Claude AI download: every official surface, in one place
Anthropic ships Claude in 12 different places, and the answer depends on whether you want to chat with it, plug it into your editor, or build a working app without installing anything at all. Below is the full surface matrix, the one platform Anthropic has chosen not to support, and a short note on the path that skips the download entirely.
Direct answer (verified 2026-05-01)
Where can I download Claude?
claude.com/download is the official hub. From there:
- Mac: universal .dmg.
- Windows: x64 setup, plus a separate native ARM64 build for Snapdragon and other ARM laptops.
- iOS / iPadOS: App Store id 6473753684.
- Android (and most Chromebooks): package com.anthropic.claude.
- IDE / terminal: Claude Code (quickstart) ships a CLI, a VS Code extension, and a JetBrains plugin.
- In-page / in-doc: Chrome extension, Slack integration, Word / Excel / PowerPoint add-ins.
- Linux desktop: there is no native build. Linux users sign in at claude.ai in a browser.
Source: claude.com/download and the Claude Help Center article “Install Claude Desktop.”
Surface matrix
The 12 official Claude clients, at a glance
The full table, with what each one actually gets you
Most articles on this topic just print the download buttons. The differences between these surfaces matter more than the buttons do, so here is the same list with a one-line note on each row.
| Platform | Surface | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web | claude.ai | Open | No install. Works on any browser. This is the only path on Linux. |
| macOS | .dmg installer | Open | Universal build. Drag to Applications. Quick Entry global hotkey. |
| Windows x64 | .exe / .msix setup | Open | Standard installer. MSIX available for enterprise. |
| Windows ARM64 | Separate ARM64 build | Open | Native ARM64. Faster than running the x64 build under emulation. |
| iOS / iPadOS | App Store | Open | Bundle id 6473753684. Same app on iPhone and iPad. |
| Android | Google Play | Open | Package com.anthropic.claude. Also works on most Chromebooks. |
| Chrome | Browser extension | Open | Sidebar that follows whichever page you have open. |
| VS Code | Claude Code extension | Open | Agentic coding inside your repo. Pairs with the terminal CLI. |
| JetBrains | Claude Code plugin | Open | IntelliJ, PyCharm, GoLand, WebStorm. Same agent as VS Code. |
| Terminal | Claude Code CLI | Open | PKCE OAuth login. Credentials at ~/.claude/.credentials.json. |
| Slack | Workspace integration | Open | Reply to threads, summarize channels, draft messages. |
| Microsoft 365 | Word / Excel / PowerPoint add-ins | Open | Sidebar inside each Office app. Enterprise-friendly install. |
| Linux desktop | (none, by design) | Open | No native build. Use claude.ai in your browser. |
All rows verified against claude.com/download on 2026-05-01.
Two reasons people search this, only one needs an installer
When I look at who actually arrives at this question, the search usually means one of two things, and the right answer is different for each:
- I want to chat with Claude. Pick the surface that matches the device in your hand. The Mac and Windows desktop apps add a global Quick Entry hotkey and local-files extensions that the web app does not have. The mobile apps add voice input and a much better experience for casual use. If you are on Linux, the web app is your only option, and it is fine.
- I want to build something with Claude. Picking a desktop app here is usually the wrong move. Claude Code (the CLI, VS Code extension, or JetBrains plugin) is the right answer if you want Claude editing files in your existing repo. If you do not have a repo yet and you want a working app to come out the other end, the friction-free path is a browser-based runner with a sandbox already wired up.
The path with no download (and why I built one)
mk0r, this site, is the second answer above. Instead of asking you to install anything, it boots a Linux sandbox in a few seconds inside a tab, runs Claude over the ACP bridge inside that sandbox, and lets you describe an app in English while the code streams in. The sandbox is real (it is an E2B VM, template id 2yi5lxazr1abcs2ew6h8), the dev server is real (Vite, React, TypeScript, Tailwind v4 on port 5173), and Playwright is attached to a headful Chromium inside the same VM so Claude can verify its own work. The thing you do not do is download anything.
“Boot time of the prewarmed E2B sandbox that runs Claude end-to-end inside a browser tab, no native install required.”
src/core/e2b.ts and the prewarm endpoint at /api/vm/prewarm
Sandbox boots in
0s
Prewarmed pool kept ready in Firestore.
Native installs needed
0
Browser tab, nothing else. Linux works the same as macOS.
