TL;DR
- Terms differ by plan, authentication path, feature, and model.
- Consumer history, training retention, ordinary commercial retention, approved ZDR, safety flags, and the Covered Model override are separate controls.
- Fable 5 and Mythos 5 require a 30-day minimum and cannot be used through a ZDR-configured route.
- Use this page as a routing hub to the plan-specific checklists below.
Scope
This page maps the key term areas you must verify for each Claude plan. It is a snapshot checklist, not legal advice.
How to use this page
- Identify your access path (Claude Free/Pro/Max, Claude Code, or API).
- Open the matching plan page below and verify each checklist item.
- Re-check monthly or after any policy update.
What changed recently
See /posts/anthropic-tos-changes-2025/ for the 2025-2026 timeline and enforcement shifts.
Retention section verified July 26, 2026: Consumer chats remain until deletion, with backend deletion within 30 days. Training opt-in can keep de-identified data for up to five years. Ordinary API inputs and outputs normally clear within 30 days, subject to features, agreements, safety, and law. Covered Models override an expected ZDR path with a 30-day minimum. Other plan and client details retain the earlier review date.
Plan map (quick routing)
- Claude.ai Free users: /verify/claude-free-terms/
- Claude.ai Pro users: /verify/claude-pro-terms/
- Claude Max users: /verify/claude-max-terms/
- Claude Code users: /verify/claude-code-terms/
- Anthropic API users: /verify/anthropic-api-terms/
Plan-by-plan snapshots
- Claude Free: /verify/claude-free-terms/
- Claude Pro: /verify/claude-pro-terms/
- Claude Max: /verify/claude-max-terms/
- Claude Code: /verify/claude-code-terms/
- Anthropic API: /verify/anthropic-api-terms/
Terms matrix (auto)
| Plan | Training use | Retention (deleted data) | Retention (training data) | Third-party access | Official clients | Enterprise DPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Free | Consumer plans: model-improvement setting controls training (verify current policy). (needs_verification) | Consumer plans: deleted chats removed within ~30 days when training is disabled (verify). (needs_verification) | Consumer plans: training data may be retained up to 5 years if enabled (verify). (needs_verification) | Official clients only; unofficial access may be blocked (verify). (needs_verification) | Claude app/web, Claude Code, Anthropic API (verify current list). (needs_verification) | Ask sales/support if you require a DPA; availability unconfirmed. (unknown) |
| Claude Pro | Consumer plans: model-improvement setting controls training (verify current policy). (needs_verification) | Consumer plans: deleted chats removed within ~30 days when training is disabled (verify). (needs_verification) | Consumer plans: training data may be retained up to 5 years if enabled (verify). (needs_verification) | Official clients only; unofficial access may be blocked (verify). (needs_verification) | Claude app/web, Claude Code, Anthropic API (verify current list). (needs_verification) | Ask sales/support if you require a DPA; availability unconfirmed. (unknown) |
| Claude Max | Consumer plans: model-improvement setting controls training (verify current policy). (needs_verification) | Consumer plans: deleted chats removed within ~30 days when training is disabled (verify). (needs_verification) | Consumer plans: training data may be retained up to 5 years if enabled (verify). (needs_verification) | Official clients only; unofficial access may be blocked (verify). (needs_verification) | Claude app/web, Claude Code, Anthropic API (verify current list). (needs_verification) | Ask sales/support if you require a DPA; availability unconfirmed. (unknown) |
| Claude Code | Consumer plans: model-improvement setting controls training (verify current policy). (needs_verification) | Consumer plans: deleted chats removed within ~30 days when training is disabled (verify). (needs_verification) | Consumer plans: training data may be retained up to 5 years if enabled (verify). (needs_verification) | Official clients only; unofficial access may be blocked (verify). (needs_verification) | Claude app/web, Claude Code, Anthropic API (verify current list). (needs_verification) | Ask sales/support if you require a DPA; availability unconfirmed. (unknown) |
| Anthropic API | Not confirmed; verify API data usage and training policy. (unknown) | Not confirmed; verify API data retention and deletion behavior. (unknown) | Not confirmed; verify API training retention window. (unknown) | Use documented API access only; verify allowed client patterns. (needs_verification) | API keys + official docs; verify allowed integrations. (needs_verification) | Ask sales/support if you require a DPA; availability unconfirmed. (unknown) |
Terms snapshot checklist
- Training use: confirm default setting and opt-out path.
- Retention: confirm deletion window and training retention period.
- Third-party access: confirm whether external clients are allowed.
- Data export/deletion: confirm controls in account settings.
- Enterprise/DPA: confirm availability if you need contractual guarantees.
Evidence / signals
- Official Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
- Plan-specific pricing pages that define tier boundaries.
- Help center guidance on enforcement, warnings, and appeals.
How to verify
- Read the current Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
- Check account settings for model-improvement toggles.
- Confirm official client lists and API documentation.
If you already shared data
- Review current settings and disable training if needed.
- Rotate keys or revoke access for unofficial tools.
- Document what data was shared and when.
What would invalidate this
Any new policy effective date or plan-level terms update should replace this checklist.