Claude Removes Ultra’s Five-Hour Cap, but Weekly Quota Stays the Same

Anthropic has changed the structure and naming of Claude’s two highest subscription tiers. Max 5x is now called Max, while Max 20x has become Ultra. The monthly prices remain unchanged at $100 and $200 respectively.

The main change affects Ultra users. Once an account meets Anthropic’s verification requirements, it no longer has to wait for a five-hour usage window to reset. Users can continue working until they reach the weekly allowance. This is a change to how access is paced, not an unlimited-use promise.

Key points

• The five-hour window is removed for eligible Ultra accounts. Users can spend their weekly allowance continuously instead of being interrupted by a short-term reset timer.
• The weekly quota remains unchanged. Ultra still provides 10 times the weekly usage of the Pro plan.
• Existing subscriptions migrate automatically. Users do not need to switch plans manually; Max 5x maps to Max and Max 20x maps to Ultra.
• Verification may take time. Most existing Ultra subscribers are reportedly receiving the change gradually, while newer accounts may need to wait for automated checks involving account and payment history.
• Premium features remain part of Ultra. These include early access to new models and features, Claude Code support, and long-running tasks for reports, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Subscribers can check “Settings → Usage” in Claude. If the familiar five-hour progress bar has disappeared, the account has likely received the update.

Why the rename matters

The “20x” label originally referred to the amount available within a single five-hour window compared with Pro. After Anthropic introduced a separate weekly allowance, users faced two different measurements: a 20x short-term window but a 10x weekly quota. That distinction could make the $200 plan appear to offer 20 times the overall usage.

Calling the tier Ultra removes the potentially misleading multiplier from the product name. However, it does not add to the weekly allowance. The practical benefit is smoother continuity for users who run coding, research, or document-production workflows. Someone who exceeds the weekly limit will still be restricted.

Broader implications

The update shows that competition among AI subscriptions is increasingly about rate limits and workflow reliability, not just model quality. Removing the five-hour interruption could make Claude more useful for sustained development and background tasks.

Still, the $200 monthly price is substantial, and “no five-hour limit” should not be read as “no usage limit.” Prospective subscribers should compare their weekly demand and need for uninterrupted sessions before upgrading.

Source: 量子位