Unlimited Claude usage plans: compare CAK API access
Choose a CAK plan around the time you expect to use the API. The plans share the Claude Unlimited access group; their main difference is the access period.
Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Claude API documentation
Current periods and prices
| Access period | Listed price | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited 1 Hour | $1 | One payment for the selected period |
| Unlimited 24 Hours | $10 | One payment for the selected period |
| Unlimited 1 Week | $49 | One payment for the selected period |
| Unlimited 15 Days | $89 | One payment for the selected period |
API access or a Claude.ai subscription?
These periods cover eligible API usage through CAK. They do not increase Claude.ai chat limits or fund an Anthropic Console account. If you want to connect an editor or your application, use a CAK key for the Claude Unlimited group and this gateway’s base URL.
Match the period to your work
- One hour: a short, focused session after your client is configured.
- 24 hours: a day of development, testing or an occasional project sprint.
- One week: a project with several working days close together.
- 15 days: a longer block of regular work, provided the group’s model selection and limits fit your task.
The longest plan is not automatically the cheapest choice for occasional usage. Enter your own expected token usage and rates in the calculator to compare a selected period with pay-as-you-go.
Activation and the plan clock
Check the final order and subscription dates in Purchase. Access depends on an active entitlement, not merely creating an account or an API key. Prepare your client before purchasing a short period so you can use the available time.
When creating a key, choose the Claude Unlimited group. If an existing key belongs to a prepaid group, the subscription does not silently convert its billing. Check both the key’s group and the active plan when diagnosing access.
Limits still apply
The current group limit is 60 requests per minute. Account concurrency and model-specific constraints also apply. Web chat has one active response per user. A plan does not promise unlimited parallel agents, uninterrupted upstream availability, or access to every future model.
Use the authenticated model list and the unlimited-key guide to verify the route before a long job. If your workload depends on a particular feature, test that feature with a small request.
Before you pay
Confirm the duration, final payment currency, available method and any checkout fee. Read the terms and refund policy. These plans provide independent gateway access and do not include a Claude.ai Pro or Max subscription.
Claude API is an independent gateway and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic. Claude and Anthropic are trademarks of their respective owners.