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Developer Tools · head to head

Claude Code vs Depot

Claude Code logo

Claude Code

Developer Tools

AI-powered CLI for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Depot logo

Depot

Developer Tools

Cloud-based builds and CI runs 55x faster with less cost

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Claude Code live anthropic.com/pricing fetched (checked 19 Aug 2026): Claude Code has no standalone price, only bundled into Pro, Max and Team seat tiers; Depot developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Claude Code and Depot actually diverge.

Attributes where Claude Code and Depot differ
AttributeClaude CodeDepot
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWebCloud, GitHub, CLI
Founded20212022

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Developer Tools).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Claude Code

Nothing recorded that Depot does not also cover.

Only in Depot

  • Depot CI
  • Container builds
  • GitHub Actions runners
  • Distributed caching
  • Build API
  • Depot Registry
  • Cross-platform builds
  • SSH debugging

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Claude Code

No use cases recorded yet. See the Claude Code review.

Depot

  • Accelerating Docker builds for container-based developmentnot Claude Code
  • Replacing GitHub Actions runners with faster infrastructurenot Claude Code
  • Distributing cache across Monorepo buildsnot Claude Code
  • Debugging failed CI builds interactively with SSHnot Claude Code

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Claude Code

  • Live anthropic.com/pricing fetched (checked 19 Aug 2026): Claude Code has no standalone price, only bundled into Pro, Max and Team seat tiers
  • Team self-serve plan has a hard 75-seat cap; larger teams must use Enterprise, sold by quote

Depot

  • Developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development
  • Startup plan at $200/mo is expensive for smaller teams
  • Business plan requires custom pricing consultation
  • macOS M2 runners not available on Developer plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Claude Code

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Claude Code review.

Depot

Free
  • Developer$20/month
    • 1 user
    • 500 Docker build minutes per month
    • 2,000 Depot CI minutes per month
  • Startup$200/month
    • Unlimited users
    • 5,000 Docker build minutes per month
    • 20,000 Depot CI minutes per month
  • Business$undefined/custom
    • Custom pricing
    • Unlimited users
    • Custom monthly compute

Which should you pick?

Choose Claude Code if

  • You want to start without paying.
Claude Code review

Choose Depot if

  • You need depot ci.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, GitHub, CLI.
  • You also want container builds.
Depot review

Questions people ask

Is Claude Code or Depot better?
Neither clearly leads. Claude Code starts at Free and Depot at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Claude Code or Depot?
Claude Code starts at Free and Depot at Free.
Does Claude Code or Depot run on more platforms?
Claude Code runs on Web. Depot runs on Cloud, GitHub, CLI.
Can I use Claude Code for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Claude Code do that Depot cannot?
Depot covers Depot CI, Container builds, GitHub Actions runners, Distributed caching.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Depot: How much faster are Depot runners compared to GitHub Actions?

Depot runners offer 30% faster CPUs and 10x faster networking than standard GitHub-hosted runners, enabling builds to complete significantly faster.

Source
Depot: What is included in the Developer plan?

Developer plan ($20/month) includes 500 Docker build minutes, 2,000 Depot CI minutes, 2,000 GitHub Actions minutes, 25 GB storage, unlimited concurrency, and community support.

Source
Depot: Can I use Depot with my own AWS account?

Yes, Depot Managed allows deployment within customer AWS accounts. This is available to interested customers; contact sales for details.

Source
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Related pages

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