

Claude Chat

GA

The standard Claude experience. Available everywhere: web, desktop, mobile.

What You Can Do

Ask questions with model selection (Haiku, Sonnet, Opus)

Extended thinking for complex reasoning

Artifacts: interactive outputs (code, docs, diagrams, dashboards)

Inline visualizations directly in conversation

Projects with shared knowledge and custom instructions

File uploads: PDF, DOCX, CSV, images (30MB each)

Web search with inline citations

Research mode: multi-source investigation

Code execution in Python sandbox

File creation: spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs

Skills: dynamic instruction sets for specialized tasks

Custom styles (4 presets + custom via writing samples)

Memory: learns your preferences across sessions

Connectors: Atlassian, Zapier, Slack, Google, and more

Incognito chats (not saved to history)

Share conversations and publish artifacts

Pros

Available everywhere: web, desktop, mobile, Slack, Office

Zero learning curve. Type and get answers

Artifacts create interactive, shareable outputs

Research mode delivers thorough multi-source analysis

Memory learns your preferences across sessions

Free tier available with meaningful capabilities

Cons

No local file system access (upload/download only)

No terminal commands or git operations

No sub-agents or parallel execution

No autonomous multi-step task execution

No scheduling or recurring tasks

Artifacts require manual download

Terminal (CLI)

GA

The most powerful Code surface. Where I run my entire business from.

What You Can Do

Read, search, and edit files across entire codebases

Run terminal commands and shell scripts

Git: commit, branch, merge, create PRs, worktrees

Model selection: Sonnet, Opus, Haiku via /model

Checkpoints: auto-saves before every change, rewind

Sub-agents: spawn parallel agents for different tasks

Agent teams: multiple agents across sessions

MCP server support (stdio, HTTP, SSE)

Hooks: 22 event types for automation

Custom slash commands, skills, and plugins

CLAUDE.md project memory files

Headless mode for scripting and CI pipelines

Structured JSON output with schema validation

Budget and turn limits for cost control

/teleport to pull web sessions into terminal

Channels (Telegram, Discord, iMessage, webhooks)

Pros

Most feature-complete surface. Everything ships here first

Full scripting and automation via headless mode

Unix composability: pipe data in, chain with other tools

Budget and turn controls for cost management

Agent SDK for building custom agents

Works with API keys (no subscription required)

Cons

No visual diff review (terminal-based only)

No live app preview

No computer use / screen control

Requires terminal proficiency

Steeper learning curve for non-developers

VS Code Extension

GA

Claude Code inside your editor. Visual diffs, @-mentions, checkpoints.

Key Features

Native chat panel in VS Code sidebar

Inline diffs in VS Code's built-in diff viewer

@-mention files with fuzzy matching

Drag files into the prompt box

Checkpoints: Fork, Rewind, or Fork + Rewind

Plan mode: review Claude's plan before execution

Multiple conversations in separate tabs

Chrome browser integration (@browser)

Built-in IDE MCP server (diagnostics + Jupyter)

Works in Cursor and Windsurf too

Pros

Zero context switching from your editor

Visual inline diffs with native diff viewer

@-mention files with fuzzy search

Fork + Rewind checkpoints

Multiple parallel conversations in tabs

Cons

Subset of CLI commands available

MCP config must be done via CLI first

No headless/scripting mode

No budget or turn limit controls via UI

Desktop App

GA

The only surface with Chat + Code + Cowork. Most visual, most beginner-friendly.

Three Modes in One App

Chat Mode

Standard conversation, no file access

Code Mode

Interactive local coding session

Cowork Mode

Autonomous knowledge work

Key Features (Code Mode)

Visual diff review with inline commenting

Live app preview with embedded browser

Computer use: control your entire Mac screen

PR monitoring with auto-fix and auto-merge

Parallel sessions with visual sidebar

Dispatch: receive tasks from your phone

Scheduled tasks (local and cloud)

Connectors: GitHub, Slack, Linear, Notion, Calendar

SSH sessions to remote machines

Enterprise MDM deployment

Pros

Only surface with all three experiences

Most visual and user-friendly

Computer use for controlling your Mac

Live app preview with embedded browser

Best for non-terminal users

Cons

No Linux support

Computer use is macOS-only, Pro/Max-only

No headless/scripting mode

Heavier resource usage than CLI

Web (claude.ai/code)

PREVIEW

Nothing to install. Open your browser, give Claude a coding task, walk away.

Kick off coding sessions from any browser

Connect GitHub repositories (OAuth)

Isolated sandbox VMs per session

Pre-installed: Python, Node, Ruby, PHP, Java, Go, Rust, C++, PostgreSQL, Redis

Parallel task execution across repos

Automatic PR creation with change summaries

Cloud scheduled tasks (/schedule)

/teleport to pull sessions into terminal

Pros

Zero setup required. Works from any browser

Sessions persist if you close your laptop

Monitor from iOS or Android

Great for delegating routine coding tasks

Cons

GitHub-only (no GitLab, Bitbucket)

No local file system access

No custom MCP servers

Research preview, still evolving

GitHub Actions

GA v1.0

Automated code review, CI fixes, and PR handling. Runs without you.

