Why Claude costs more in the iPhone app
3 min read
Jose Pedro Franco MorenoBuilds Kelo, on his own, from Spain.
Claude Pro costs $20 a month whether you subscribe in the iPhone app or on claude.com. The other plans do not: Max 5x costs $124.99 a month in the app against $100 on the web, Max 20x $249.99 against $200, and Pro paid yearly $214.99 against $200 (US prices, 9 October 2026). On Max 20x that is almost $600 a year for the same plan. To switch, cancel the Apple subscription, let it run to the end of the period, and subscribe again on claude.com.
The same Claude plan has two prices on iPhone: the one Apple charges inside the app, and the one Anthropic charges on claude.com. For most people they are identical. For Max subscribers they are not.
The prices, side by side
US prices, checked on 9 October 2026. The in-app prices are the ones Apple lists on the Claude App Store page under In-App Purchases; the web prices are the ones on claude.com/pricing and in Claude’s help center.
| Plan | In the iPhone app | On claude.com | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro, monthly | $20.00 | $20.00 | same |
| Pro, yearly | $214.99 | $200.00 | +7.5% |
| Max 5x, monthly | $124.99 | $100.00 | +25% |
| Max 20x, monthly | $249.99 | $200.00 | +25% |
Over a year, Max 5x bought in the app costs $299.88 more than on the web, and Max 20x $599.88 more. Pro yearly costs $14.99 more.
If you pay $20 a month for Pro, nothing here applies to you: it is the same price either way.
Why the two prices exist
Apple takes a commission on subscriptions sold through the App Store inside an iOS app. On Pro monthly, Anthropic charges the same in both places. On Max and on Pro yearly, the in-app price is higher. On the web, Anthropic bills you directly.
Claude is not unusual here, although ChatGPT takes the other road and charges the same on every plan. When we compared 22 subscriptions, 19 charged the same in the app and on the web, and the three that did not were Claude, YouTube Premium and X Premium.
How to check which one you pay
Open Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions. If Claude is on that list, Apple bills you and you pay the in-app price. If it is not, Anthropic bills you on the web.
How to move to the web price
Claude’s help center does not describe a direct transfer from Apple billing to web billing, so it takes two steps.
- Cancel the Apple subscription. In the Claude app, tap your initials, then Billing, then Manage subscription, as Claude’s cancellation guide describes. If you deleted the app, use Settings, your name, Subscriptions.
- Let it run out. A cancelled subscription stays active until the end of the period you already paid for.
- Subscribe on claude.com. Sign in with the same account and choose the plan under Settings, Billing.
Cancelling does not refund what you already paid. Claude’s help center says refunds for App Store purchases are at Apple’s discretion and its support team cannot issue them; requests go to reportaproblem.apple.com.
Outside the United States
The gap exists in other countries too, but compare carefully. In Spain, for example, claude.com shows prices without VAT and says so, while the App Store always shows the final price. Add 21% VAT to the web price and Max 5x costs 149.99 € in the app against 108.90 € on the web, while Pro monthly comes out practically equal (22 € against 21.78 €). The Spanish comparison has the full table.
The trade you make
A Claude plan bought on the web is billed by Anthropic, so it disappears from Settings, your name, Subscriptions. It still renews every month or every year, and the charge now lands on your card with no reminder from your phone.
If you switch, write it down with its renewal date, and while you are at it, check what other subscriptions you have that never show up on your phone either. Kelo keeps that list on iPhone without connecting to your bank and warns you before each charge. Kelo is not affiliated with Anthropic.
Loose ends
Is Claude more expensive on iPhone?
Only on some plans. Claude Pro monthly costs $20 in the iOS app and on claude.com. Claude Max costs 25% more in the app: $124.99 against $100 for Max 5x and $249.99 against $200 for Max 20x. Pro paid yearly costs $214.99 in the app against $200 on the web. US prices checked on 9 October 2026.
Why does Claude cost more in the app?
Apple takes a commission on subscriptions sold inside an iOS app through the App Store, and Anthropic prices those plans higher in the app. On the web, Anthropic bills you directly at its list price. Pro monthly is the exception, priced the same in both places.
How do I switch my Claude subscription from Apple to the web?
Claude's help center does not describe a direct transfer, so it is two steps. Cancel the App Store subscription, either in the Claude app (your initials, Billing, Manage subscription) or in Settings, your name, Subscriptions. Keep using the plan until the period you paid for ends, then subscribe on claude.com under Settings, Billing.
Can I get a refund for a Claude subscription bought through Apple?
Only Apple can decide. Claude's help center says refunds for App Store purchases are at Apple's discretion and its support team cannot refund them; you request one at reportaproblem.apple.com. Asking for a refund does not cancel the subscription, so cancel it as well.
How do I know if Apple bills my Claude subscription?
Open Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions. If Claude is listed there with a renewal date, Apple bills you and the in-app prices apply. If it is not listed, you are billed by Anthropic on the web.