Complete guide to Claude

Getting started Use cases Advanced setup Tips FAQ

Getting started

Go to claude.ai and create an account with your email or Google. You'll see a blank chat: type your request directly, or attach a file (PDF, Word, CSV, code) for Claude to analyze. Claude stands out for accepting very long documents without losing context, so don't hesitate to paste lengthy texts. If the response isn't exactly what you need, continue the conversation with specific adjustments: change the tone, shorten it, add examples. For recurring work (the same type of document, the same style), create a Project instead of starting from scratch every time.

Use cases

Analyze long documents

Upload lengthy contracts, reports or papers and ask for summaries, extraction of specific clauses or a comparison across several documents at once.

Code with a large context

Paste several files from the same project and ask for changes that take the entire codebase into account, not just an isolated snippet.

Polished professional writing

Claude tends to produce a more natural, less generic tone; useful for reports, business proposals or internal communications.

Build mini-apps with Artifacts

Ask for something like "a flashcard app" or "a dashboard with this data" and Claude generates a working component you can use right away, without installing anything.

Work with data and images

Analyzes tables, charts or screenshots you upload, and generates explanations or code based on what it sees.

Advanced setup

Projects
Create a Project from the side menu, upload your reference files (up to 30MB per file; PDF, DOCX, CSV, TXT and HTML formats) and add instructions covering the domain, tone and constraints you want respected. Every new chat inside the project automatically inherits that context, so you don't have to repeat it.
Artifacts
They activate on their own when you ask for something "buildable" (an app, a document, a dashboard): they appear in a side panel where you can interact with the result, view the code and download it. Available on all plans, including the free plan.
Choosing the right model
The latest models offer better reasoning but are slower and use more of your usage credits; lightweight models (such as Haiku) are ideal for quick, high-volume tasks. Switch models from the selector at the top depending on the complexity of the task.
Plan limits
The free plan has a message limit and a project limit (5). If you work with long documents every day or need more projects, the Pro plan raises both the usage limit and the context capacity in Projects.

Tips

For very long documents, start by asking for a general summary before asking specific questions: it helps Claude structure its later answers better.
Use Projects as soon as you notice you're repeating the same type of task more than 2-3 times: you save context-setup time and get more consistent answers.
If the result of an Artifact isn't exactly what you wanted, ask for specific changes to it instead of regenerating from scratch: Claude iterates on the same artifact.
When comparing several documents, upload them all in the same message rather than one by one: Claude can reason better with all the context available at once.
Be explicit about the output format you want (table, list, code, prose): Claude follows formatting instructions very faithfully.

FAQ

Is Claude free to use?

Yes, it has a free plan with a daily message limit and 5 Projects. The Pro plan (from $20/month) raises the usage limit and Project capacity, and gives you access to the most advanced models.

What is the difference between Claude and ChatGPT?

Both are very capable general-purpose assistants. Claude tends to stand out for long documents and writing with a more natural tone; ChatGPT has a broader ecosystem of plugins and integrations. For most everyday tasks, either one works well.

Can Claude make mistakes?

Yes. Like any AI model, it can produce incorrect information with apparent confidence, especially on very recent or very specific data. Always verify critical data against a reliable source.

Are my documents used to train Claude?

On consumer plans, your content may be used unless you turn that off in the privacy settings; Team and Enterprise plans do not use your data for training by default.

Based on support.claude.com and Anthropic's official documentation

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