@claude mention in PRs and issues triggers Claude

Automatic PR creation from issue descriptions

Code review on every PR (Team/Enterprise)

Auto-fix for failing CI checks

Auto-merge when all checks pass

Follows CLAUDE.md project standards

Pros

Fully automated, no human in the loop

Handles routine PR feedback and CI fixes

Works with AWS Bedrock and Vertex AI

Cons

Requires API key (pay per token)

GitHub-only

No interactive steering

Claude Cowork

PREVIEW

Your autonomous knowledge worker. Describe the outcome, walk away, come back to finished work.

What Cowork Does

Reads and writes files directly on your machine

Sub-agents break work into parallel streams

Creates Excel with working formulas

Creates PowerPoint decks and formatted docs

Organizes files and folder structures

Runs research across multiple sources

Dispatch (Phone to Desktop)

Persistent conversation synced between phone and desktop

Assign tasks from mobile, execution runs on desktop

Auto-routes: coding to Code, knowledge work to Cowork

Push notifications when tasks complete

Scheduled Tasks

Hourly, daily, weekly, weekdays, or on-demand

Daily briefings, weekly reports, recurring research

Missed tasks auto-run when computer wakes up

Same access to tools, skills, and plugins

Computer Use (macOS only)

Claude opens apps, clicks, types, scrolls, navigates

Per-app permission prompts (view / click / full control)

Tool priority: Connectors > Browser > Bash > Screen

Blocklists for banking, crypto, investment apps

Plugins

Marketplace: sales, finance, legal, marketing, HR, ops

Integrations: Google Drive, Gmail, Slack, DocuSign

Build custom plugins (no code, Markdown + JSON)

Admin controls for Team/Enterprise

Pros

Autonomous: describe outcome, walk away, come back to finished work

Professional deliverables (Excel with formulas, PowerPoint)

Sub-agents for parallel workstreams

Dispatch lets you assign tasks from your phone

Scheduled tasks for recurring work

Computer use lets Claude interact with any macOS app

Plugin ecosystem extends capabilities without coding

Ideal for non-technical users

Cons

Desktop app must stay open and computer must be awake

Desktop app only (no web, no CLI, no mobile execution)

Not in Audit Logs or Compliance API (research preview)

No cloud sync for projects (local only)

Consumes more usage than standard chat

Computer use: macOS-only, Pro/Max-only

Dispatch: Pro/Max-only

Cannot share sessions with other people

Feature Matrix

Side-by-Side Comparison

Every feature, every platform. Scroll horizontally on mobile.

Core Capabilities

Feature	Chat	CLI	VS Code	JetBrains	Desktop	Web Code	GH Actions	Cowork
Multi-file editing	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Run terminal commands	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Git operations	No	Full	Full	Full	Full	Branch/PR	Full	No
Visual diffs	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Via PR	No
Checkpoints / Rewind	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Extended thinking	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Model selection	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Artifacts	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Web search	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Research mode	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
File creation (docs/xlsx/pptx)	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Sub-agents	No	Yes	Yes	Via CLI	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Computer use	No	No	No	No	macOS	No	No	macOS

Extensibility

Feature	Chat	CLI	VS Code	JetBrains	Desktop	Web Code	GH Actions	Cowork
MCP servers	Remote	Full	Partial	Via CLI	Via CLI	No	No	Plugins
Hooks (22 events)	No	Full	Full	Full	Full	Partial	No	No
Custom skills	Yes	Full	Full	Via CLI	Full	No	Yes	Yes
Plugins	No	Full	Full	Via CLI	Full	No	No	Full
Connectors	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Agent teams	No	Full	Full	No	Full	No	No	No

Memory and Context

Feature	Chat	CLI	VS Code	JetBrains	Desktop	Web Code	GH Actions	Cowork
Project CLAUDE.md	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
User CLAUDE.md	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Auto-memory	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Chat memory (synthesis)	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Project-scoped memory	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Custom styles	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Folder instructions	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes

Automation and Scaling

Feature	Chat	CLI	VS Code	JetBrains	Desktop	Web Code	GH Actions	Cowork
Headless mode	No	Yes	Terminal	Terminal	No	N/A	Yes	No
Structured JSON output	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Budget limits	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Parallel sessions	No	Worktrees	Tabs	No	Sidebar	Yes	Yes	Projects
Scheduled tasks	No	/schedule	No	No	Yes	Yes	Via cron	Yes
Computer use	No	No	No	No	macOS	No	No	macOS
Live app preview	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
PR auto-fix/merge	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Dispatch (phone to desktop)	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes

What's Exclusive to Each Platform?

