Anthropic has announced a significant policy update, effective Saturday, April 4th, stating that Claude subscriptions will no longer encompass usage through third-party platforms such as OpenClaw.
This change is set to substantially increase the cost for users integrating OpenClaw with Claude AI. An email distributed to users on Friday evening confirmed that from April 4th at 3 PM ET, "your Claude subscription limits for third-party harnesses including OpenClaw" will no longer be applicable. Future use of OpenClaw with Claude will necessitate a distinct "pay-as-you-go option," billed independently of existing Claude subscriptions.
The timing of this policy shift coincides with OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger's employment by OpenAI, leading to speculation that Anthropic may be subtly steering subscribers toward its proprietary tools, such as Claude Cowork. Steinberger, alongside OpenClaw board member Dave Morin, reportedly "tried to talk sense into Anthropic," managing only to secure a one-week delay for the implementation of these changes.
Boris Cherny, an Anthropic Claude Code executive, elaborated on the decision, stating: "Starting tomorrow at 12pm PT, Claude subscriptions will no longer cover usage on third-party tools like OpenClaw." He clarified that users can still access these tools through their Claude login via "extra usage bundles (now available at a discount)" or by utilizing a Claude API key. Cherny further explained the rationale, noting, "We’ve been working hard to meet the increase in demand for Claude, and our subscriptions weren’t built for the usage patterns of these third-party tools. Capacity is a resource we manage thoughtfully and we are prioritizing our customers using our products and API."
As a compensatory measure, subscribers will receive a one-time credit equivalent to their monthly plan cost. Additional usage bundles are available at a discounted rate, and instructions for requesting a full refund will be provided via email. Cherny underscored Anthropic's strategic intent, stating, "We want to be intentional in managing our growth to continue to serve our customers sustainably long-term. This change is a step toward that," indicating a focus on sustainable expansion.
Anthropic did not immediately respond to The Verge's request for comment regarding these developments. OpenClaw had experienced a surge in popularity earlier this year, lauded by users for its efficiency in tasks such as managing inboxes, calendars, and even flight check-ins. However, this widespread adoption reportedly placed a significant strain on Anthropic's underlying infrastructure, reinforcing the company's decision to offer subscribers "a one-time credit equal to your monthly plan cost" in light of the new policy, as confirmed by Cherny.
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