# Claude Code usage limits and how to track them

> What session, weekly, and per-model limits mean on Pro and Max, how /usage shows your plan usage, and what to do when you hit a limit.

- Canonical: https://guides-ai.com/guides/claude-code-usage-limits/
- Plate 03.10 · Topic: Claude Code commands (https://guides-ai.com/topics/commands/)
- Published: 19 Oct 2026 · 3 min read
- Source site: guides-ai — https://guides-ai.com/

How you hit a limit depends on how you sign in. Subscription plans (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise)
meter a per-seat usage allowance; an API key or cloud provider bills per token with only rate
limits. The numbers differ per plan and change, so verify them live.

## 1. Know which limits apply to you

On a subscription, usage resets on a rolling window and a weekly window, shared across every model.
A "session limit" or "weekly limit" message is seat-based, so switching models with `/model` won't
help. A model-specific "Opus limit" is different: switching to another family keeps you working. Anthropic does not publish fixed token counts, so check the current limits at
[claude.com/pricing](https://claude.com/pricing) and the
[Claude Help Center](https://support.claude.com).

## 2. Open /usage to see plan usage

```text
/usage
```

Shows plan usage bars and a breakdown of what counts against your limits. Press `d` or `w` to
switch between the last 24 hours and 7 days.

## 3. Read the per-session cost

```text
/cost
```

A built-in alias for the same `/usage` Session block: token counts and an estimated dollar figure
computed locally at list price. That figure is meant for API users; subscribers see their plan
bars. See [track Claude Code costs](/guides/claude-code-track-costs/) for more.

## 4. Recover when you hit a limit

The limit message names its reset time. You can wait, or use `/rate-limit-options` so Claude Code
resumes automatically after the reset. For a model-specific limit,
switch with `/model`. To make turns cheaper, run `/compact` to shrink context or `/clear` to start
fresh; see [manage context](/guides/claude-code-manage-context/). If usage credits are on,
`/usage-credits` requests more.

## 5. Subscription vs API-key billing

On a subscription, usage is included in your seat, so the dollar figure is not a bill. On an API key
or Console account, every token is billed, and the real numbers live on the
[Claude Console usage page](https://platform.claude.com/usage), not the CLI.

## Verify it worked

Run `/usage` and confirm you see plan usage bars (subscription) or a Session cost line (API key).

**If it fails:**

- **`/usage` shows `Showing last-known usage`** — the usage endpoint is rate limited; press `r` to
  retry.
- **`Unknown command: /usage-credits`** — your Claude Code is too old; run `claude update`.
- **Session cost looks huge after hours idle** — long context and cache misses reprocess the whole
  conversation; `/clear` between tasks.

Next: [fix "usage limit reached" in Claude Code](/guides/fix-claude-code-rate-limit/) · [track and cut token usage](/guides/claude-code-track-costs/).