Claude Duet Brief: Research Preview for Pro and Max Plans
Last checked: 31 October 2026
Claude Duet is a new app that Anthropic has opened as a research preview, in which Claude works as a “proactive agent”. For now it is only for people on the paid Pro and Max plans, so free users cannot try it yet.
What was announced about Claude Duet
On 21 October 2026, Anthropic’s release notes said: “We just opened a research preview for users on Pro and Max plans: Claude Duet, a new app where Claude works as a proactive agent.” A research preview means the product is early and may change. The same release notes list nothing for Free plan users on this item.
What it means if you use a free assistant
- Nothing changes in the free Claude chat you may already use.
- Do not pay for a plan because of a new feature name. Use the free plan for a few weeks first, as in how to choose a free AI assistant.
- We have not tested Claude Duet. This brief only repeats what Anthropic published.
What to do this week: nothing is required. If a tool offers to act on its own for you, read what it can access first, and keep customers’ private details out of it. For why free plans keep shifting, see Free AI tools keep changing, and for plain meanings of words such as “agent”, see the glossary. New here? Try Start Here.
Sources: Claude release notes, Anthropic Help Center (entry dated 21 October 2026), checked 31 October 2026; Anthropic.
