Since Monday morning, Claude Code users have been facing unexpected restrictions on their usage limits, with the problems mainly affecting heavy users, particularly those on the $200-a-month Max plan. These users have reported that they’re being notified with a vague message: “Claude usage limit reached,” with no clear explanation of why their limits are being hit. This has been confusing, as users were not informed in advance of any changes, leading many to believe that their subscriptions were downgraded or that their usage was being tracked inaccurately.
One user expressed frustration, saying, “There is no way in the 30 minutes of a few requests I have hit the 900 messages.” Despite reaching out to Anthropic for clarification, the company confirmed the issues but offered little insight. An Anthropic representative stated, “We’re aware that some Claude Code users are experiencing slower response times, and we’re working to resolve these issues.” However, the lack of a detailed explanation has left users feeling uncertain about the future of the service.
These issues come at a time when there have been broader problems across Anthropic’s network, with many API users reporting errors during the same period. Despite these technical issues, Anthropic’s status page continues to show 100% uptime for the week. This has only added to the confusion, as users are now unsure whether their usage limits are being caused by system errors or changes in policy.
The root of the confusion seems to lie in Anthropic’s pricing and usage system. The company has tiered plans, with the most expensive $200 Max plan offering usage limits 20 times higher than the Pro plan, which itself offers limits five times greater than the free plan. However, the free plan’s limits “vary by demand,” and no absolute usage values are set. This lack of transparency makes it hard for users to plan their activities, as they can’t predict when their service will be restricted.
The Max plan has been especially popular among heavy users, some of whom find it essential for their work. One user mentioned that they can rack up over $1,000 worth of calls (measured in API pricing) in a single day, which led them to believe the more restrictive usage limits were a response to the high demand. While they weren’t surprised by the changes, they hoped the company would be more open about the adjustments.
Many users feel frustrated by the lack of communication from Anthropic, which has left them unsure about what to expect going forward. As one user put it, “Just be transparent. The lack of communication just causes people to lose confidence in them.” Clearer communication about usage limits and any potential changes could help rebuild trust with users, especially those relying on the service for complex, data-heavy tasks.
In the end, the issues with Claude Code reflect a growing challenge for AI companies: how to balance demand with service sustainability while keeping users informed and satisfied. As Anthropic works to resolve these issues, clearer communication and more predictable usage limits will likely be key in maintaining the confidence of its user base.