Dev surfaces inside the VM
0
Vite, headful Chromium, ACP bridge, git, all running together.
What 'no download' actually looks like under the hood
The pattern matters because it generalizes: Linux users get the same path Mac users get, locked-down corporate machines that ban installers get the same path everyone else gets, and an iPad gets the same path a desktop gets. The only thing on your device is the tab. Everything load-bearing happens in a sandbox you do not own and do not have to clean up.
What the desktop app gives you that the web app does not
For chat use, the desktop app is not a strict superset of the web app, but it does add a few things worth knowing about before you decide whether to install it:
- Quick Entry hotkey. A system-wide shortcut that focuses Claude from any app. The web app cannot do this; the browser captures keystrokes only when the tab is focused.
- Desktop extensions. The local-files connector lets Claude read and write files on your machine. There is no browser equivalent for this; the web app sandboxes everything to a chat upload.
- Dock / taskbar persistence. The desktop app survives a browser restart and shows up in your app switcher. Useful if you treat Claude as a primary app.
- Enterprise distribution. Anthropic ships MSIX for Windows and PKG for Mac for managed-device rollouts, with SSO baked in and controlled update timing. The web app cannot be deployed this way.
None of the above matters for casual use, and none of it matters if your goal is to build apps rather than chat. Pick the heaviest install only if you actually need one of these things.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the official Claude download page?
https://claude.com/download. That single page links the macOS DMG, Windows x64 setup, separate Windows ARM64 build, the iOS App Store listing (id 6473753684), and the Google Play listing (com.anthropic.claude). It is the only download surface Anthropic links from the in-app menus, and it is what the help-center article 'Install Claude Desktop' points at.
Is there a native Claude desktop app for Linux?
No, not as of May 2026. Anthropic's download page calls this out explicitly. Linux users (and anyone who would rather not install anything) sign in to claude.ai in a browser. The web client supports the same conversations, projects, memory, and Sonnet/Opus/Haiku model picker as the desktop apps; the only loss is the Quick Entry global hotkey and desktop extensions like the local-files connector.
What is the difference between 'Claude' and 'Claude Code'?
Claude is the chat product (web, desktop, mobile). Claude Code is a separate distribution: a terminal CLI plus a VS Code extension and a JetBrains plugin, aimed at agentic coding inside an existing repo. They share a model and an account, but Claude Code authenticates with PKCE OAuth tokens (scope user:inference) and writes credentials to ~/.claude/.credentials.json, while Claude.app stores its session as a normal cookie. If you want to chat, download Claude. If you want to edit files in your project from a CLI, install Claude Code.
Does Claude have a Chrome extension?
Yes. 'Claude for Chrome' is in the Chrome Web Store. It is a sidebar that works on whichever page you are on, and the Microsoft 365 add-ins (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Slack integration follow the same pattern: Claude lives next to the document or message rather than as its own surface. You still need a Claude account to sign the extension in.
Can I download Claude on iPad or ChromeOS?
Yes. The iOS App Store build runs on iPad. ChromeOS users install Claude through the Google Play Store (most modern Chromebooks support Android apps), or just open claude.ai in Chrome. There is no separate iPadOS or ChromeOS bundle; both reuse the existing iOS and Android builds.
I want to build apps with Claude, not chat with it. Which download do I need?
Probably none. If your goal is to point Claude at a problem and have it write working code that you can run, the friction-free path is a browser-based runner that already has Claude wired up to a sandboxed VM. mk0r is one of those: open https://mk0r.com, type a prompt, and Claude writes a Vite + React + TypeScript app inside an E2B Linux sandbox while you watch. There is nothing to install. If you would rather work in your own repo and editor, install Claude Code (terminal CLI plus VS Code or JetBrains plugin) and let it edit your files locally.
Is the Claude download free?
Yes. The Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android apps are free to install and free to use on the Free plan. The same apps unlock more usage and access to the higher-end models (Opus, longer context, larger tool budgets) when you sign in with a Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise account. No download is gated behind a paid plan.
Does Anthropic publish checksums for the desktop installers?
Anthropic signs both the macOS .dmg and the Windows .msix/.exe installers with their corporate code-signing certificates, which is the integrity check the OS actually enforces (Gatekeeper on macOS, SmartScreen on Windows). They do not publish a separate SHA-256 file alongside the download links. If you need air-gapped distribution, the enterprise plan supports MSIX for Windows and PKG for Mac with controlled rollout, which is the supported way to verify a build before deployment.
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