Claude Code vs SWE-agent
Claude Code
claude.comSWE-agent
swe-agent.comSide by side
| Figure | Claude Code | SWE-agent |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $17/mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 0 |
| Spec score · AI Coding Assistants | 9.5 (#2) | 7.9 (#68) |
| Spec score · AI Code Generators | 9.4 (#2) | 7.4 (#51) |
| Spec score · Ai Agents Assistants | 9.4 (#1) | 7.3 (#22) |
| Spec score · AI Code Generation Software | 9.3 (#2) | 7.4 (#26) |
| Coding agent | Yes | Yes |
| Customization | CLAUDE.md files, skills, hooks, auto memory and plugins provide project instructions and repeatable workflows. | Users can add custom tools and change the demonstration trajectory supplied to the agent at the start of each run. |
| Installation | Native installers are provided for macOS, Linux, WSL and Windows, with Homebrew and WinGet options; native installs auto-update. | The preferred setup is installation from source using pip. |
| Terminal access | Yes | Yes |
Plans
In their own words
Claude Code
Claude Code is a coding agent with chat assistance, terminal access, and codebase indexing. It supports VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Cursor, and Devin Desktop, with agent mode, desktop app control, browser control, screen understanding, and human approval controls. Listed platforms include web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and a Chrome extension; deployment is hybrid. A free Claude plan is available, but Claude Code is not part of it. Pro includes Claude Code for $17 a month with an annual subscription discount and $200 billed up front. That plan also lists more usage, Projects, and more Claude models. Max 5x is $100 a month and lists five times Pro's usage and higher output limits. Max 20x is $200 a month, with 20 times Pro's usage and higher output limits. The maker was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.