Claude Desktop explained: the three modes most users don't know

Most people use Claude as a chatbox in the browser. They ask a question, get an answer, and close the tab. That is one of the three ways to use Claude, and far from the most powerful.

Claude Desktop is the downloadable app for macOS and Windows that gives access to three fundamentally different modes: regular chat, Claude Cowork and Claude Code. The last two are unknown territory for most professionals. This article explains what each of the three does, who it is intended for, and which paid subscription you need to access them.

What is Claude Desktop and what can you do with it?

Claude Desktop is the Anthropic desktop application for macOS and Windows, downloadable via claude.ai/download. Within the app you switch between three modes: Chat (conversational, like the browser version), Cowork (autonomous agent for knowledge work) and Code (agentic coding at project level). Each mode has a fundamentally different approach and a different target audience.

Part 1: regular chat

The chat mode in Claude Desktop works almost identically to claude.ai in the browser. You ask a question, Claude answers. Available on all plans, including the free plan. Also accessible via browser and mobile.

It is the entry point everyone knows. But if you only use Claude this way, you miss the two modes that really matter for professionals and entrepreneurs. You find those exclusively in the desktop app, and exclusively on a paid subscription.

What can Claude Cowork do that regular chat cannot?

Claude Cowork is an autonomous agent that works on your computer: it reads and writes local files, executes multi-step tasks without you supervising every step, and can automatically run recurring tasks on a set schedule. The key difference from chat: you specify an end goal, not a question. Claude handles the rest.

Claude Cowork launched in January 2026 as a research preview and is now generally available for all paid plans (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise). Access is via the Claude Desktop app for macOS and Windows. Not via browser, not via mobile, although Pro and Max users can send instructions via their phone that are then executed on the desktop.

“In 2025 Claude transformed the way developers work, and in 2026 it does the same for knowledge work.”

— Kate Jensen, Head of Americas at Anthropic

How do you use Claude Cowork in practice?

Claude Cowork is designed for time-consuming but not technically complex tasks: work that someone with expertise normally does themselves, but where execution takes hours. Think of researchers, analysts, lawyers, finance staff and operational teams. No technical background required.

Concrete examples of what Cowork can handle:

• You hand over a folder with 40 quotes as PDFs. Cowork turns them into a structured Excel analysis, including working formulas.
• You ask for a summary of 10 different source files on your desktop. Cowork reads them all and delivers one coherent document.
• You schedule a daily task: every morning a structured summary of your new emails as a document on your desktop.
• You let Cowork reorganise your Downloads folder: it proposes a category structure, asks your approval and then executes it.

The outputs are professional: Excel files with working formulas, PowerPoint presentations and formatted documents you can edit further.

“Cowork makes it possible for Claude to deliver finished, near-final work.”

— Scott White, Head of Product for Claude Enterprise at Anthropic

How does Claude Cowork work technically?

Claude Cowork runs directly on your computer, in a sandboxed VM environment. Code is executed in isolation, but Claude can make real changes to files in the folders you designate. That is fundamentally different from chat, where Claude only reads what you send it.

Three features are most relevant for professionals considering Cowork for the first time:

Scheduled tasks. You set up a task once with a cadence, Claude executes it automatically. Compiling the weekly report every Friday, generating a mail summary every morning: it never needs to be done manually again.

Projects. Related tasks are grouped in a project with its own files, instructions and memory. Claude remembers how you work and adapts, without you having to re-explain context every session.

Sub-agents. For complex tasks Cowork works in parallel: it splits tasks into subtasks that are executed simultaneously, drastically reducing turnaround time.

Anthropic is open about the origin of Cowork. Their product page states: “At Anthropic, non-technical teams like Marketing and Data started bypassing Claude’s chat interface for Claude Code, attracted by the ability to execute complex multi-step tasks. Claude Cowork is the result: the same capabilities with a simplified experience.”

