Claude Code
Claude Max (was Max 5x) vs Claude Ultra (was Max 20x)
Which is better value?
Claude Max (was Max 5x) has the higher AgentMPG estimated value score: 88/100 (rank #1) vs 86/100 for Claude Ultra (was Max 20x) (rank #2). Claude Max (was Max 5x) is cheaper at $100/mo vs $200/mo. Both are Claude Code plans, so the difference is how much usage you get for the money. Scores are editorial estimates, not measurements; check each vendor page before buying.
Anthropic
Claude Max (was Max 5x)
$100/mo · rank #1 of 18
88
Anthropic
Claude Ultra (was Max 20x)
$200/mo · rank #2 of 18
86
Side by side
| Claude Max (was Max 5x) | Claude Ultra (was Max 20x) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100/mo | $200/mo |
| Agent | Claude Code | Claude Code |
| Value score | 88/100 | 86/100 |
| Official limits | Renamed from Max 5x in Nov 2026 (same price). 5x Pro usage every rolling 5-hour session and every week. Usage is shared across Claude chat and Claude Code. Fable (Anthropic's top model) included for up to half your weekly limit. Includes $100/month in Claude Platform API credits and priority access at peak times. Billed monthly only. Claude Duet (US research-preview waitlist on Pro and Max) shares these limits, and its background check-ins count toward them. | Max 20x was renamed Ultra in Nov 2026; existing subscribers moved over automatically at the same price. No 5-hour limit for verified accounts (new accounts keep a temporary session limit until Anthropic verifies them automatically). 10x Pro usage every week; Anthropic says the weekly limit itself is unchanged (the old "20x" was per session). Shared across chat and Claude Code. Separate weekly Fable allowance (up to half your weekly limit). Includes $200/month in Claude Platform API credits and priority access at peak times. Billed monthly only. Claude Duet (US research-preview waitlist on Pro and Max) shares these limits, and its background check-ins count toward them. |
| Builders report | Sweet spot for daily Claude Code users. Most report a full workday of Sonnet-driven agent loops before the 5-hour window bites; heavy Opus use hits the weekly cap by day 4–5. | Parallel-agent crowd's favorite. The weekly cap was already the real ceiling with 2–3 concurrent agents; now that verified accounts have no 5-hour limit, it's the only one. |
| Source | claude.com/pricing verified 2026-11-02 | claude.com/pricing verified 2026-11-02 |
FAQ
- How much do Claude Max (was Max 5x) and Claude Ultra (was Max 20x) cost?
- Claude Max (was Max 5x) costs $100/mo and Claude Ultra (was Max 20x) costs $200/mo (checked 2026-11-02 and 2026-11-02 against https://claude.com/pricing and https://claude.com/pricing).
- What are the limits on Claude Max (was Max 5x) vs Claude Ultra (was Max 20x)?
- Claude Max (was Max 5x): Renamed from Max 5x in Nov 2026 (same price). 5x Pro usage every rolling 5-hour session and every week. Usage is shared across Claude chat and Claude Code. Fable (Anthropic's top model) included for up to half your weekly limit. Includes $100/month in Claude Platform API credits and priority access at peak times. Billed monthly only. Claude Duet (US research-preview waitlist on Pro and Max) shares these limits, and its background check-ins count toward them. Claude Ultra (was Max 20x): Max 20x was renamed Ultra in Nov 2026; existing subscribers moved over automatically at the same price. No 5-hour limit for verified accounts (new accounts keep a temporary session limit until Anthropic verifies them automatically). 10x Pro usage every week; Anthropic says the weekly limit itself is unchanged (the old "20x" was per session). Shared across chat and Claude Code. Separate weekly Fable allowance (up to half your weekly limit). Includes $200/month in Claude Platform API credits and priority access at peak times. Billed monthly only. Claude Duet (US research-preview waitlist on Pro and Max) shares these limits, and its background check-ins count toward them.
Related comparisons
Value score = AgentMPG editorial estimate of agentic work per dollar, 0–100 (not a measurement, not vendor-endorsed). Used one of these? Submit your burn rate. Compare all plans.