Anthropic essentially bans OpenClaw from Claude by making subscribers pay extra

Claude subscriptions will no longer cover third-party access from tools like OpenClaw starting Saturday, April 4th.

Image: The Verge

Using OpenClaw with Claude AI is about to get a lot more expensive, thanks to Anthropic’s new policy changes. Beginning April 4th at 3PM ET, users will “no longer be able to use your Claude subscription limits for third-party harnesses including OpenClaw,” according to an email sent to users on Friday evening. Instead, if users want to use OpenClaw with Claude, they’ll have to use a “pay-as-you-go option” that will be billed separate from their Claude subscription.

With OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger now employed by OpenAI, Anthropic may also be encouraging subscribers to use more of its own tools, like Claude Cowork, instead. Steinberger says that he and OpenClaw board member Dave Morin “tried to talk sense into Anthropic, best we managed was delaying this for a week.”

Anthropic didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment from The Verge.

OpenClaw exploded in popularity earlier this year after users said the AI agent could efficiently do things like manage inboxes, calendars, and even check in to flights. But it’s also apparently putting a strain on Anthropic’s infrastructure. Anthropic is giving subscribers “a one-time credit equal to your monthly plan cost” after these changes, Cherny says.