Anthropic is placing new weekly limits on its Claude Code tool, citing excessive usage from a small number of users—even those paying $200 per month.
Claude Code, a feature within the Claude chatbot and available only to Pro and Max subscribers, helps users generate, debug, and deploy code using natural language. The tool has become especially popular among developers for its integration with software development kits (SDKs) and GitHub.
But according to Anthropic, some users have been running Claude Code “continuously in the background, 24/7,” placing a heavy load on the company’s systems. In a statement posted to social media, the company noted that a single user even racked up “tens of thousands in model usage” while only paying for the $200 Max plan.
To manage infrastructure strain and environmental impact, the company will begin enforcing rate limits starting August 28. Anthropic said these restrictions are expected to affect fewer than 5% of subscribers based on current usage trends.
The announcement has sparked debate, with some users arguing that high usage is justified given the cost of the subscription. However, Anthropic maintains that sustainable access for all users is a priority. “We’re still exploring the best ways to ensure as broad access as possible to Claude Code,” the company said, inviting feedback from “power users.”
Those who exceed the new limits will have the option to purchase additional usage beyond their subscription.
Despite the restrictions, Anthropic’s Claude AI continues to draw praise as a top competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, particularly for technical tasks like programming.
