Claude Cowork is Anthropic's agent for knowledge work. You hand it a task, such as researching a topic, analysing a set of files or drafting a document, and it works through the steps on its own in the Claude Desktop app, on the web or on mobile. Anthropic describes it as using the same agentic architecture that powers Claude Code, with no terminal required.
This page covers what Cowork is, how it compares with Claude Code, what it costs, Windows support, scheduled tasks and what it can access. Everything here comes from Anthropic's own product, pricing and help pages, checked on 4 November 2026. The product changes often, so Anthropic's Cowork page is the place to confirm anything before relying on it.
What Claude Cowork does
Every conversation in Claude starts as a chat. When a task needs more than a reply, Cowork takes over and works through it step by step: reading the files in the folders you connect, searching, writing and producing finished documents. Anthropic positions it for research, analysis, document creation and other multi-step tasks.
Cowork can also be extended with plugins, which Anthropic describes as bundling tools, knowledge and workflows into a single install. On Team and Enterprise plans there is a plugin marketplace with admin controls.
Claude Cowork vs Claude Code
Both run on the same agentic architecture. The difference is the kind of work each one is built for and where it runs.
| Claude Cowork | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Research, analysis, documents and other work that is not coding | Software engineering: writing, debugging and shipping code |
| Where it runs | Claude Desktop app, web and mobile | The terminal, plus extensions for VS Code and JetBrains |
| Terminal needed | No | Yes, or an editor extension |
| Plans | Paid plans: Pro, Max, Ultra, Team, Enterprise | Pro, Max, Ultra, Team, Enterprise, or an API Console account |
Claude Code reads a whole project, edits files and runs commands, so it can build software, websites and internal tools. That's what the Claude Code guide on this site covers, along with how I run it day to day. Cowork sits closer to the documents and research a business produces every week.
Is Claude Cowork free?
No. Anthropic lists Cowork on its paid plans only: Pro, Max, Ultra, Team and Enterprise. The free Claude plan doesn't include it. Anthropic also notes that Cowork uses up plan limits faster than chat does, because each task does more work.
Claude Cowork plans and prices
Prices from claude.com/pricing, in US dollars:
| Plan | Price | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Pro | $20 a month billed monthly, or $17 a month billed annually | More usage than Free |
| Max | $100 a month | 5x Pro usage |
| Ultra | $200 a month | 10x Pro usage each week, no five-hour limit |
| Team, standard seat | $25 per seat a month billed monthly, or $20 billed annually | More usage than Pro |
| Team, premium seat | $125 per seat a month billed monthly, or $100 billed annually | 5x a standard seat |
Enterprise pricing is listed on the same page. Usage limits are shared across Claude and Claude Code on the same account. How the limits work is on the Claude Code pricing and limits page.
Claude Cowork on Windows
Cowork became generally available on macOS and Windows through the Claude Desktop app on 9 April 2026, and came to the web and mobile apps in July 2026. On Windows, Cowork needs the Virtual Machine Platform feature turned on, and the full install that includes Cowork needs administrator rights. Virtual machines without nested virtualisation aren't supported. On a Mac, the desktop app needs macOS 13 (Ventura) or later.
The desktop app matters even when a session runs in the cloud: working with local files, the built-in browser and computer use all need it.
Scheduled tasks in Claude Cowork
Cowork can run a task on a schedule as well as on demand. Scheduled tasks are on all paid plans, and each one can run hourly, daily, weekly, on weekdays or manually.
Scheduled tasks run remotely, so they keep to their cadence while the computer is asleep or the desktop app is closed. The exception is a task that needs local files or apps, which only runs locally. Tasks created before 6 October 2026 that ran on the computer keep running there.
Access control and permissions
- Folders. Cowork can only read and write files in the folders you connect.
- Deleting files. It asks for explicit permission before permanently deleting any file.
- Approval modes. You choose how often it checks with you: manual approval of actions, an automatic mode where a safety review checks each action, or skipping approvals.
- The browser. By default it uses a browser built into the desktop app. Anthropic advises against using the browser or computer use for anything involving sensitive information.
- Outside content. Anthropic flags prompt injection, where instructions hidden in a web page or document try to steer the agent, as a risk to keep in mind.
- Admin controls. On Team and Enterprise plans, admins can turn Cowork off for the organisation, and owners can turn off web search for Cowork and chat.
Cowork connects to other services through connectors, which run on MCP, the Model Context Protocol. What that is, in plain terms, is on the MCP for business owners page.
Building an agent around your business.
The half-day Claude Code course sets up an agent operating system on your own machine, loaded with your business, starting from opening Terminal for the first time. Two seats, live on Zoom.
See the Claude Code course →Questions about Claude Cowork
What is Claude Cowork?
Claude Cowork is Anthropic's agent for knowledge work: research, analysis, document creation and other multi-step tasks. It uses the same agentic architecture as Claude Code, with no terminal required, and works on files in the folders you connect.
Is Claude Cowork free?
No. Anthropic lists Cowork on its paid plans: Pro, Max, Ultra, Team and Enterprise. Pro is US$20 a month billed monthly.
What is the difference between Claude Cowork and Claude Code?
Anthropic describes Claude Code as built for software engineering: writing, debugging and shipping code. Cowork is built for work that is not coding, such as research, analysis and documents, and it runs without a terminal.
Does Claude Cowork work on Windows?
Yes. Cowork has been generally available on macOS and Windows through the Claude Desktop app since April 2026. On Windows it needs the Virtual Machine Platform feature, and the full install needs administrator rights.
Can Claude Cowork run tasks on a schedule?
Yes. Scheduled tasks are on all paid plans and can run hourly, daily, weekly, on weekdays or manually. They run remotely, so they keep to schedule while the computer is asleep, unless the task needs local files or apps, in which case it runs locally.
What can Claude Cowork access on my computer?
It reads and writes files only in the folders you connect, and it asks for explicit permission before permanently deleting any file. You choose how often it asks before acting, and on Team and Enterprise plans an admin can turn Cowork off for the organisation.