Claude Duet Preview: Who Gets Access, and How Do Usage Limits Work?
Duet can keep preparing replies and checking connected apps after you close the laptop. Does that unattended work draw from the same allowance as your chats?
- Claude Duet launched in research preview on October 21 for invited US Pro and Max users. A paid subscription alone does not unlock it.
- It works on a cloud computer and checks connected accounts every few hours, rather than monitoring every incoming item in real time.
- Background work shares Claude's usage limits. Anthropic says consequential actions such as sending, paying, signing and deleting are designed to require approval.
A US account, an eligible plan and an invitation
Anthropic introduced Claude Duet on October 21 as a proactive agent that flags work and continues tasks while you are away. As of October 25, a paid plan alone does not unlock access: an invitation is also required.
The getting-started guide requires a US Claude account, Pro or Max, and a waitlist invitation. Team and Enterprise are not included yet.
| Account | Preview access |
|---|---|
| US Pro or Max | Requires a waitlist invitation. |
| Pro or Max outside the US | Outside the currently listed availability. |
| Team or Enterprise | Not available yet. |
Invitations roll out in waves. Eligible applicants should use the email associated with their Claude account on the product waitlist. Joining does not reserve a specific access date.
Included access does not mean an additional unlimited allowance
During the preview, Duet is included with Pro and Max at no extra charge. The support guide says it shares the plan's five-hour session and weekly limits with Claude. Morning briefs and background checks count too.
That changes the budgeting question. Your usage can rise while you are not typing in a chat, because work continues elsewhere. After receiving access, weigh the tasks you delegate against the allowance needed for your other Claude work.
The cloud computer keeps working; checks are periodic
Duet has its own virtual computer and browser, so your laptop or phone does not have to stay on. Anthropic describes morning briefs, ongoing task work and notifications when a result or decision is ready.
Connected accounts are checked every few hours to conserve usage. Continuous availability of the agent is therefore different from immediate detection of an urgent message. That distinction matters if you are considering handing it a time-sensitive workflow.
The announcement gives examples such as preparing replies, checking unpaid invoices and producing reports or dashboards. The preview does not let you watch or take over its browser. You assess the returned work and approval requests rather than sharing control of that browser session.
Preparing work and acting on it have different boundaries
Anthropic's guide says Duet is designed to wait for approval before sending messages, paying, signing documents or deleting anything. Its October 23 safety explanation describes showing the action, destination and content, including message recipients.
Anthropic also describes a separate automated check that assesses whether an action matches the user's intent.
Some actions remain prohibited even with consent, including securities trading and moving money between accounts. Purchase approval should not be read as a general capability to delegate banking or investment transactions.
Disconnecting stops new access, not existing memory
Anthropic's safety document distinguishes app access from remembered information. Disconnecting an app stops new access from that point onward; information already learned can remain until memory is reset in settings.
If you connect an account for a short project, check both the app connection and the memory settings when the project ends. Disconnecting stops further access; resetting memory clears information already learned.
Frequently asked questions
Will buying Pro immediately unlock Duet?
No. The current preview also requires US eligibility and an invitation. A subscription by itself is not access.
Does closing the app stop usage?
No. Cloud tasks and periodic checks can continue and count toward the same Claude limits.
Duet's defining change is that work can continue while you are away. Eligibility determines whether you can try it; approvals and shared usage determine how much you can sensibly hand off.