No. The Free Claude plan does not include Claude Code. You need a paid Claude plan or an Anthropic Console account that pays per use. Check the current plan page for what each plan includes.

Which Claude plans include Claude Code?

Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise include Claude Code. Claude Code shares the usage limits of your plan, so long sessions count against the same allowance as your chats.

Can I use Claude Code with Ollama?

Yes. Ollama can serve an Anthropic-compatible endpoint, and Claude Code can point at it. You then run an open model on your own machine or on Ollama's cloud. Anthropic does not support routing Claude Code to non-Claude models, so treat this as an experiment.

Do local models work as well as Claude?

Usually not. Local models are smaller, need a lot of memory, and often struggle with long multi-step tasks. They are fine for learning how the tool works. For client work, use a model you trust.

What is the cheapest way to start?

Start on the lowest paid Claude plan and cancel if it does not fit. That gives you the real Claude Code experience for a small monthly cost. The pay-per-use route can be cheaper for light use and more expensive for heavy use.

Is Codex free instead?

Codex comes with ChatGPT plans, and OpenAI has offered limited access on lower tiers at times. Offers change, so check the current Codex pricing page. Our Codex guide shows how to set it up.

How to Use Claude Code for Free (and What It Really Costs)

On this page

1In short
2Is Claude Code free?
3Ways to pay for Claude Code
4Low-cost ways to try it
5Use Claude Code with a local model (Ollama)
6Other cost-saving habits
7Which route fits you?
8What about Codex?
9Turn it into a service with GoHighLevel

In short

The Free Claude plan does not include Claude Code. Paid plans and the Anthropic Console do.
Free routes exist, but they use other models and come with real limits.
Our advice: try the cheapest paid plan for a month, then decide.

Is Claude Code free?

No. We are RocketLauncher, a software company, and we use Claude Code daily. According to the Claude pricing page, Claude Code is included in the paid plans: Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise. The Free plan does not include it. Plans and prices change, so check the current plan page before you buy.

Claude Code shares usage limits with the rest of your plan. A long coding session uses the same allowance as your chats. If you hit the limit, you wait for it to reset or move to a higher plan.

Ways to pay for Claude Code

There are two main routes.

A Claude subscription

You sign in with your Claude account. One plan covers the chat app and Claude Code. This is the simplest route and the one we suggest to beginners, because the monthly cost is predictable.

An Anthropic Console account

You pay per use with an API account. There is no monthly cap on your spend unless you set one. This suits light or automated use. For heavy daily use, a subscription is often easier to budget.

Low-cost ways to try it

These are honest options, not tricks.

Start on the lowest paid plan. Use it for a month on a real task. Cancel if it does not help.
Use the free courses. Anthropic publishes free self-paced courses on Claude Code. They teach the tool without needing a plan.
Ask a team or school. Some employers and schools already pay for a Team or Enterprise seat.
Learn before you buy. Our Claude Code hub has guides and lessons so you know what you are paying for.

Use Claude Code with a local model (Ollama)

Ollama lets you run open models on your own computer. Its documentation describes a way to point Claude Code at Ollama instead of Anthropic. This is the closest thing to a no-cost setup.

Install Claude Code and install Ollama.
Pull a model that supports tool use.
Run ollama launch claude, or set ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL to http://localhost:11434 and ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN to ollama, then start claude with a model name.
Give the model a long context window. The Ollama docs recommend 64k or more for larger projects.

Ollama also offers cloud-hosted models. Their pricing and limits are set by Ollama, so check their plan page.

Honest caveats

Anthropic does not support routing Claude Code to non-Claude models. If something breaks, you are on your own.
Small local models are slower and less reliable on multi-step work. They may edit the wrong file or stop halfway.
You need a capable computer. A model that fits in memory on a laptop is usually a small one.
Some Claude Code features, such as hosted web search, may not work with a local model.
Your own electricity and hardware are not free.

Use this route to learn how an agent reads files, edits them and runs commands. Do not use it for anything a client depends on.

Other cost-saving habits

Keep sessions short and focused. Start a new session for each task.
Put your rules in a CLAUDE.md file so you do not repeat yourself.
Ask for a plan first. Fixing a plan is cheaper than fixing finished code.
Pick the smaller model for simple edits, if your plan lets you choose.

Which route fits you?

You want to learn the basics. Try a local model with Ollama, or take the free courses. Expect rough edges.
You want to build real projects. Use a paid Claude plan. The models are the ones Claude Code was built for.
You run it in scripts or CI. An Anthropic Console account is often the cleaner fit, because you pay for what you use.
You work in a team. Ask whether your company already has a Team or Enterprise plan.

Whatever you choose, write down what you spend for the first month. A small note on hours saved and money paid tells you quickly if the tool earns its place.

What about Codex?

OpenAI's Codex is the other big coding agent. It runs on ChatGPT plans and can be used from the terminal, an IDE or the web. Access and limits depend on your ChatGPT plan and change over time, so check the current Codex pricing page. We compare both tools in Claude Code vs Codex.

Turn it into a service with GoHighLevel

Many people learn Claude Code and then ask how to earn from it. A common path is to build useful things for local businesses, such as a missed-call text back, a booking flow or a simple website, and run them inside GoHighLevel. Claude Code writes and edits the pieces, and GoHighLevel handles the CRM, messages and calendars. We cover the full process in the Claude Code + GoHighLevel kit, and you can browse the other build and sell kits. We make no promise of income. What you earn depends on your work and your clients.