Claude Code vs Claude Desktop
Claude Code is listed under Clients & hosts, Claude Desktop under Clients & hosts. Shared focus: claude. Each name links to the product's own site.
 Claude Code | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Clients & hosts | Clients & hosts |
| Pricing | Paid | Freemium |
| Public code | Yes | No |
| Tags | claude, cli, coding-agent, terminal | claude, anthropic, desktop, client |
| Website | github.com | claude.ai |
What Claude Code does
Anthropic's agentic coding tool for the terminal. It acts as an MCP client, so you can add local or remote servers and use their tools while it works in your codebase.
What Claude Desktop does
Anthropic's desktop app for Claude. It was the first MCP client, and it can run local MCP servers and install desktop extensions that bundle them.
Other options
See all Clients & hosts, or alternatives to Claude Code and Claude Desktop.