What are Claude Cowork plugins?

Plugins are bundles of skills, connectors, and commands that turn Claude into a specialist for a specific job function like marketing, sales, legal, or finance. The official plugins are free and open source, published by Anthropic.

Do I need to be a developer to use Cowork plugins?

No. Cowork plugins are designed for non-developers. Installation takes a few clicks, and plugins work through a visual interface — no terminal, no coding required.

How much do Claude Cowork plugins cost?

All 11 official plugins are free. You need a paid Claude plan (Pro, Team, or Enterprise) to use Cowork, but the plugins themselves cost nothing.

Beginner's Guide

Getting Started with Cowork Plugins

Q: What is Claude Cowork?

Claude Cowork is Anthropic's collaborative AI workspace that lets Claude do real work beyond just chatting — managing files, connecting to tools, following multi-step processes, and delivering polished outputs.

Q: How is Cowork different from Claude Code?

Claude Code is a command-line tool for developers who write code in a terminal. Cowork is a desktop workspace for knowledge workers — it runs in the Claude desktop app and connects to your business tools. Minimal technical skill required.

Everything you need to know — even if you've never heard of Claude, Cowork, or plugins. No technical knowledge required.

What is Claude Cowork?

You might already use Claude (opens in new tab) to chat — asking questions, drafting emails, or brainstorming. Cowork takes this further. It's a collaborative workspace where Claude doesn't just answer questions — it does work.

In Cowork, Claude can:

Create and manage files, documents, and projects
Connect to tools you already use (Slack, Notion, Jira, HubSpot, and more)
Follow multi-step workflows — not just one-shot answers
Deliver finished, professional outputs you can use right away

Think of it as going from "AI assistant I chat with" to "AI coworker who gets things done."

How is Cowork Different from Claude Code?

You might see "Claude Code" mentioned elsewhere. Here's the key difference:

	Cowork	Code
Built for	Knowledge workers	Software developers
Interface	Desktop app	Command-line terminal
Tech skill	Minimal	Programming
Use	Business workflows	Writing code

If you're reading this site, Cowork is the one for you.

What You Need

1
A paid Claude plan
Pro, Team, or Enterprise. See current pricing (opens in new tab).
2
The Claude desktop app
Cowork is a feature of the Claude desktop app. Download it here (opens in new tab).
3
Tool logins (optional)
If you want Claude to pull data from Slack, HubSpot, etc., you'll need credentials. But plugins work without connectors too.

What are Plugins?

A plugin gives Claude specialized knowledge for a specific job function. Without plugins, Claude is a generalist. With the right plugin, Claude becomes an expert in your role.

Skills

Domain expertise Claude draws on automatically. When you ask a marketing question, the content creation and campaign planning skills kick in.

Commands

Actions you trigger by typing a command (like /sales:call-prep).

Connectors

Bridges to external tools (Slack, Notion, HubSpot) so Claude can read and write data from your apps.

There are 11 official plugins covering productivity, sales, marketing, legal, finance, data, support, PM, enterprise search, bio research, and a tool for building your own. Browse all.

How to Install a Plugin

Takes about 30 seconds:

1
Open the Claude desktop app
Launch the app and start a Cowork session.
2
Browse or search for a plugin
Find the plugin you want in the plugin directory within the app.
3
Install the plugin
Follow the prompts to add it to your workspace.
4
Connect your tools (optional)
Authorize connectors when prompted. You can skip and add later.
5
Start using it
Skills work automatically, and slash commands are available immediately.

Tip: You can install multiple plugins. They work alongside each other.

What are Connectors?

Connectors are bridges between Claude and the tools you use every day. Connect Slack and Claude searches your messages. Connect HubSpot and Claude accesses your CRM data.

Most are optional. Plugins work without connectors — they're just more powerful with them.
You authorize them. Claude only accesses tools you explicitly connect.
They respect permissions. Claude can only see what your account has access to.
Start small. Connect one or two tools first, then add more.

Browse all connectors to see what's supported.

Tips for Success

Start with one plugin for your main role

Don't install all 11 at once. Learn one plugin's commands and workflows first.

Add Productivity as a companion

It pairs well with any role-specific plugin for task management and daily briefings.

Use slash commands for repetitive tasks

Typing /marketing:draft-content is faster than explaining what you need each time.

Customize plugins for your team

Use the Plugin Create tool to add your company's processes and terminology.

Always review Claude's output

Treat Claude's work as a strong first draft. Review before sharing externally.

FAQ

Is Cowork free?

Cowork requires a paid Claude plan (Pro, Team, or Enterprise). Check claude.com/pricing for current rates. The plugins themselves are free.

Is my data safe?

Refer to Anthropic's privacy policy at anthropic.com/privacy for details on how your data is handled. Cowork connectors only access tools you explicitly authorize.

Can I use multiple plugins at once?

Yes. Plugins work alongside each other — Productivity for tasks, Sales for deals, Data for analytics.

Can I build my own plugin?

Yes! The Plugin Create plugin walks you through it. Plugins are markdown and JSON — no coding required.

Can I share plugins with my team?

Plugins are currently installed locally per user. You can share plugin files with your team through normal file sharing methods.

Ready to get started?

Browse the directory to find the right plugins for your role.

Browse All Plugins