Claude Official Entry Guide

Last updated: 2026-08-12

Overview

Searching “Claude official site” often leads to clone sites or unofficial bundled clients. This guide focuses only on Anthropic’s official web product claude.ai: how to confirm the domain, complete signup, and run a safe first test. UI language, plan names, and regional policies follow the live page.

How to confirm you’re on the official site

Check	Correct approach
Domain	Address bar shows https://claude.ai/ (watch spelling—beware claude-ai.com clones)
Certificate	Browser shows valid HTTPS
Downloads	Mobile apps only from store links on the official site—no random APK mirrors
Login	Anthropic account system—never enter OpenAI passwords on unknown pages

Claude does not have a separate “Chinese domain” parallel to chatgpt.com; Chinese UI usually comes from browser or account language settings, with feature rollout often aligned to the primary locale.

Signup and login steps

1. Open claude.ai and choose Sign up or Log in.
2. Use an email you control long-term (disposable addresses may trigger risk controls).
3. Complete email verification; enable SMS/2FA if prompted.
4. Read and accept terms and privacy summaries.
5. After login, open Settings / Plan to see available models and usage limits.
6. Bookmark the official URL—avoid search ads on later visits.

If the page fails to load from your network, read the Claude China access guide to decide among official web, API, or waiting until access improves.

What you get after login (feature orientation)

Exact names change, but new accounts typically see:

• Chat: Multi-turn conversations with selectable models (availability depends on plan)
• Projects (if enabled): Group chats and files around a topic or client
• Artifacts (if enabled): Side-panel outputs like docs, snippets, or diagrams you can iterate
• Settings: Privacy controls, connected apps, billing, and usage indicators

Treat the sidebar as the source of truth—blog screenshots go stale quickly. If a feature is missing, check plan tier and region before assuming a bug.

Spotting unofficial or phishing sites

Red flags that should stop you immediately:

• Domain variants: claude-ai.net, claude.com.cn, or login forms on unrelated blogs
• Prompts to install a desktop “accelerator” before you can chat
• Requests for seed phrases, bank cards, or remote-desktop access
• “Customer service” on Telegram/WhatsApp offering discounted Pro keys

When in doubt, type claude.ai manually or use a saved bookmark—never follow paid search ads blindly.

Mobile and desktop clients

Anthropic may offer mobile apps linked from the official site. Install only from Apple App Store or Google Play listings reached through claude.ai—not from APK forums. Desktop wrappers that embed the web app are fine only if they don’t ask for extra passwords or sideloaded certificates.

Plans and billing (no fixed prices here)

Anthropic may offer Free, Pro, Team, Enterprise tiers (names change). Decision process:

• Run three real work tasks on the free tier
• Note “model unavailable / usage cap / too slow” blockers
• Compare upgrade benefits inside your account—ignore third-party “half-price top-up” offers

API billing is separate from web subscription; developers see Claude API Get Started.

First-login test (copy-ready)

Please answer:
1) One sentence on what you can help me with; 2) three things you should not help with;
3) one beginner-friendly example task.
Keep the answer under 200 words.

Confirm the session works before pasting real business material (sanitize first).

Second test: structured output (optional)

Return JSON only:
{"capabilities":["string"],"limits":["string"],"next_step_for_beginner":"string"}
Keep each array to at most 3 items. No markdown outside the JSON.

If JSON parsing fails in your workflow, ask for a repair pass: “Output valid JSON only, same schema.” This checks whether the model follows format constraints—useful before you rely on Claude for automation.

Account security checklist

• Use a strong unique password for Claude—not reused with email or OpenAI
• Enable 2FA or passkeys when available
• Periodically review logged-in devices and sessions
• Don’t stay signed in on shared computers
• Ignore DMs from fake “Claude support” asking for verification codes

After signup: connect responsibly

If Settings offers connectors or third-party integrations, enable only what you need and review OAuth scopes—especially on work accounts tied to Google Drive or GitHub. Disable unused sessions under Settings → Account the same way you would for email or cloud consoles.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the relationship between claude.ai and anthropic.com?

anthropic.com is the company site (research, news, pricing); daily chat lives at claude.ai.

Can I sign in with Google?

If the login page offers OAuth, yes—follow actual buttons on screen. Enterprise users may need SSO.

Why is the UI in English?

Full localized UI isn’t guaranteed; browser translate can help, but legal terms may bind to English originals—read carefully.

Does my ChatGPT account work here?

No. Separate accounts, billing, and data policies.

Can I change the interface language?

If Settings offers language options, use them; otherwise browser translate is a stopgap—not a substitute for reading English terms when they govern your contract.

What if I lose access after travel?

Region and risk policies can change; keep exports of critical Project data and know your billing portal login—see the China access guide if web access drops.

Official resources

• Claude
• Anthropic
• Anthropic docs

Next reading

• Claude AI Overview
• Claude China Access Guide
• Claude 4.5 Full Review

Action path

Now: Bookmark claude.ai and finish email verification. After login: Run the first-test prompt and review privacy and model options in Settings. This week: Choose Free vs Pro based on workload, or move to API Get Started for integration.