Claude plan

If you pay for Claude Pro, Max or Team, you can use Claude's models in SurfSense with no API key. SurfSense works through Claude Code, Anthropic's own program, installed and signed in on your computer. Your sign-in stays in Claude Code: SurfSense never sees it and holds no Claude credential.

What you getCopy Anchor Link

• Chat, in Basic and Agentic mode, chat titles, and everything Studio writes.
• The models Claude Code offers you, read from Claude Code each time.
• Your plan's limits. Use counts toward your plan, as it does in Claude Code.

A Claude plan only provides text generation. For images, audio or video, use a local model or an API provider.

Before you startCopy Anchor Link

Install Claude Code, then sign in to it with your Claude account:

1. Install Claude Code by following Anthropic's setup guide.
2. Open a terminal, run claude, and sign in with your Claude account. Choose your Claude subscription, not an API (Console) account.

SurfSense needs a recent version of Claude Code. It tells you if yours is too old.

Connect your planCopy Anchor Link

Once connected, Use your Claude plan reads Connected through Claude Code on this computer, and Show models opens the list again.

How it worksCopy Anchor Link

SurfSense runs your own Claude Code for every reply.

• In Basic chat, Claude Code answers with every one of its own tools turned off. It only writes the answer.
• In Agentic mode, Claude Code does the work with SurfSense's tools, rules and approvals, the same ones as any other model. You never choose an engine, and you can switch a chat to another model and back.
• Network. Claude Code reaches only the two hosts you allowed, through SurfSense. Each is its own row in Settings › Network, the sign-in host labelled Claude Code sign-in. Turn either off and Claude plan replies stop.

When your plan's limit is reached and your account pays for extra usage, the composer says Your plan’s limit is reached, so replies use extra usage.

Sign out, or switch accountsCopy Anchor Link

SurfSense doesn't sign you in or out. To sign out or switch accounts, run claude in a terminal and do it there. SurfSense uses whichever account Claude Code is signed in to.

Disconnect on the Claude plan group in Settings removes the connection from SurfSense. It doesn't sign Claude Code out.

In DockerCopy Anchor Link

When SurfSense runs in Docker, Claude Code must be installed and signed in inside the SurfSense container. Instead of the install guide, the Set up dialog shows the command to run on the computer running Docker, in the folder with docker-compose.yml, with a button to copy it. To sign in, run the command it shows, then type /login.

TroubleshootingCopy Anchor Link

Couldn't use the model: Claude Code is too oldCopy Anchor Link

Update Claude Code, then send your message again.

Claude Code is installed but not signed in to a Claude planCopy Anchor Link

Claude Code is signed out, or signed in with an API (Console) account, which isn't a plan. Run claude and sign in with your Claude subscription.

SurfSense can't find Claude CodeCopy Anchor Link

SurfSense looks on your PATH and in the places Claude Code's installers use. If you installed it somewhere else, reinstall it with Anthropic's native installer from the setup guide.