Anthropic Cuts Third-Party Tool Access for Claude Code Subscribers, Sparking Open-Source Controversy
Summary
Anthropic cuts third-party tool access for Claude Code subscribers starting April 4, 2026, forcing separate pay-as-you-go payments, while OpenClaw's creator accuses the company of copying open-source features into its own closed tool before locking out competitors — a charge Anthropic denies, calling it a sustainability decision.
Key Points
- Anthropic announces that Claude Code subscribers can no longer use their subscription limits for third-party tools like OpenClaw, effective April 4, 2026, and must now pay separately through a pay-as-you-go option.
- OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger, who recently joined OpenAI, claims he tried to prevent the pricing change and accuses Anthropic of copying popular features into its own closed tool before locking out open-source alternatives.
- Anthropic's head of Claude Code Boris Cherny defends the decision as an engineering and sustainability issue rather than an anti-open-source move, and confirms that full refunds are available for affected subscribers.