Want to know how marketing automation fits within your marketing processes? That is exactly the kind of question a discovery call with ClickForest answers.

What is Claude Code and what do you use it for?

Claude Code is an agentic coding system that reads your entire codebase, makes changes across multiple files, runs tests and delivers committed code. It works at project level, not line level. Accessible via the terminal (CLI), the VS Code extension, JetBrains IDEs, the desktop app and the browser via claude.ai/code.

The crucial difference from tools like GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT for code: those suggest. Claude Code executes. Copilot works at line level and waits for your next keystroke. Claude Code understands the full structure of a project, plans an approach across multiple files, executes it, runs tests and fixes errors, without you approving every step.

Anthropic describes it on the product page: “For builders without a technical background it is a gateway to software development that did not exist until recently.”

Two entry points: terminal and VS Code

Via the terminal (CLI). You install Claude Code via a one-time command and then launch it from any project folder. Claude reads the entire codebase, modifies files, runs tests, makes commits and resolves issues across multiple files simultaneously. This is the most powerful and complete form, but requires basic comfort with the command line.

Via the VS Code extension. The same capabilities, but directly in your code editor. You open Claude Code as a panel next to your code, give an instruction in plain language, the extension modifies files, explains what it does and shows the changes for approval. The extension is also available for Cursor and JetBrains IDEs and now has more than 10 million installations. The VS Code extension is the entry point for those not used to the command line.

The distinction is practical: the terminal gives more control and more automation at scale, the VS Code extension is the lowest barrier for entrepreneurs who want to learn to build.

ClickForest guides Flemish SMEs in building with AI: from first idea to working custom tool, without needing a full development team.

What has ClickForest built with Claude Code?

ClickForest has used Claude Code as the primary build partner for three concrete projects, demonstrating that custom software is no longer reserved for large budgets.

ClickForest built a complete Astro website (clickforest.com itself) with Claude Code: multilingual in NL, FR and EN, built on Cloudflare Workers, including contact form, AI chatbot and an admin panel. ClickForest then built a custom CRM system (crm.clickforest.com), without external licences, precisely aligned with internal workflows. A third project was delivered for a client, with Claude Code as the central build environment.

ClickForest guides Flemish SMEs and scale-ups in Mechelen and the surrounding area in deploying AI for growth: from content production and AI chatbots for customer service to building custom software with AI. See what ClickForest built via the projects page.

Which subscription do you need for Claude Desktop?

Claude Cowork is included in all paid plans. Claude Code works on the same plans, but also via API billing for developers working directly with the Anthropic API. The desktop app is free to download; the subscription determines which modes are available.

When do you choose Cowork and when Claude Code?

The rule of thumb: if the task requires no code but takes time and runs on your local files, Cowork is the right choice. If it is about building or modifying software, Claude Code is the starting point. Chat remains the fastest route for conversational questions and one-off tasks.

Conclusion

Claude Desktop offers three fundamentally different modes, but most users only know one. For professionals with time-consuming knowledge work, Cowork is the biggest undiscovered time saver: no technical background required, but a paid subscription and the desktop app are needed. For entrepreneurs who want to build or have software built, Claude Code is the lowest-barrier path to custom solutions without the associated cost.

Kate Jensen, Head of Americas at Anthropic, puts it well: “Engineers think of Claude Code as a tool they can no longer do without. We expect every knowledge worker to feel the same way about Cowork.”

The investment in a paid Anthropic subscription pays off once you look beyond the chatbox. Want to know how Claude Code or Cowork fits your organisation? See how ClickForest approaches building with AI for Flemish SMEs, or book a discovery call to discuss the possibilities. Prefer to get in touch first? That works too.

Want to read more about the broader AI toolkit? Read the comparison of AI tools by category, the practical guide on AI agents in marketing or the article on writing better prompts. For a broader picture of what AI means today for online marketing or Shopify e-commerce, you will find the latest insights at clickforest.com.