This modification is a result of engineering constraints, according to Claude Code Head, Boris Cherny.
Claude users must now pay extra for third-party tools like the viral AI assistant OpenClaw, Anthropic announced. Notification was made via email to Claude subscribers and shared on Hacker News, stating that from April 4 at 12 p.m. PT, subscribers cannot use subscription limits for third-party tools like OpenClaw. They are still usable with an API key but will incur additional, separate charges.
Boris Cherny confirmed these details on X, explaining that increased demand for Claude necessitated changes, as subscriptions weren’t accommodating third-party usage patterns. Anthropic prioritizes its product users and API capacity.
OpenClaw developer Peter Steinberger, recently joining OpenAI, noted on X that efforts to negotiate with Anthropic led to merely a week’s delay in changes. He remarked how Anthropic mimicked features in their closed tool while excluding open-source options.
Cherny, not addressing Steinberger directly, reaffirmed support for open source, attributing decisions to engineering limits. Anthropic systems are optimized for specific workloads, aiming to serve as many users as possible with intelligent models.
Anthropic offers full refunds for subscription cancellations.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, sued OpenAI in April 2025 for alleged copyright infringement.