Is Claude free to use?

Yes — there's a free tier with usage limits and no credit card required. Paid plans (from $20/month for Pro) raise the limits and unlock more powerful models.

Which Claude model should a beginner use?

Stick with the default (Sonnet). It handles almost everything well. Switch to Opus only for especially hard tasks, or Haiku when you want speed.

Does Claude remember previous conversations?

Within one chat, Claude remembers everything. Across separate chats it starts fresh — unless you use a Project, which keeps shared context available in every chat.

Can Claude read images and documents?

Yes. You can upload PDFs, documents, and images (screenshots, charts, handwritten notes) and ask Claude about them.

Is my data used to train Claude?

Anthropic does not use your data to train its models without your explicit consent. Check the current privacy settings and policy in your account for details.

Can Claude access the internet?

In the claude.ai app, web search can be enabled so Claude can pull in current information. Without it, Claude answers from what it already knows plus what you give it.

Claude FAQ for Beginners

Quick answers to the questions people ask when they first start using Claude.

The most common questions from people just getting started with Claude. If you're still unsure about a term, the glossary covers the vocabulary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Claude free to use?: Yes — there's a free tier with usage limits and no credit card required. Paid plans (from $20/month for Pro) raise the limits and unlock more powerful models.
Which Claude model should a beginner use?: Stick with the default (Sonnet). It handles almost everything well. Switch to Opus only for especially hard tasks, or Haiku when you want speed.
Does Claude remember previous conversations?: Within one chat, Claude remembers everything. Across separate chats it starts fresh — unless you use a Project, which keeps shared context available in every chat.
Can Claude read images and documents?: Yes. You can upload PDFs, documents, and images (screenshots, charts, handwritten notes) and ask Claude about them.
Is my data used to train Claude?: Anthropic does not use your data to train its models without your explicit consent. Check the current privacy settings and policy in your account for details.
Can Claude access the internet?: In the claude.ai app, web search can be enabled so Claude can pull in current information. Without it, Claude answers from what it already knows plus what you give it.