Anthropic Stops Supporting OpenClaw in Subscription Mode

Anthropic announced that, starting at 12:00 PM PT on April 4, the subscription quota for Claude will no longer be supported through third‑party tools such as OpenClaw. Users can still access those tools but must move to a usage‑based billing model, separating the bill from the subscription.

The official email explains, "These tools put disproportionate pressure on our system. Capacity is a resource we must manage carefully, and we need to prioritize customers using our core products." To mitigate the impact, Anthropic provides a one‑time credit equal to a month’s subscription that can be used within 90 days on Claude Code, Claude Cowork, or third‑party tools, and introduces a pre‑order package offering up to a 30 % discount.

Users reacted sharply, saying, "If they really do this, the only result is to piss off everyone. This is insane." The change also affects other third‑party integrations, with tools like Hermes placed on the blocklist.

The move aligns with a broader pattern where large AI firms prioritize their own services—such as Claude Cowork—over external integrations. For developers, this underscores the risk of building on platforms that can withdraw access or change terms at any time.

The author notes that while Anthropic’s decision may frustrate existing users, it could create an opening for other vendors, especially domestic ones, to attract the displaced user base.