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What is Claude Code and how do you install it?

Updated: August 2026 · 6 min read

Claude Code is Anthropic's coding agent: a tool that runs on your computer, understands plain-language requests ("add Google login to this app") and works directly on your codebase — it reads files, edits them, runs commands, executes tests and even makes commits. It's not autocomplete, and it's not a chat that hands you snippets to paste: it's an agent that does the work inside your project.

How is it different from ChatGPT or claude.ai?

A web chat can't see your project: you paste code fragments and get text back. Claude Code lives inside your project folder: it explores the structure, understands how everything connects, edits several files at once and verifies that what it did compiles and passes the tests. For real programming work, that difference changes everything.

What you need

A Claude subscription (claude.ai Pro or Max) — the most common way, with predictable cost. It can also run on an Anthropic API key, paying per usage.
A terminal: Claude Code is a command-line tool (CLI). On Windows it works with PowerShell or Git Bash; on Mac and Linux, your usual terminal.
Node.js 18+ if you install via npm (the classic route); a native installer also exists.

Step-by-step installation

Windows

Install Node.js from nodejs.org (LTS version).
Open PowerShell and run: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Type claude in the terminal, inside your project folder. The first time, it opens the browser to sign in with your Claude account.

Mac and Linux

With Node installed, same command: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Or the native installer: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Run claude inside your project and sign in.

That's it: from there you talk to it in plain language. Ask it to "explain this project", "fix the login bug" or "add tests for the payments module" and watch it work.

What does it cost?

Claude Code itself is free; what you pay for is access to the model. With a subscription (Pro or Max) you get a renewable usage quota — no billing surprises. With the API you pay per token, which can suit occasional use but gets unpredictable at daily intensity. If usage worries you, read our guide on controlling token usage.

The catch: it's a terminal

Claude Code's power is enormous, but its interface is raw text in a console: one conversation per window, no browsable history, no voice, no remote access, and work plans buried between lines of text. Fine for a test drive; short for working all day.

Try Claude Code with a graphical interface

Claude Station puts a face on Claude Code: tabbed chat, one tab per project, history with memory, voice dictation, mobile access and visual cards to approve plans. Runs on your same subscription, no per-token cost.

Download Claude Station free

Keep reading: How to use Claude Code from your phone · How to control token usage