News

Anthropic Quietly Imposes Stricter Claude Code Usage Limits, Sparking User Frustration

Cansin Cengiz

17 Jul 2025 — 2 min read

Anthropic Tightens Claude Code Limits Without Prior Notice

This week, users of Anthropic's Claude Code AI tool have encountered unexpected and more restrictive usage limits, particularly among those on the premium $200-a-month Max plan. Many users, including heavy-duty developers and business owners, have voiced concerns about these sudden restrictions being enforced without any official announcement or prior warning from Anthropic.

Users Report Sudden Service Interruptions

Reports began surfacing on Monday as users found themselves abruptly locked out of Claude Code with messages like “Claude usage limit reached.” The limits appear to reset after a few hours, but the lack of transparency has left many users confused and frustrated. The issue has been widely discussed on Claude Code’s GitHub page, with users questioning whether their subscriptions have been downgraded or if usage tracking is malfunctioning.

Some users claim they reached limits after just a few requests, far below their plan’s advertised capacity.
Others shared that the restriction halted critical projects, as there is currently no clear competitor matching Claude Code’s capabilities for their needs.

Lack of Communication Fuels Confusion

Anthropic has not issued any public announcement or details about the new limits. When contacted, a representative acknowledged the problem, stating, “We’re aware that some Claude Code users are experiencing slower response times, and we’re working to resolve these issues.” However, no timeline or explanation was provided to clarify the situation for affected customers.

Opaque Pricing and Tiered Limits

Anthropic’s subscription system features tiered plans, with the Max plan promising usage limits 20 times higher than the Pro plan, and Pro offering five times more than the free tier. However, the company’s documentation states that actual usage caps “will vary by demand,” leaving even paying customers uncertain about how much access they really have. This ambiguity complicates planning for businesses and developers who rely on predictable AI access for their workflows.

The Max plan has been popular among power users, some of whom say they could generate over $1,000 worth of API calls daily under the previous limits.
The sudden restrictions have led to speculation that the plan may not be sustainable for Anthropic, but users are calling for clearer communication rather than abrupt changes.

Technical Issues Compound User Frustration

In addition to usage limits, Anthropic’s network has experienced API overload errors and intermittent service disruptions over the past week. Despite several incidents recorded on the company’s status page, Anthropic still reports 100% uptime for the period, adding to user skepticism.

Business Implications

For businesses relying on Claude Code for product development or daily operations, these unpredictable restrictions can mean costly delays and stalled progress. The episode highlights the importance of transparency and communication for AI service providers, especially as more companies integrate advanced AI tools into their core business processes.

Looking Forward

As AI services become more deeply embedded in business workflows, clear communication about service levels and limitations will be critical for maintaining customer trust. Many Claude Code users hope Anthropic will soon clarify its policy and offer guidance for those affected by these changes.