Users will no longer be able to use their Claude subscription limits with third-party tools such as OpenClaw, according to an email sent to customers. Instead, anyone wanting to use OpenClaw with Claude will need to switch to a separate pay-as-you-go option.
Anthropic’s Claude Code executive Boris Cherny confirmed on X, “Starting tomorrow at 12pm PT, Claude subscriptions will no longer cover usage on third-party tools like OpenClaw.”
“You can still use these tools with your Claude login via extra usage bundles (now available at a discount) or with a Claude API key,” he said.
Cherny explained that rising demand for Claude has made it difficult to support third-party tools' use of the service. “Capacity is a resource we manage thoughtfully, and we are prioritising our customers using our products and API,” he said.
Cherny added, “Subscribers get a one-time credit equal to your monthly plan cost. If you need more, you can now buy discounted usage bundles. To request a full refund, look for a link in your email tomorrow.” However, this credit needs to be used by April 17, according to the email.
With OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger now working at OpenAI, the move may also push users towards Anthropic’s own tools, such as Claude Cowork.
In a post on X, Steinberger said he and OpenClaw board member Dave Morin “tried to talk sense into Anthropic.” He added that they were only able to delay the change by a week.
“Funny how timings match up, first they copy some popular features into their closed harness, then they lock out open source,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of the opportunity, open-source platform Ollama announced that its subscription limits will be refreshed to support increased use of third-party tools like OpenClaw.
This comes as the rivalry between Anthropic and OpenAI appears to be intensifying, following Anthropic’s dispute with the Pentagon over contract terms and OpenAI’s subsequent capture of the deal.
Amidst the dispute, the Pentagon had labelled Anthropic a supply chain risk. However, last week, US district judge Rita Lin blocked the designation and also halted the enforcement of President Donald Trump’s social media directive ordering all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic and its chatbot Claude.
Subsequently, on Thursday, Department of Justice attorneys filed a notice in San Francisco federal court indicating their intention to appeal the ruling.
Anthropic’s Claude Code executive Boris Cherny confirmed on X, “Starting tomorrow at 12pm PT, Claude subscriptions will no longer cover usage on third-party tools like OpenClaw.”
“You can still use these tools with your Claude login via extra usage bundles (now available at a discount) or with a Claude API key,” he said.
Cherny explained that rising demand for Claude has made it difficult to support third-party tools' use of the service. “Capacity is a resource we manage thoughtfully, and we are prioritising our customers using our products and API,” he said.
Cherny added, “Subscribers get a one-time credit equal to your monthly plan cost. If you need more, you can now buy discounted usage bundles. To request a full refund, look for a link in your email tomorrow.” However, this credit needs to be used by April 17, according to the email.
With OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger now working at OpenAI, the move may also push users towards Anthropic’s own tools, such as Claude Cowork.
In a post on X, Steinberger said he and OpenClaw board member Dave Morin “tried to talk sense into Anthropic.” He added that they were only able to delay the change by a week.
“Funny how timings match up, first they copy some popular features into their closed harness, then they lock out open source,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of the opportunity, open-source platform Ollama announced that its subscription limits will be refreshed to support increased use of third-party tools like OpenClaw.
This comes as the rivalry between Anthropic and OpenAI appears to be intensifying, following Anthropic’s dispute with the Pentagon over contract terms and OpenAI’s subsequent capture of the deal.
Amidst the dispute, the Pentagon had labelled Anthropic a supply chain risk. However, last week, US district judge Rita Lin blocked the designation and also halted the enforcement of President Donald Trump’s social media directive ordering all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic and its chatbot Claude.
Subsequently, on Thursday, Department of Justice attorneys filed a notice in San Francisco federal court indicating their intention to appeal the ruling.
