The Complete Guide to Claude: simple explanations and examples

What is Claude?

Claude is an AI assistant from Anthropic that you talk to in plain language. Anthropic describes it as a large language model trained to be a helpful, honest and harmless assistant, and says you can give it anything from a simple question to multi-step projects, analysis, writing and coding (Get started with Claude (Help Center)). Use it on claude.ai, in the desktop app (Mac, Windows) or in the iOS and Android apps.

Is Claude free?

Yes, Claude has a free plan, and you can run every prompt below on it.

• Free: $0, and includes chat, web search, file uploads, Artifacts and up to 5 Projects.
• Paid: Pro is $17 a month on an annual plan ($20 billed monthly) and adds Research and Claude Code.
• Limits: Free usage resets every five hours; paid plans add more usage.

From Anthropic’s pricing page and the Help Center, checked October 16, 2026.

How do you start in 5 minutes?

Open claude.ai, paste a prompt, add your details and refine the answer.

1. Open Claude and sign in. Go to claude.ai, or install the desktop app (Mac or Windows) or the iOS or Android app. You must be 18 or older and in a supported location.
2. Paste a prompt below. Type or paste it, then replace the [brackets] with your details.
3. Attach your material. Click the plus button to add a document, spreadsheet or image if the prompt needs it.
4. Send and read the result. Anthropic’s advice is to talk to Claude like a coworker: be specific.
5. Refine it. Say what to change and send it again, or start a new chat for a clean slate.

10 copy-paste prompts for ecommerce, agencies and marketing

Replace the [brackets] with your own details, paste, and send. Each prompt sets the stage, defines the task and specifies the rules, the pattern Anthropic teaches in Claude 101.

Here is my product page: [paste]. My buyer is [who] and their biggest doubt is [doubt]. Write 10 different ad angles (problem, desire, proof, comparison, objection, gift, urgency, story, fear of missing out, how it works). For each: an 8-word hook, 60-word ad text and a 6-word headline. Use only facts from the page.

Rewrite this product page so a first-time visitor can say yes in 30 seconds: [paste]. Give me a result-first headline, 3 benefit bullets that start with a verb, a 40-word answer to the top 3 doubts of [buyer], and a 60-character SEO title. Keep every fact true. List any vague spots that need a real number.

Here are [number] customer reviews: [paste]. Find the 5 reasons people buy and the 5 doubts they had first. Quote the exact phrases customers use. Then write 3 homepage headlines and 5 FAQ answers from those phrases. Do not invent praise that is not in the reviews.

Reply to this customer for [store]: [paste message]. Our policy: [paste]. Write two versions under 100 words, one warm and one short. Fix the problem in the first three sentences, offer one extra step that keeps them as a customer if the policy allows it, and end with one next step.

Write 3 abandoned-cart emails for [store] selling [product] to [buyer]. Email 1 (1 hour): a reminder. Email 2 (24 hours): answer this doubt: [doubt]. Email 3 (72 hours): one true reason to act now: [offer or deadline]. For each give 3 subject lines and a body under 100 words. Match this voice: [2 sentences].

Use web search. For the keyword “[keyword]”, read the top 5 results and write a brief for [audience]: the search intent in one line, the questions every page answers, 3 gaps none cover, an H1, 6 question H2s, 4 FAQs and your sources. Do not copy their wording.

I attached a CSV of [orders / ad results]. List the columns and date range you see. Then find the 5 biggest leaks in [profit / ad spend / repeat sales], with the numbers in a table and one action for each this week. If the file can’t answer something, say so instead of guessing.

Act as a conversion reviewer. Here is my landing page copy: [paste]. Goal: [goal]. Score it 1 to 10 on clarity, proof, objections and call to action. List the 5 biggest leaks in order, each with a rewrite. End with 3 things to A/B test first. Keep my facts.

Turn these monthly numbers into a one-page report for a non-technical client: [paste]. Goals: [paste]. Give 3 wins, 2 misses with the likely reason, what it means for revenue, and 3 next actions with an owner and a date. Short sentences, no jargon. Flag any number you doubt.

Here are my discovery-call notes: [paste]. Write a one-page proposal for [client]: their problem in their words, the outcome they want, 3 package options with scope and weeks, what we need from them, and 3 risks with fixes. Under 400 words. Put a ? next to anything unconfirmed.

Act as [role] for [business]. My goal: [goal]. My reader: [who]. Here is the material: [paste]. Do this: [task]. Format: [table / bullets / word counts]. Rules: use only my facts, keep my voice, flag what is missing, and ask me up to 3 questions first if the task is unclear. Give 2 versions.

5 tips for better prompts

1. Give it a job, a goal and a reader. Start with who Claude is acting as, what result you want and who will read it.
2. Paste the real material. Add your page, notes or file, and say “use only these facts” so it does not guess.
3. Ask for an exact format. Counts, tables, headlines under 8 words, three versions: the clearer the shape, the better the result.
4. Show your voice. Paste two sentences you have written and say “write like this.”
5. Refine instead of restarting. Say what to change (“shorter, warmer, keep the deadline”) and send it again.

Anthropic’s own tips: start simple, be specific, iterate (Get started with Claude (Help Center)).

Next steps

• See the facts and score on the Claude library page.
• Compare it with another assistant in the compare tool.
• Browse every tool and guide in the Mishal Brands Library.