Anthropic will stop covering third-party tool usage under Claude subscriptions starting April 4 at 12 pm PT, according to an email to users and statements by Boris Cherny, Head of Claude Code.
“Starting April 4 at 12 pm PT / 8 pm BST, you’ll no longer be able to use your Claude subscription limits for third-party harnesses, including OpenClaw,” the company said in the email.
Users will still be able to access such tools using their Claude accounts, but usage will be billed separately under a pay-as-you-go model. “They will require extra usage, a pay-as-you-go option billed separately from your subscription,” the email stated.
Cherny reiterated the change on X, writing, “Claude subscriptions will no longer cover usage on third-party tools like OpenClaw.”
He added that users can continue using these tools with their Claude login via extra usage bundles or with a Claude API key.
The company said the policy will first apply to OpenClaw and later expand to other third-party tools. Users who want to continue access can enable additional usage on their accounts.
Anthropic cited infrastructure constraints as the reason for the decision. “These tools put an outsized strain on our systems,” the company said in the email.
“Our subscriptions weren’t built for the usage patterns of these third-party tools,” Cherney added.
The company said it is prioritising customers using its own products and API. “Capacity is a resource we manage carefully, and we need to prioritise our customers using our core products,” the email noted.
To ease the transition, Anthropic is offering a one-time credit equal to a user’s monthly subscription price.
“Subscribers get a one-time credit equal to your monthly plan cost,” Cherny said. The company is also introducing discounted bundles for additional usage.
Users will have the option to request refunds. “You will receive another email… where you’ll have the ability to refund your subscription if you prefer,” the company said.
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