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Some of my friends use Claude on their phone. Some have never touched it. Some are developers who live in the terminal. Pick your path — all three are valid, and you can always upgrade later.
Start free in your browser or phone. No download, no credit card. Up and running in five minutes.
Already have an account? Here's how to get more out of it — and when it's worth upgrading to Pro.
Claude Code runs in your terminal, reads files from your computer, and connects to apps like AnyList. This is the full system.
Go to claude.ai
Works in any browser. No app required, though there is one if you prefer it (iOS and Android).
Open claude.ai →Create a free account
Sign up with your email or Google account. Two minutes, no credit card. You'll be on the free tier to start — which is fine for exploring.
Try a few conversations
Ask it something. Give it a task. Paste in a document and ask questions about it. The fastest way to know if it's useful is to just use it.
Upgrade to Pro for regular use
Claude Pro is $20/month and gives you much higher usage limits, plus plenty of room in Projects — where you save your family preferences and schedule so Claude remembers them every session. For the meal planning kit, Pro is what makes it actually smooth.
See Claude Pro pricing →Download the app if you haven't
Available on the App Store and Google Play. Search "Claude by Anthropic." The app supports file attachments and voice input.
Use Projects to give Claude context
Claude's Projects feature lets you save instructions and background info that carry across every conversation. Set one up for meal planning: family preferences, dietary rules, what you usually cook. You won't have to re-explain every time.
Attach files directly
You can upload documents, spreadsheets, and text files right in Claude.ai. For the meal planning kit, you'll share your preferences and schedule files this way — just attach and run the prompt.
Upgrade to Pro if you're hitting limits
Claude Pro is $20/month. It gives you higher usage limits, access to the most capable models, and a longer context window — helpful when you're working with bigger files or longer conversations.
See Claude Pro →Make sure Node.js is installed
Claude Code requires Node.js 18 or higher. Check by running the command below — if you get a version number back, you're good.
Install Claude Code
One command in your terminal. This installs the Claude Code CLI globally on your machine.
Run claude and log in
Navigate to your project folder and run claude. You'll be prompted to authenticate with your Anthropic account. Claude Pro or an API account required.
Organize your files so Claude can navigate them
Claude Code reads your whole project folder — so how you organize it matters. Keep related files together, use clear names, and put a CLAUDE.md at the root with the context Claude needs every session. Well-organized files mean less time re-explaining and more useful output per conversation.
Is Claude free?
Claude.ai has a free tier that's good for exploring — it even includes Projects, so you can save your family preferences and files. For regular use — especially the meal planning kit — you'll want Claude Pro at $20/month for the higher usage limits: a full weekly planning session can hit the free tier's caps fast. Claude Code requires a Pro account or direct API access.
Is it safe to share personal information with Claude?
Whether Anthropic uses your chats to help improve its models depends on the privacy choice you made at signup — you can change it anytime in Settings → Privacy. Either way, for the meal planning kit the most personal thing you're sharing is your grocery preferences and schedule — low stakes. Don't share passwords, financial account info, or anything you wouldn't say out loud in a coffee shop.
What's the difference between Claude and ChatGPT?
Both are AI assistants, but they have different strengths. Claude tends to be better at following detailed instructions, working with longer documents, and staying in a consistent voice. I use both — Claude is what I built my systems on because it handles structured, file-based workflows better. I've written more about this →
Do I need Claude Code for the meal planning kit?
No — the kit includes a simplified version that works entirely in Claude.ai (free or Pro). Claude Code is only needed if you want the full system with the AnyList MCP integration, where Claude reads your recipe library directly and pushes meals into your calendar.
What's MCP?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is how Claude Code connects to external apps and services — like AnyList. Think of it as a plugin system that lets Claude read from and write to apps you already use. It sounds technical, but setting up an existing MCP mostly just means copying a configuration snippet. The setup guide covers it.
Ready to try it?
Beginner with a free Claude account, phone user, or full Claude Code setup — it's all in there.