No. The "Free Claude Code" project on GitHub keeps Claude's look but swaps the brain underneath. By default it sends your work to an NVIDIA model, not to Anthropic's Claude. The real Claude already has a free plan for everyday business writing, and the paid options start at US$20 a month.
Key takeaways
· Free Claude Code is an independent open-source project. Its own page says it is "not affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic".
· Its default model is NVIDIA's Nemotron, with around 60 other providers to choose from. Actual Claude only runs through it on a separately billed Anthropic account.
· Whatever you type goes to whichever provider is switched on, under that provider's rules.
· Anthropic's own Free plan costs $0 and includes chat, web search, file creation, up to five projects, Skills and Connectors.
· Claude Pro is US$20 a month billed monthly, or US$17 a month billed annually, charged in local currency where supported, plus tax.
You've probably seen the post. "Free Claude AI!" A GitHub link. Sixty thousand stars. Someone in the comments saying "cancel your subscription". It's tempting. I run a small business too, and I check every software line on the credit card statement like it owes me money.
So I went and read the project page properly. Here's what it actually is, where your information goes, and what your real Claude options look like.
What is "Free Claude Code", in plain English?
Free Claude Code is a piece of software that sits between a coding app and an AI model and redirects the traffic. It keeps the Claude Code screen you'd recognise, then quietly sends each request to a different company's model.
Think of it as a Claude-branded front door that opens into someone else's kitchen. The door looks the same. The cook is not.
That matters because the screen you type into is just the interface. The model is the brain doing the work. Change the brain and you change the quality, the rules and where your words end up.
Is "free Claude" actually Claude?
Not by default. According to the project's own GitHub page, the default model is NVIDIA's Nemotron, and it lists around 60 alternatives including DeepSeek, Qwen, Groq and OpenRouter. The "free" part comes from those providers' free allowances, and the page says those limits "are controlled by each provider and may change".
Anthropic is on that list, but using actual Claude through it means connecting your own Anthropic account, which is billed separately. At that point it isn't free any more.
One more thing worth knowing: Claude Code is a tool for building software. If your AI jobs are quotes, emails, social posts and client follow-ups, you don't need Claude Code at all, free or otherwise.
Where does your business information go?
It goes to whichever provider is switched on. If you paste in a client's details, a quote or a staff issue, that text is sent to that provider and handled under its terms, not Anthropic's.
The project page also notes that "a failed request may reach and consume usage from more than one provider before succeeding". So one request could touch more than one company.
Here's the simple test I use: would you hand that client file to a company you couldn't name? If not, don't type it into a tool where you can't say who's on the other end.
Is it safe for a non-technical owner to install?
It's not a great first project. The Mac install pastes a command into Terminal that downloads a script from the internet and runs it straight away. The project can also change how the Claude desktop app signs in, so you'd need to disconnect it to get back to normal.
I'm not saying the project is dodgy. Developers who read the script first can make an informed call. I'm saying most of us can't check what that script does, and "I couldn't check it" is a good enough reason to skip it. If you're just getting started, our guide to starting with AI without breaking anything covers the safe first steps.
What are your real Claude options?
Here's what Anthropic lists on its pricing page as at 20 October 2026. Prices are in US dollars before tax. Anthropic charges in local currency where it supports it, so check the Australian price at checkout.
If you want to see what Claude can do once it's set up properly, our post on which Claude for Small Business skills to switch on walks through it.
Which Claude plan should a small business choose?
Start on Free. It's the real thing, and it's enough to learn whether Claude suits the way you work. Then use this rule:
· Stay on Free while you're using it a few times a week for writing and planning.
· Move to Pro when you hit the usage limit most weeks, or you need Research, Claude in Chrome or more than five projects.
· Consider Max only if you're working in Claude for hours every day and Pro's limits keep stopping you.
· Choose Team when two or more people need Claude for business work and you want one bill and admin control.
Paying for Pro and then barely opening it is the real waste. Free first, upgrade when you feel the limit.
How do you check an AI tool before you install it?
Ask three questions before anything goes on your computer:
1. Who makes it? Check the official site. For Claude add-ons, start with Anthropic's own plugins directory, where the ones marked Anthropic Verified have had extra review. An independent project can be fine, but you should know it's independent.
2. Where does my information go? If the answer is "whichever provider you pick", you're the one choosing who sees your data.
3. Can I undo it? If installing means changing settings you don't understand, wait until you can ask someone who does.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free version of Claude?
Yes. Anthropic's own Free plan costs $0 and includes chat on web, desktop and mobile, web search, file creation, up to five projects, Skills and Connectors. It doesn't include Claude Code, Research or the Opus model.
Is Free Claude Code made by Anthropic?
No. Its GitHub page describes it as an independent open-source project that is not affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic. By default it uses an NVIDIA model, not Claude.
How much does Claude Pro cost in Australia?
Anthropic lists Claude Pro at US$20 a month billed monthly, or US$17 a month billed annually, plus applicable tax. It charges in local currency where supported, so the exact Australian price shows at checkout.
Do small businesses need Claude Code?
Most don't. Claude Code is built for writing and running software. For emails, quotes, social posts and planning, the Free or Pro plan in the standard Claude app does the job.
Where to from here?
Next step: if you've decided Claude is the right tool, set it up properly once instead of fiddling for months. Claude Readyis a one-off session where we build your Claude workspace together: your brand voice, your core prompts and your projects. Not sure which AI tool fits your business yet? Take the free AI Quiz. It takes a few minutes.
