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.

In short: Claude Desktop is Anthropic’s downloadable app for macOS and Windows with three modes: Chat (a normal conversation), Cowork (an autonomous agent that works independently in your files) and Code (agentic programming). Chat works on any plan, Cowork and Code require a paid subscription. Below you will read what each mode does and who it is for.

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.

The chat mode: the entry point

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. Both require a paid subscription and are at their fullest in the desktop app; Cowork has also been rolling out in beta to web and mobile since July 2026, and Claude Code also works via the terminal, VS Code and the browser.

What is the Cowork mode in short?

Claude Cowork is Claude’s agent mode: you state an end goal instead of a question, and Claude reads and writes local files, executes multi-step tasks and runs recurring assignments on a schedule. Think of a folder with 40 quotes as PDFs turning into an Excel analysis with working formulas, or a daily mail summary as a document on your desktop. Since 7 July 2026 Cowork has also been rolling out in beta to web and mobile; the desktop app remains the fullest experience with direct access to your local files.

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

— Scott White, Head of Product for Claude at Anthropic

Everything about Cowork, from pricing and availability to safety and limitations, is now covered in our separate guide Claude Cowork explained. Want to know how marketing automation fits into your marketing processes? That is exactly the kind of question an introductory 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 well over two 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.