MyTechDailyNews General: Claude Subscription Update Turns Max 5x Into Max and Max 20x Into Ultra, With the 5-Hour Limit Removed for Verified $200 Users

Anthropic has just announced a Claude subscription refresh that looks like a name change but reaches into everyday use. Max 5x becomes Max, Max 20x becomes Ultra, and the two prices remain $100 per month and $200 per month. The practical change is aimed at Ultra: verified accounts can work starting today without being blocked by a 5-hour usage window, while the weekly allowance stays 10x that of Pro. At present, most existing Ultra subscribers have already been unblocked; new accounts need to pass verification.

According to the official note, verified Ultra users can now run tasks continuously inside the weekly budget instead of stopping at a 5-hour reset window. The change does not remove the weekly ceiling; it removes the short-window restriction.

The weekly quota remains unchanged and remains 10 times the Pro plan.

Some users reacted by comparing the news with yesterday's OpenAI quota doubling for Plus users, saying only this? and joking that the company should learn from a 28-day reset plan.

Another comment translated the change more bluntly: if the quota consumption of Fable 5.5 is surprising, the only fix is to pay $200 and use Ultra.

The two renamed Claude plans

Anthropic's adjustment focuses on two high-priced tiers.

Existing subscribers do not need to switch manually; the system will move them to the new names.

For Max 5x users, the main change is a shorter name. Price and existing usage rules have not obviously changed.

The real change belongs to former Max 20x users now using Ultra. According to the latest official description, Ultra includes:

• 5-hour limit removed: verified accounts can keep working inside the weekly allowance without waiting for a 5-hour window to reset.
• Weekly 10x quota: Ultra provides 10 times the weekly usage compared with Pro.
• Priority access to new features: early access to new models, features, and products.
• Claude Code support: code development tasks can be run from the terminal.
• Long-task support: Claude can continue handling reports, spreadsheets, presentations, and similar work in the background.

What users get from the limit removal

Put simply, after the 5-hour limit removal, the biggest benefit is that verified users can consume the weekly quota at their own pace.

But the benefit has a threshold. Anthropic says most existing Ultra users have started to have the restriction lifted, while new users must first pass account verification. The check is automated using account and payment history information, and users do not need extra steps beyond waiting for the official notice.

To confirm whether unblocked, open Claude Settings -> Usage. If the familiar 5-hour usage progress bar disappears, the restriction has been lifted.

Why the 20x name disappeared

The old Max 20x label was replaced by Ultra, removing the 20x wording from the plan name.

Mike Overell, who oversees Claude subscription products, explained the background in a post.

When Max 20x was created, the 20x referred to the amount available in a single 5-hour window relative to Pro: 20 times Pro. Later, Anthropic added a weekly quota cap. That created a mismatch: the 5-hour quota was 20x, but the weekly quota was 10x. Some people paying $200 thought the weekly allowance was 20x, then discovered the weekly cap followed a different calculation.

Mike Overell acknowledged that this naming could mislead people and apologized for past communication problems. The rename to Ultra brings the old quota account back to the table.

Claude quota disputes are not new. In June this year, The Wall Street Journal reported that a consumer sued Anthropic over limits on high-priced subscriptions, claiming the quota marketing was misleading. One focus of the dispute was the real usage level behind Max 5x and Max 20x. From that angle, the latest change is also a response to long-running user feedback.

The timing is still awkward. Just yesterday, OpenAI's Godfather Tibo doubled quotas for Pro users.

Common misconceptions

• Misconception: Ultra now provides 20x weekly usage. Fact: the weekly allowance remains 10x Pro; 20x belonged to the 5-hour window.
• Misconception: all users are unblocked immediately. Fact: most existing Ultra users have started, but new accounts need verification.
• Misconception: monthly prices changed. Fact: Max stays $100 per month and Ultra stays $200 per month.
• Misconception: the weekly cap was removed. Fact: only the 5-hour window restriction is removed for verified Ultra accounts.

FAQ

Did Anthropic change the price?

No. Max, formerly Max 5x, is still $100 per month. Ultra, formerly Max 20x, is still $200 per month.

What exactly was unblocked?

Verified Ultra accounts no longer need to stop at a 5-hour window. They can keep using Claude until the weekly quota runs out.

Does this apply to every new Ultra account?

No. At present, most existing Ultra users have been unblocked, but new accounts must complete verification before the change applies.

Why was the 20x wording removed?

Mike Overell explained that 20x described a 5-hour window, not the weekly cap. Because the weekly cap is 10x Pro, the old name could create a misunderstanding.

How do users check their status?

Open Claude Settings -> Usage. If the 5-hour progress bar is gone, the account has been unblocked.

Action checklist for MyTechDailyNews readers

1. Check your current plan name. If you were Max 5x or Max 20x, expect automatic migration to Max or Ultra.
2. If you are on Ultra, open Settings -> Usage and see whether the 5-hour progress bar has disappeared.
3. If your account is new, wait for verification notice; the process is based on account and payment history and does not require extra user steps in the official note.
4. Do not treat the weekly quota as 20x. Plan around the unchanged 10x weekly allowance.
5. Before upgrading because of Fable 5.5 or long-task usage, compare your real weekly consumption with the $200 plan price.
6. If you follow competitor moves, note that yesterday OpenAI's Godfather Tibo announced a doubled Pro quota, while some users still mentioned a 28-day reset comparison.

For MyTechDailyNews readers, the useful takeaway is that this is not a simple brand refresh: the rename clears a confusing quota story, while the 5-hour limit removal changes how paying Ultra users can spend their existing weekly allowance. The practical next step is to check account status, read the weekly cap carefully, and upgrade only when the longer continuous use window matches a real workload need.