Skip to main content

Getting Started with Claude.ai

Beginner

claude.ai is the easiest way to use Claude — no install, no code. Here's how to get value in your first sitting.

Sign in and pick a plan​

Create an account at claude.ai. The free tier is plenty to learn the ropes; paid tiers raise usage limits and unlock more. You don't need to decide now — see Plans, Limits & Billing when you're ready.

The interface in 20 seconds​

  • A message box at the bottom — type or paste here.
  • The conversation above — your turns and Claude's, in order.
  • A sidebar of past chats — each chat is its own context.
  • Attachments — drop in files, images, or PDFs to ask about them.

It's also on mobile and by voice.

Your first useful conversation​

Don't "search" — ask like you'd ask a sharp colleague, with context and a clear ask:

"I'm planning a 3-day trip to Rome in October for two people who love food and history, on a mid-range budget. Draft a day-by-day outline with one must-do per day and a nearby lunch spot."

Then refine in plain language: "swap day 2 for something less touristy," "add rough costs," "make it a checklist." This back-and-forth is where the magic is — see Prompting Basics.

Three habits from day one​

  1. Give context. Goal, audience, format, tone. (It can't read your mind.)
  2. Iterate. First answer is a draft.
  3. Verify what matters. Facts, numbers, and citations can be confidently wrong — see Hallucinations.

Level up​

Next​