Anthropic has abruptly ended free access to its Claude AI for users of third-party applications, including OpenClaw. CEO Boris Cherny announced on X that Claude subscriptions will no longer cover usage through external tools starting April 4th. This means anyone leveraging Claude via platforms like OpenClaw must now purchase a dedicated usage bundle or use a separate Claude API key.

The move targets users automating tasks such as email management and calendar organization through OpenClaw, which relies on multiple LLMs including Claude. Cherny cited engineering constraints and surging demand as the primary drivers, stating Claude's subscriptions weren't designed for the usage patterns of third-party integrations. He emphasized prioritizing customers using Anthropic's own products and API over external tool users.