Claude Cowork: what it does, which plans, and how skills fit in

Q: Can Cowork run tasks on a schedule?

Yes. Type /schedule in a task or use the Scheduled list in the sidebar. Scheduled tasks run in the cloud, so your computer does not need to be on.

Cowork has Claude work through multi-step tasks and hand back finished files. It needs a paid plan, and skills and plugins shape how it works.

Claude Cowork has Claude carry out multi-step tasks on its own, such as building a spreadsheet, sorting files or researching a topic, and hand back the finished work. It needs a paid plan (Pro, Max, Ultra, Team or Enterprise), and Anthropic's Cowork page now says "Claude Cowork is now part of Claude. Just ask for what you need." On the new Claude experience you can start it from any chat.

Skills teach it your way of working, and plugins bundle skills with connectors and sub-agents. One thing to know: it can take real actions on your files and connected apps, so choose its approval mode with care. Details are as of November 2026.

Good for

People who want finished spreadsheets, decks or reports, not chat answers
Anyone with folders of files to sort, summarize or convert
Teams that want recurring reports on a schedule
Skill and plugin users who want Claude to follow their way of working

Key facts

Plans: Pro, Max, Ultra, Team, Enterprise; not Free
Desktop app: macOS, Windows, Linux (beta), all paid plans
Web and mobile: Pro, Max, Ultra, Team (beta); Enterprise if owner enables
Chrome side panel: All paid plans
Where it runs: Anthropic's cloud; new Pro, Max, Ultra tasks since Oct 6, 2026
Needs the desktop app open: Local files, browser use, computer use
Approval modes: Auto (default on Pro, Max, Ultra, Team) and Manual (default on Enterprise)
Schedule: /schedule, runs in the cloud with no device online
Skills and plugins: Available on desktop, web and mobile
Task deletion: Gone from history at once, from backend within 30 days
Not yet: Sharing whole sessions; artifacts can be shared

Start a Cowork task with your skills

Claude

1
Check your plan and app
Cowork needs Pro, Max, Ultra, Team or Enterprise. Update the Claude desktop or mobile app if you do not see Cowork in the message box.
2
Start a task
Open Claude on the web, desktop or mobile. Select Cowork in the message box and describe the task. With the new combined experience there is no switch, so describe the task in any chat.
Prompt
```
Organize my Downloads folder by type and date
```
Tip: This is Anthropic's own example for file work. Describe the result you want, then review Claude's plan before it runs.
3
Pick how Claude checks with you
Manual asks before each action. Auto lets Claude work while it screens each action for safety and blocks anything unsafe. Skip approves everything with no checks, so keep it for tasks where you trust every file and connector.
4
Give it files and connectors
On desktop, connect the folders Claude may use. Turn connectors on from the + menu or from Customize > Connectors.
5
Add skills and plugins
Click Customize in the desktop sidebar to manage connectors, skills and plugins in one place. Cowork on desktop takes its skills from this Customize setup, which syncs through your claude.ai account. To write your own skill, ask Claude to run the skill-creator skill. See agent skills for how a skill works.
6
Schedule it if it repeats
Type /schedule in a Cowork task, or use Scheduled in the sidebar. Scheduled tasks run in the cloud, so your computer can be off.
7
Watch your usage
Multi-step tasks use more of your limit than a quick question. Group related work in one task and check Settings > Usage.

Comparison

Skills and plugins work on every surface. Anything that reaches your own computer needs the Claude Desktop app open.

Option	Desktop app	Web	Mobile
Start, steer and review tasks	Yes	Yes	Yes
Skills and pluginsThis page	Yes	Yes	Yes
Scheduled tasks	Yes	Yes	Yes
Projects	Yes	Yes	Yes
Local files	Yes	Via desktop app	Via desktop app
Browser use	Yes	Via desktop app	Via desktop app
Computer use	Beta	Via desktop app	Via desktop app
Plugins with local MCP servers	Yes	No	No

Verdict

Our advice: try Cowork on a copy of one folder, with Manual or Auto approvals, before you trust it with real files. If the job is writing code, use Claude Code instead.

Our advice: try Cowork on a copy of one folder, with Manual or Auto approvals, before you trust it with real files.

Best for

Recurring reports and spreadsheets built from files and connected apps
Sorting, renaming and summarizing folders of documents
Teams packaging their procedures as skills and plugins

Skip it if

You are on the Free plan, which does not include Cowork
You want a task to stay on your computer only, since new Pro, Max and Ultra tasks run in the cloud
You plan to use Skip mode on files or accounts you cannot afford to lose

Often compared with

ChatGPT
Gemini

Questions

Is Claude Cowork free?

No. Cowork is for paid plans only: Pro, Max, Ultra, Team and Enterprise. The Free plan does not include it.

How do I use skills in Cowork?

Skills work in Cowork on desktop, web and mobile. Manage them from Customize in the desktop sidebar. Anthropic says Cowork on desktop gets its skills from that Customize setup, which syncs through your claude.ai account, and not from the ~/.claude folder that Claude Code reads.

What is the difference between a skill and a plugin?

A skill is a set of instructions Claude uses when a task matches it. A plugin bundles skills, connectors and sub-agents in one package. A plugin you add is saved to your account, so it also works in chat and Claude Code. See agent skills.

Does Cowork run on my computer or in the cloud?

In the cloud. Since October 6, 2026, new Cowork tasks on Pro, Max and Ultra run on Anthropic's servers, and there is no setting to keep them on your computer. Local files, browser use and computer use still need the Claude Desktop app open.

How is Cowork different from Claude Code?

Cowork uses the same agent engine as Claude Code but needs no terminal, and it is aimed at knowledge work such as documents, spreadsheets and research. For tasks that run only on your computer, Anthropic points to Claude Code in the desktop app.

Can Cowork delete my files?

Only with your permission. Anthropic says Claude asks for your explicit approval before permanently deleting any files. The approval mode you pick controls how often it asks about other actions.

Is Cowork safe to use?

Anthropic says Cowork has unique risks because it acts on its own and can reach the internet. It runs in an isolated environment, and you control the folders and connectors it can use. Anthropic also says no mode replaces your judgment, so stay close for work with money or messages sent as you.

Can I use Cowork on my phone?

Yes, on Pro, Max, Ultra and Team (beta on Team). Enterprise owners can turn it on. You get a phone notification when a task finishes or needs you.

Can Cowork run tasks on a schedule?

Yes. Type /schedule in a task or use the Scheduled list in the sidebar. Scheduled tasks run in the cloud, so your computer does not need to be on.

Does Cowork use a lot of my usage limit?

It can. Multi-step tasks that run code, create files or use connected apps use more than a quick question. Group related work in one task and check Settings > Usage.

Information

updated Nov 3, 2026

Made by: Anthropic
Connector directory: claude.ai/directory

In the Claude directory

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 5

Get started with Claude Cowork · support.claude.com
Claude Cowork · claude.com
Use Claude Cowork on web, desktop, and mobile · support.claude.com
Claude Code Desktop · code.claude.com
Skills · claude.com