Anthropic has just made some of the most powerful tools in Claude available to everyone for free. Features once reserved for paid tiers, such as file creation, connectors, and custom skills, are now available to all users without a subscription.
The move significantly raises the baseline of what people can expect from a free AI assistant. By making advanced tools available for free and keeping the experience ad-free, Anthropic positions Claude as a serious alternative to ChatGPT and Gemini, especially for users who want useful features without committing to a subscription.
A closer look at Claude’s new free tools
File creation
One of the most notable improvements is the ability to create files directly from a Claude conversation. Free users can now ask Claude to create PowerPoint decks, spreadsheets, PDFs, or Word documents using simple prompts.
For example, if you ask for a budget plan, a usable table of formulas can be created immediately. It can also outline points for a presentation and create a pre-made slide deck in the same chat window.
Connections
Using connectors, Claude can plug directly into the apps you already use, giving you real context rather than just isolated prompts. Once a connection is established, Claude can pull information from services like Google Drive, Gmail, Calendars, GitHub, or design tools like Canva and Figma.
This means you no longer have to copy and paste data. Claude automatically reviews documents, references emails or schedules, and even helps you with work platforms like Slack.
Custom skills
Custom skills allow you to shape how Claude responds to repetitive tasks, making him a more personal assistant. You can teach the AI assistant to compose emails in your style, format reports according to specific guidelines, or follow your workflow preferences for various tasks.
Instead of telling Claude what to do every time, you can define a specific set of instructions once and reuse them as needed.
Anthropic has also increased the call duration for free users, so you can now chat longer without reaching the limit. Additionally, Claude gets improved voice and image search capabilities, as well as a more interactive interface.
OpenAI recently sparked debate by introducing ads in its free and lower-cost ChatGPT plans. In response, Anthropic took ChatGPT under scrutiny by running high-profile ads highlighting Claude’s ad-free approach.
