Claude Duet: Features, How It Works, and Pricing
Introduction
Anthropic introduced Claude Duet in October 2026 as a proactive AI assistant designed for professionals and small business owners. Unlike traditional AI chatbots, Duet can monitor connected work applications, handle tasks in the background, and notify users when work is completed or requires approval.
Powered by Claude Opus 5.5, Duet aims to reduce routine administrative work, from managing emails and calendars to preparing business reports and following up on invoices.
The research preview is available by waitlist to eligible Claude Pro and Max subscribers in the United States.
What Is Claude Duet?
Claude Duet is a separate AI assistant that works with your Claude account, memory, skills, and connected applications.
Traditional AI assistants generally wait for users to submit requests. Duet can proactively identify potential tasks and initiate conversations when something needs attention.
Key features include:
Proactive email and calendar monitoring.
Background task execution through a cloud computer and browser.
Integration with connected applications and services.
Task tracking and approval requests.
Creation of editable documents, financial models, presentations, and dashboards.
Duet is an application powered by Claude Opus 5.5, rather than a separate AI model.
How Does Claude Duet Work?
Claude Duet combines account context, connected applications, and cloud-based execution to manage tasks.
1. Memory, Skills, and Connected AppsDuet can use relevant information from your Claude memory, skills, and connected services. It can also search previous Claude conversations, depending on your settings. Users choose which applications and services to connect, allowing Duet to work with relevant business information. |
2. Background ExecutionDuet uses a cloud computer and browser to perform tasks, including interacting with websites that do not have dedicated integrations. Work can continue after you close the application. Duet then notifies you when the task is completed or blocked. |
3. Scheduled Check-InsDuet checks connected accounts every few hours rather than continuously. Users can adjust the check frequency, but urgent updates may not arrive immediately. This makes Duet useful for routine administrative work, although it may not be suitable for time-sensitive monitoring. |
4. Tasks, Channels, and MakeDuet organizes work through a main conversation thread, optional channels, and a dedicated Tasks tab. The Tasks tab shows active work and tasks waiting for user input. The Make tab provides editable outputs such as reports, financial models, slide decks, and dashboards. |
What Can Claude Duet Do?
Claude Duet focuses on automating repetitive business tasks and organizing information across connected applications.
Email and Calendar Management
Duet can prepare morning summaries, identify scheduling conflicts, draft email replies, and follow up on conversations that have gone quiet.
For busy professionals, these capabilities can help prioritize important messages and reduce manual calendar management.
Business Administration
Duet supports several business workflows, including:
Checking QuickBooks or Stripe for unpaid invoices and drafting reminders.
Preparing payroll information through Gusto.
Drafting job advertisements for LinkedIn.
Preparing agreements for review and signature through DocuSign.
Organizing information from connected business applications.
Duet can also assist with purchases through supported payment services such as Link and Shopify's Shop Pay. Payment actions require the relevant approval.
Reports, Forecasts, and Dashboards
Duet can combine information from emails, spreadsheets, and connected business tools into structured outputs.
These may include sales dashboards, financial summaries, cash-flow reports, forecasts, and staffing overviews. Supporting figures can link back to their source material, helping users review the information.
Claude Duet vs Claude Cowork and Other AI Agents
Claude Duet and Claude Cowork share the Claude account and connected services, but they differ in how work begins.
Claude Duet vs Claude Cowork
Feature | Claude Duet | Claude Cowork |
Starting work | Proactively identifies tasks | User starts or schedules tasks |
Primary purpose | Ongoing assistance and follow-ups | Completing defined tasks |
Access | Separate preview app and claude.ai | Main Claude experience |
Local files | Cannot directly modify computer files | Can work with connected folders through supported desktop access |
Browser access | Separate cloud browser | Built-in browser and supported browser tools |
Payments | Supported payment workflows with approval | Not available as a Duet-style payment feature |
Availability | US Pro and Max users by waitlist | Available on supported paid plans |
Use Cowork when you already know what needs to be done, such as preparing a report or creating a presentation. Duet is designed for situations where identifying the task and remembering to follow up are the harder parts.
Claude Duet vs Other AI Agents
Other AI agents also perform background tasks, but their workflows and levels of user control differ.
OpenAI Dots: Supports background work with options to inspect its cloud computer and take over when necessary.
Grok Bot: Organizes work around separate bots with different roles.
Meta Muse: Focuses more on personal errands and shopping, while Duet emphasizes professional workflows.
The main distinction is Duet's focus on proactive business assistance through one assistant, supported by conversations and task channels.
Claude Duet Safety, Privacy, and Approvals
Because Duet can access connected work accounts and perform actions, approval controls are an important part of its design.
Approval Requirements
Duet requests approval before actions such as sending messages, making payments, signing documents, or deleting information.
Some actions remain restricted even with user approval, including securities trading, transferring money between bank accounts, and accessing another person's account.
Anthropic also describes additional safety checks intended to assess whether an action matches the user's request. These safeguards can reduce risk, but they are not guaranteed to prevent every mistake.
Passwords and Connected Data
Duet is designed to keep login credentials and authentication tokens separate from the model. Its cloud browser handles sign-in details through separate controls.
Users should also understand that disconnecting an application stops new access but may not automatically erase information already stored in Duet's memory.
Best practice: Review approval requests carefully, particularly when they involve financial information, confidential documents, or external communications.
Claude Duet Limitations
Claude Duet remains a research preview, so its features and restrictions may change.
Current limitations include:
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These limitations mean Duet is best suited to routine work that can tolerate periodic checks and human approval.
Claude Duet Pricing and Availability
Claude Duet has no additional fee during its research preview, but users need an eligible Claude subscription. All Duet activity counts toward the normal plan limits.
Claude Duet Pricing
Plan | Price |
Pro, billed annually | $17/month, billed as $200 upfront |
Pro, billed monthly | $20/month |
Max 5x | $100/month |
Max 20x | $200/month |
Prices are in US dollars and exclude applicable taxes.
Background checks, morning summaries, and larger tasks consume plan usage. Heavy Duet activity may leave less capacity for regular Claude conversations.
Access Requirements
To join the research preview, users must have:
A Claude account registered in the United States.
An active Pro or Max subscription.
A waitlist invitation.
Free, Team, and Enterprise accounts, along with accounts outside the United States, are not eligible under the stated preview rules.
Invitations are distributed in waves, and there is no guaranteed invitation date.
Conclusion
Claude Duet introduces a proactive approach to AI assistance by monitoring connected work, managing routine business tasks, and following up without requiring a new prompt every time.
Its email, calendar, reporting, and administrative capabilities could help professionals save time. However, periodic checks, plan usage limits, restricted integrations, and approval requirements are important considerations.
For eligible users, Duet is worth considering for low-risk recurring tasks. Its long-term value will depend on whether it reduces more work than the notifications and reviews it creates.
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