coworkplugins

Getting started

New to Claude Cowork plugins?
Start here.

No code, no jargon. Everything you need to install your first Claude Cowork plugin and start saving time today.

What is Claude Cowork?

Claude Cowork is Anthropic’s agentic AI for knowledge work on desktop. Unlike Chat — which just responds to messages — Cowork can complete work on your behalf: accessing your files, connecting to your tools, and delivering finished deliverables.

You describe what you want. Claude selects the fastest approach, executes each step, and loops you in before any significant action. It’s designed for non-technical professionals — no terminal, no API keys.

What are Claude Cowork plugins?

Plugins are packages that extend what Claude Cowork can do. Each plugin bundles together skills (things Claude can do), connectors (tools it can access), and slash commands (shortcuts you can trigger).

Think of them like apps on your phone — but for Claude. Install the Sales plugin and Claude gains the ability to research prospects, prep deal briefings, and draft follow-ups. Install Marketing and it can write content, plan campaigns, and analyse performance.

How Claude Cowork differs from Claude Chat and Claude Code

Claude Chat

Conversational responses. Describes how to do things. Doesn't take action or access your files.

Claude Cowork

Completes work. Accesses your folders and connected apps. Delivers finished documents and outputs. For non-technical users.

Claude Code

For software development. Writes, runs, and tests code. Requires technical knowledge. Not what Cowork plugins are designed for.

What you need before installing

  • ✓ Claude Desktop (free download from claude.ai/download)
  • ✓ A paid Claude plan — Pro ($20/mo), Max ($100/mo), Team, or Enterprise. Plugins are not available on the free plan.
  • ✓ A Mac or Windows computer (Cowork runs on desktop; phone pairing is in research preview)

How to install a Claude Cowork plugin (5 steps)

  1. 1

    Download Claude Desktop

    Claude Cowork runs on Claude Desktop. Download it from claude.ai/download. You'll need a paid plan — Pro ($20/mo), Max ($100/mo), Team, or Enterprise. Cowork is included in all paid plans.

  2. 2

    Open the Cowork tab

    Open Claude Desktop and click the Cowork tab in the left sidebar. Cowork sits alongside Chat and Code — it's the version of Claude designed for non-technical knowledge work. No terminal, no code required.

  3. 3

    Click Customize → Browse plugins

    In the Cowork sidebar, click 'Customize'. Then select 'Browse plugins' to see all available Claude plugins. You can also upload a custom plugin file if you've received one.

  4. 4

    Install a plugin

    Find a plugin and click 'Install'. If the plugin uses a connector — for example, the Sales plugin might connect to your CRM — you'll be prompted to sign in to that tool once. That's it.

  5. 5

    Use your first slash command

    Start any Cowork conversation and type '/' — you'll see the new skills from your installed plugin. Click one and Claude handles the rest. You can also click the '+' button to browse available skills.

Source: Anthropic support — Use plugins in Claude Cowork

Three good first Claude plugins

Beginner-friendly, high impact. Each of these is free and takes under two minutes to install.

Sales plugin

Research prospects, prep for calls, draft follow-ups. Best first plugin for anyone in sales or business development.

View install guide →

Marketing plugin

Draft content, plan campaigns, repurpose existing work. Ideal for marketers, content teams, and agency owners.

View install guide →

Productivity plugin

Daily briefings, meeting prep, task planning. A great starting point for anyone new to Claude Cowork.

View install guide →

Browse all Claude Cowork plugins →

Frequently asked questions

Are Claude Cowork plugins free?

The 11 official plugins released by Anthropic are free and open-source. You need a paid Claude plan to use Cowork (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise), but the plugins themselves cost nothing to install.

Do I need to know how to code?

No. Claude Cowork and its plugins are designed specifically for non-technical users. You install plugins through a visual interface and use them with slash commands — no terminal, no coding.

How are plugins different from Claude skills?

A plugin is a complete package. Skills are individual capabilities within a plugin. When you install a plugin, you gain access to its skills — which you trigger with '/' commands in Cowork.

Can I build my own Claude plugin?

Yes. The Plugin Create plugin helps you build custom plugins without writing code. For technical users, all official plugins are open-source on GitHub and can be forked and customised.

Where do plugins save?

Currently, installed plugins save locally to your machine. Team and Enterprise plans can distribute plugins org-wide through admin settings — organisation-managed plugins cannot be edited by individual users.

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