Platform	Exclusive Features
Chat	Artifacts, web search with citations, research mode, inline visualizations, custom styles, profile preferences, incognito chats, publishable artifacts, memory import from other AI
CLI	dontAsk permission mode, ! bash shortcut, tab completion, headless mode, structured JSON output, budget/turn limits, --bare mode, Agent SDK, Unix piping
VS Code	Fork + Rewind checkpoints, @-mention with fuzzy search, drag-and-drop files, IDE MCP server (diagnostics + Jupyter), @terminal:name
JetBrains	Native JetBrains diff viewer integration
Desktop	Only surface with Chat + Code + Cowork. Live app preview, PR auto-fix/merge, SSH sessions, visual session sidebar, enterprise MDM
Web (Code)	Zero setup cloud environment, persistent sessions without local machine, pre-installed languages/databases, session sharing
GitHub Actions	Automated @claude triggers, automated code review, CI fix automation
Cowork	Autonomous knowledge work, professional file creation (Excel with formulas, PowerPoint), Dispatch (phone-to-desktop), folder-level instructions, project-scoped memory

Scenario Guide

Which Platform Should You Use?

Find your situation. Get your answer.

"I just want to ask Claude questions and get answers"

The standard experience. Ask questions, upload documents, get analysis. Artifacts create interactive outputs. No setup required.

Use: Chat (claude.ai or Desktop App)

"I need documents, spreadsheets, and reports created for me"

Describe what you need, step away, come back to finished deliverables. Excel with working formulas, PowerPoint decks, formatted reports.

Use: Cowork (Desktop App)

"I'm a developer who lives in the terminal"

Every feature, maximum control, fastest startup. Pipe logs in, chain with other tools, automate with headless mode.

Use: CLI

"I want to stay in my editor"

Inline diffs, @-mention files, checkpoints, zero context switching. Drop into terminal for CLI-only features.

Use: VS Code (or JetBrains)

"I want to delegate tasks while I focus on other work"

For knowledge work: Cowork on Desktop. For coding: Web sessions at claude.ai/code. Both let you kick off tasks and walk away.

Use: Cowork or Web Code

"I'm not a developer but want Claude's agentic power"

No terminal knowledge required. Cowork reads and writes files, creates professional deliverables, coordinates sub-agents. Plugins add integrations.

Use: Cowork (Desktop App)

"I want to start on my phone and finish on my laptop"

Send a task from your phone via Dispatch, Desktop creates a session. Or start a web session from phone and /teleport it to terminal.

Use: Dispatch + Desktop App

"I want Claude to handle recurring tasks automatically"

Cowork handles recurring knowledge work (daily briefings, weekly reports). Web handles recurring coding tasks. Both support hourly/daily/weekly scheduling.

Use: Cowork or Web scheduled sessions

"I want maximum control over costs"

Pay per token with --max-budget-usd to set spending caps. No subscription required. --bare mode for faster, cheaper runs.

Use: CLI with API key

"I want to try Claude with minimal commitment"

Pro gives you Chat, Code, and Cowork across every platform. Start with Chat (zero setup), try Cowork for knowledge work, then install the CLI.

Use: Pro plan ($20/month)

The Verdict

There is No Single "Best" Platform

Claude is designed as an ecosystem. Each experience and surface serves a different workflow. Here's how to think about it.

For questions, analysis, quick tasks: Chat.

The fastest path to an answer. Artifacts, web search, research mode, and file creation handle most one-off needs. Available everywhere with zero setup.

For raw coding power: CLI wins.

Every feature ships here first. Headless mode, structured output, budget controls, agent SDK, all permission modes. If you can only pick one Code surface, pick this.

For daily development: VS Code Extension.

90% of the CLI's capabilities with visual diffs, @-mentions, checkpoints, and zero context switching.

For knowledge work and business tasks: Cowork.

Professional deliverables, file organization, research, scheduling, and computer use. The agentic counterpart to Code, purpose-built for non-coding work.

For visual workflows: Desktop App.

The only surface with all three experiences. Computer use, live app preview, PR monitoring, Dispatch, and connectors.

For delegation and remote coding: Web.

Zero setup, persistent cloud sessions, and phone monitoring. Ideal for kicking off coding tasks and walking away.

For automation: GitHub Actions + CLI headless mode.

Automated code review, CI fixes, auto-merge. CLI headless for custom scripting and pipelines.

The Power User Setup

The most effective setup combines multiple surfaces: Chat for quick questions. Cowork for knowledge work and recurring tasks. CLI as your primary coding interface. VS Code for visual diffs. Desktop App as the hub connecting everything. Web for delegating background coding tasks. GitHub Actions for automated PR handling. You don't have to choose one. Use each where it's strongest.

Timeline

How Claude Expanded

Mar 2023

Claude launches (chat)

Jun 2024

Artifacts launch

Nov 2024

Projects launch

Feb 2025

Claude Code CLI launches in research preview

May 2025

Claude Code GA. VS Code, JetBrains, GitHub Actions announced

Jun 2025

Claude Code added to Pro plan ($20/month)

Aug 2025

Code execution (Python sandbox) launches in Chat

Oct 2025

Checkpoints, VS Code extension, sub-agents, hooks ship

Nov 2025

Web (claude.ai/code) launches. Desktop app. Plugins beta. $1B run-rate

Jan 2026

Cowork launches as research preview (Max, then Pro)

Feb 2026

Opus 4.6 launches. Agent teams. Cowork plugins + scheduled tasks

Mar 2026

Dispatch (phone-to-desktop). Computer use in Cowork. Xcode integration