Claude Code: what it does, who it is for and alternatives
Updated · By Robert Breen
Anthropic’s coding agent that works in your terminal and editor to build, fix and explain code.
Official site: anthropic.com
What Claude Code does
Claude Code reads your project and works out how it fits together, then plans the work, asks clarifying questions, writes code, runs tests and opens pull requests. It asks permission before it changes files or runs commands. You can use it in the terminal, VS Code or JetBrains, on the web, in the Claude desktop app, or start tasks from Slack.
Who Claude Code is for
- Software developers
- Data analysts
- Product managers
- IT teams
Key features
- Maps and explains a codebase without you picking files by hand
- Turns issues into pull requests with GitHub, GitLab and command-line tools
- Runs in the terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, the web, desktop and mobile apps
- Can run several tasks at once and flags decisions it needs from you
- Asks permission before changing files or running commands
- Extends through MCP servers and tools like Git
Privacy and data
Anthropic says it does not train on code or prompts sent under commercial terms (Team, Enterprise, API); Free, Pro and Max users choose whether their data is used for training. Data is encrypted in transit with TLS 1.2+, and compliance documents are in the Anthropic Trust Center. Source: Claude Code’s own page. Before you put client data in, check your company’s AI rules and the plan’s data settings.
Learn Claude Code free on Stepthrough
- Free lesson: Install Skills in Claude Code: the Skills Folder and a Plugin Marketplace (7 min)
- Guide: GitHub Copilot alternatives
Alternatives to Claude Code
Other AI coding tools in the directory.
- Webhook.site Free plan Get a test URL that shows every webhook request sent to it. The easiest way to see what an app sends.
- Litescrape Free trial A low-cost search and scraping API you can call from n8n and other automations.
- Kosuke Paid AI agent (Sensei) that runs each website or app change in its own branch and sandbox, then brings back a prototype, a recording and a verdict for you to judge. It works with your own coding agent, such as Claude Code.
- GitHub Copilot Free plan An AI pair programmer in your editor that suggests code, explains it and fixes bugs.
- Cursor Free plan An AI code editor that writes and edits code across your whole project from chat.
- Replit Free plan Build and host apps in the browser, with an AI agent that writes the code from a description.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Claude Code?
- Anthropic’s coding agent that works in your terminal and editor to build, fix and explain code. Claude Code reads your project and works out how it fits together, then plans the work, asks clarifying questions, writes code, runs tests and opens pull requests. It asks permission before it changes files or runs commands. You can use it in the terminal, VS Code or JetBrains, on the web, in the Claude desktop app, or start tasks from Slack.
- Who is Claude Code for?
- Claude Code fits software developers, data analysts, product managers and IT teams, and other office teams with the same job to do.
- Is Claude Code free?
- Claude Code is a paid tool. Plans change often, so check the official pricing page before you commit.
- What are some alternatives to Claude Code?
- Other AI coding tools include Webhook.site, Litescrape, Kosuke, GitHub Copilot and Cursor.
- Is Claude Code safe for work data?
- Anthropic says it does not train on code or prompts sent under commercial terms (Team, Enterprise, API); Free, Pro and Max users choose whether their data is used for training. Data is encrypted in transit with TLS 1.2+, and compliance documents are in the Anthropic Trust Center. Check your own company’s rules, and use a business plan with training turned off for client data.
“Listed on Stepthrough” badge
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Checked against Claude Code’s official site on October 20, 2026: source 1, source 2. Spotted something out of date? Email rbreen@ynteractive.com. Listings are free; submit your AI tool.
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