Anthropic tightens usage limits for Claude Code – without telling users

Since Monday, users of Claude Code have faced unexpected and stringent usage restrictions. Many of these issues have been reported on the service's GitHub page, particularly affecting frequent users who subscribe to the $200-a-month Max plan. Customers are receiving generic notifications stating, "Claude usage limit reached," along with a reset time that typically occurs within a few hours. However, the absence of any formal announcement regarding a change in limits has led many users to speculate that their subscriptions might have been downgraded or that their usage is being incorrectly tracked. One user expressed frustration, stating, "Your tracking of usage limits has changed and is no longer accurate. There is no way in the 30 minutes of a few requests I have hit the 900 messages." An Anthropic representative acknowledged the issues but provided no further clarification, saying, "We’re aware that some Claude Code users are experiencing slower response times, and we’re working to resolve these issues." The sudden shift in usage limits has left many users alarmed, as they received no prior notice regarding the changes and lack clear guidance moving forward. One anonymous user shared their struggle, saying, "It just stopped the ability to make progress" on their project since the new limits were enforced. They noted they had tried alternatives like Gemini and Kimi, but found nothing comparable to Claude Code's capabilities. These concerns have surfaced alongside broader challenges within Anthropic’s network, with numerous API users reporting overload errors during this time. Despite the company’s status page indicating 100% uptime for the week, six separate issues have been noted over the last four days. While loading errors are not uncommon, the recent adjustments to usage limits have left many users confused, particularly since they were previously unaware that such limits existed. Part of the confusion stems from Anthropic's tiered pricing structure, which sets limits without assuring specific levels of access. The top-tier Max plan offers usage limits purportedly 20 times higher than the Pro subscription, which itself has limits five times greater than the free plan. However, Anthropic notes that the free user limit "will vary by demand," leaving users without a clear understanding of when their service might be curtailed. The $200 Max plan has garnered popularity among heavy users, with some considering it unsustainable for Anthropic in the long run. One user remarked that the plan often allows him to make over $1000 worth of API calls in a single day. Although he anticipated tighter usage limits, he expressed a desire for clearer communication from the company, stating, "Just be transparent. The lack of communication just causes people to lose confidence in them."