Anthropic released its Claude Cowork AI agent on iOS, Android, and web platforms on August 7, 2026, after initially launching it as a desktop app in January 2026 for macOS and Windows users [1, 2, 3]. The new versions run in the cloud by default, allowing tasks to continue running in the background even when users’ devices are offline or turned off [1, 4, 2, 3, 5].
Early access to the mobile and web platforms is available only for Max plan subscribers, who pay $100 per month. Wider rollout to other subscription tiers will happen in the coming weeks [4, 3, 5]. Anthropic has also extended doubled usage limits on Claude Cowork through August 5, 2026 [4, 5].
While the desktop app remains the most fully featured option with local file access, Anthropic is integrating Claude Cowork and Claude Chat on web and desktop, creating a shared interface where users can switch modes seamlessly [1, 3, 5]. The company positions Claude Cowork primarily as a general knowledge work assistant, with over 90% of usage focused on business operations and content creation rather than software development [1, 5].
Anthropic employs a human-in-the-loop approach, requiring user approval before any AI-generated communications or decisions are sent on their behalf [1, 5]. The company faced scrutiny in March 2026 after adding tracking code to its Claude Code AI model to prevent unauthorized resale and model distillation, an experiment the company planned to remove. Engineer Thariq Shihipa confirmed that the tracker was an experiment intended to curb misuse [5].
Claude Cowork’s expanded availability on mobile and web with cloud-based continuous task execution marks a significant step in Anthropic’s AI assistant offerings. Max plan subscribers currently have early access, with broader access expected soon.
