Claude Duet: what the research preview does and who gets it

Claude Duet is a proactive agent in research preview, on a waitlist for US Pro and Max subscribers. What it does, what it asks first, and its limits.

Claude Duet is a proactive agent: it watches your connected apps, sends a morning brief and works in the background. Access is limited. Anthropic's product page says "Claude Duet is a research preview on a waitlist for Claude Pro and Max subscribers in the US." Pro costs $20/month billed monthly.

This site is independent and not affiliated with Anthropic. We read Anthropic's announcement and product page on October 22, 2026. We are not on the waitlist and did not run Duet, so nothing below is a hands-on result.

What Claude Duet does

Most of Claude waits for you to type. Duet is built the other way round. Anthropic's announcement describes a daily rhythm:

"Each morning, it sends you a short brief on the most important items across your connected apps."
"Throughout the day, it keeps tabs on those apps and messages you only when something needs your attention."
"Claude Duet checks your connected accounts every few hours, because checking nonstop would use up your plan's limits much faster."

The product page adds that it "takes on tasks of all sizes, keeps working while you're away, and waits for your ok when it matters."

Duet also reaches into your tools. Anthropic says "Claude Duet can use the over 6,000 connectors and plugins in the Claude Marketplace". That is Anthropic's own marketplace, not ours. Our connectors guide explains what a connector is and what you hand over when you add one.

Who can get it, and on what

Three facts decide whether you can try Duet this month:

Plan and country. Pro or Max, in the US. The announcement says "starting with US Pro and Max subscribers." The product page adds "Team and Enterprise plans are not included yet."
Device. "It's available as a standalone app on iOS and Android, and on claude.ai."
Usage. "During the research preview, Claude Duet shares your plan's usage limits with the rest of Claude".

That last point matters if you already bump into caps. The announcement says Duet "uses them differently than a typical conversation does", and that "Its background checks count toward those limits". Our usage limits guide covers how the caps work, and the pricing guide lists the plans. Max starts at $100/month.

To get in line, join the waitlist on the Claude Duet page.

What it asks before it acts

The risk with an agent that works while you are away is an action you never saw. Anthropic's answer is an approval step: "Before it sends a message, makes a payment, signs a document, or deletes anything, it shows you exactly what it's about to do and waits for your approval."

Some actions stay closed even then. The announcement says "A few things are off-limits even with your approval, like trading securities or moving money between accounts."

On the model, Anthropic says it designed Duet "around Claude Opus 5.5". We covered that model in our Claude Opus 5.5 brief.

The Claude moves worth stealing, by email

Workflows tested on real jobs, sent only when they are worth it. Free.

Where it falls short

Anthropic lists its own limits, and they are worth reading before you join.

The product page FAQ says "It may misread a thread or miscalibrate what's urgent, and it can miss something that arrives between checking in with you." A brief that skips an urgent email is worse than no brief, because you trust it.

The announcement adds: "We built its core functionality around work, so personal errands, such as booking tickets, aren't quite as strong, and it can't yet show you its browser. For now, Claude Duet lives in its own app, separate from the main Claude app."

Our limit. This brief is built from two Anthropic pages. We have not used Duet, so we cannot tell you how often its brief gets the priorities wrong. If you get in, keep checking your inbox yourself for the first weeks.

How to prepare, if you want in

Nothing here needs a test account. These steps are our suggestions, not Anthropic's:

done

Check your plan

Anthropic lists Duet for Pro and Max subscribers in the US, so confirm yours before you wait.

now

Join the waitlist

Use the Claude Duet page, and expect to wait: this is a preview.

Pick the accounts you would connect

Start with one mailbox or calendar, not everything, so you can judge the morning brief.

Read every approval screen

Anthropic says Duet shows what it is about to do. Treat that screen as the control, not a formality.

Duet next to Cowork

Both ideas sound alike, so a quick split helps. Claude Cowork is where you hand Claude a goal and it works through the steps, including on your files. Duet is a separate app that, by Anthropic's account, keeps tabs on your apps and messages you only when something needs your attention.

If you want finished files from a task you start, Cowork fits. If you want a daily watcher over your inbox and calendar, Duet is aimed there, once you can get in.

FAQ

Is Claude Duet free?

Not on the Free plan. Anthropic opens the waitlist to Pro and Max subscribers and says Duet "shares your plan's usage limits with the rest of Claude." Pro costs $20/month billed monthly, and background checks count toward your limits.

Can I use Claude Duet outside the US?

Not yet, going by Anthropic's wording. The announcement says the preview starts "with US Pro and Max subscribers." The words "starting with" leave room for more, so check the Claude Duet page for updates.

Will Claude Duet send messages without asking me?

According to Anthropic, no. Before it sends a message, makes a payment, signs a document or deletes anything, it shows you what it is about to do and waits for your approval. It is a preview, so check each screen anyway.

Sources (checked 2026-10-22)

Introducing Claude Duet: availability, devices, approvals, limits.
Claude Duet product page: waitlist, plans, FAQ.