I suspect subscription limits are quite a bit higher than the equivalent tokens their dollar cost could purchase. I similarly feel like I can get a lot done with a $20/mo Claude Pro subscriptions, but also can easily spend $10-20/day at API pricing with similar usage.
Yep. I get $6k - $8k worth of tokens (at api rates) using the $200 max subscription.
I don't understand why people are using the API pricing instead of the Pro/Max subscriptions? What am I missing?
Enterprise customers don't get that option. But also if you want a fully custom harness, you also don't get that option.
Personally I prefer the API pricing because I feel like I'm not going to get rug pulled on my work. When it comes to personal stuff, I use the shit out of my sub, but it's not making me money.
I’ve made the same argument On Here. Paying the full price (should!) make you consider you usage, pick the right model, delegate to cheaper/local providers, …. It makes you use the models the way they’re going to be used after the subsidy ends.
loading story #48246013
Because with Max subscriptions, you have to use the Claude Agent SDK, which is basically running Claude Code underneath. You don't get to use the chat/Messages APIs with personal subscriptions, for that you need the API pricing.
Terms of service prohibit subscriptions for employees of companies bigger than X people. I suppose they could all sign up as individuals and try to get away with it but presumably that would look pretty obvious with a tiny bit of analytics.
Anthropic is forcing large enterprises onto api billing instead of subscriptions.