💥 Claude Introduces Weekly Rate Limits: Here’s What You Need to Know

penny506
Jul 28, 2025
3 min read

Screenshot of an email from Claude AI announcing new weekly rate limits starting next month, affecting less than 5% of subscribers.

Okay, so here’s the tea…

Everyone knows that ChatGPT is my work husband.

Let’s be real - probably my out-of-work husband too 😅

But over the last month, something unexpected happened…

I found myself spending more and more time with Claude. And I’ve got to say - he’s really growing on me.

There’s just something about the way he handles logic, coding, and complex prompts - especially when I’m building inside Make.com or trying to get n8n to behave (seriously, I can never say that name right). I don’t write a single line of code myself - Claude does it all. I just give him the vision, and he builds the bones.

So when I opened my inbox and saw the news that Claude is introducing weekly usage limits from August 28th, I felt a pang of sadness. Like… are we taking a break?! 😭

Here's what’s actually changing, and what it means for those of us building smart, soulful systems using AI.

🔧 So What’s Changing with Claude?

Until now, Claude users have been working with a 5-hour rolling usage limit, meaning your access refreshed every few hours. That stays the same.

But from 28 August, Anthropic (the creators of Claude) is adding weekly rate limits too:

A general weekly usage cap that resets every 7 days
A separate Claude Opus 4 weekly cap (for those using the higher-end model)

This move is designed to:

Reduce strain caused by advanced usage patterns (like 24/7 running agents)
Deter policy violations like account sharing or reselling
Make access fairer for regular users

💼 What Does It Mean for Businesses?

According to Anthropic, most subscribers won’t notice a thing.

The weekly limits are generous for standard use - they say Pro users can expect 40–80 hours of Sonnet 4 per week, depending on your activity and setup.

But let me be real for a second…

If you’re anything like me - using Claude to build, debug, and run backend workflows - this might affect your rhythm.

I use Claude like my own personal dev team.

When I’m building something tricky, he’s running in the background constantly.

If I’m debugging an automation or testing multiple flows at once, I could easily rack up usage without realising.

So while I totally understand why they’re doing it, I’ll be keeping a close eye on how it impacts my workflow.

It’s not a dealbreaker - but it does mean I need to be smarter about how and when I use Claude.

🧠 Why It Matters for Soulful Systems & Smart Automation

At ElevAIte, we teach non-techy business owners how to build powerful automations and systems using AI, without needing to be a developer.

We work with:

Coaches and consultants who want to repurpose content automatically
Legal and HR teams who need policy writers and onboarding flows
Creators and founders building AI agents to support their launches

Many of our clients (and myself included) rely on Claude because of how well he handles logic, formatting, and technical prompts. So this update is important.

It reminds us of something we always teach in our GenAI workshops:

⚠️ Don’t rely on a single tool for your entire tech stack.

Instead:

✅ Diversify your AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Notion AI, etc.)

✅ Know which model works best for which task

✅ Have a backup agent or plan if one hits a cap or goes down

This isn’t about jumping ship - it’s about building resilient, scalable systems that can flex with your flow.

💬 What You Can Do Now

Here’s what I recommend:

Check your Claude usage patterns. Are you using it for long builds or running it in the background?
Notice where Claude fits into your stack. Could another model handle lighter tasks while you reserve Claude for the big stuff?
Keep your automations modular. So if one tool hits a wall, you can reroute your workflow easily.

And if you're not sure how to do any of that - don’t worry.

That’s literally what we’re here for.