Anthropic Expands Claude Free Tier With Premium Features as OpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT Ads

Summary

Anthropic expanded Claude's free tier on February 11-13, 2026 with features previously requiring paid subscriptions: file creation (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, PDF), select Google Workspace connectors, custom Skills, and longer conversations via automatic context compaction. The expansion represents a strategic competitive response to OpenAI's introduction of advertisements in ChatGPT's free and low-cost tiers. Anthropic has pledged to keep Claude entirely ad-free, a commitment reinforced by a Supe