Claude Duet Review: Approved Fast, but the Most Limited Agent I've Tested

Claude Duet is Anthropic's new agent, and this is my review after getting off the waitlist. It works on its own computer in the cloud, briefs you each morning and checks in on your connected accounts. I got approved within less than 24 hours, I think it was, which I appreciate.

Unfortunately, it does seem like it is the most limited option of all of the systems I've been testing. I've been running Grok Bot across my companies and ChatGPT's Dot as my personal assistant and for cold email outreach, and Duet felt underdeveloped compared to both.

Where Claude Duet lives: the app and claude.ai

On my phone, Duet is a separate app. On my computer, it's all in one. Duet sits in the claude.ai sidebar, right next to chat, Scheduled and Claude Code.

On my computer, Claude Duet sits in the claude.ai sidebar, marked Preview, next to Projects, Scheduled and Customize.

Because it's all in one, I can also see my Remote Control Claude sessions there, meaning any Claude session that's open with Remote Control, which is helpful.

I'm sure Duet will get folded into the app at some point, as it's already in claude.ai on my computer, but not in the mobile app. I've used Dot on both the desktop and mobile app, and it just works inside of ChatGPT. It does not require a separate app. So that's one aspect that I like better about Dot than Duet.

The GitHub problem

But for what I wanted it to do, everything is repo based, which feels restrictive to me. My processes live in GitHub, so it has to connect to a repo before it can do things with them.

And I couldn't connect GitHub properly to Duet, which is part of why it felt janky. I was already connected through Claude, but it didn't seem to be picking up the connection properly, even though I tried on both desktop and mobile. Duet is supposed to use the existing connectors.

My Claude settings on November 3: GitHub account connected, and Claude Code's cloud sessions can work in my repo. Duet still didn't pick it up. The repo name is blurred.

Claude Duet vs Claude Code

When I run Claude Code locally, I can use it across my entire computer to check my entire file system, even my drivers and stuff like that. Duet works on its own computer in the cloud, and Anthropic says it can't see the files on your computer.

So while it seems like it can set up routines and schedules, and it can run stuff in the cloud, it felt underdeveloped. It's a research preview, so basically a beta.

Claude Duet vs Grok Bot and ChatGPT Dots

It does definitely feel underdeveloped, especially when compared to Grok Bot, or even to Dot. With Grok Bot, I have a different agent for each thing. Duet is one agent, with one main thread.

Both Duet and Dot try to be proactive by sending prompts on my phone of things that maybe I should check into. But part of my goal here is to not have to check into things myself.

And I'm not sure what I'll use Duet for, since it can't do much yet. It likely isn't needed if we can get Grok Bots and Jarvis, our Claude setup, working together perfectly.

What Anthropic says (as of November 3, 2026)

What it is: an agent that works on its own computer in the cloud. It briefs you every morning, checks your connected accounts every few hours, and goes quiet until something needs you.
Built for: Anthropic pitches it for email, calendar and business apps like QuickBooks and HubSpot.
Where it runs: a standalone app for iPhone and Android. On a computer, you open it at claude.ai.
Connectors: it runs on your Claude account, so the memory, skills and connectors you've set up in Claude are there. Link and Shop Pay get set up inside Duet. Slack works with limits, and Microsoft 365 isn't available yet.
Approvals: it reads and drafts on its own, and asks before sending messages, making payments, signing documents or deleting anything. Trading securities and moving money between accounts are off-limits even with your approval.
Limits: it runs Claude Opus 5.5 and you can't pick the model. It can't see your local files or all of your Claude projects, it can't make calls or send texts, and you can't watch or take over its browser.
Status: announced October 21, 2026, as a research preview.

Claude Duet pricing

There's no separate price. During the research preview, Duet is included at no extra cost on Claude's Pro, Max and Ultra plans.

Pro is $20 a month billed monthly, or $17 a month billed yearly.
Max is $100 a month, and Ultra is $200 a month.
Duet uses your plan's usage limits, including any five-hour limit and your weekly limit, at the same rate as chat, and its background work, like the morning brief, counts too.
If you're admitted, you get one full reset of both limits, available until November 30, 2026.

How to get Claude Duet (the waitlist)

Right now it's US only, on Pro, Max or Ultra, and you need a waitlist invitation.

On the Claude Duet page, choose Join the waitlist: https://claude.com/product/claude-duet
Use the same email as your Claude account and your phone's Apple or Google account, then pick your plan and phone type.
When the invitation comes, follow the iPhone or Android setup and sign in with your Claude account. On a computer, open it at claude.ai.

Claude Duet FAQ

Is Claude Duet free?

It's included at no extra cost on Claude's Pro, Max and Ultra plans during the research preview. It uses your plan's usage limits, the same as chat.

Does Claude Duet need its own app?

On your phone, yes: Duet is a separate app for iPhone and Android. On a computer, it sits inside claude.ai. I'm sure Duet will get folded into the main Claude app at some point.

Is Claude Duet better than Grok Bot or ChatGPT Dots?

Not for me, so far. It does definitely feel underdeveloped, especially when compared to Grok Bot, or even to Dot.

Can Claude Duet see the files on my computer?

No. Anthropic says it works on its own computer in the cloud and can't see your local files. Claude Code running on your own computer can.

Can I get Claude Duet outside the US?

Not yet. It's US only, on Pro, Max or Ultra, with a waitlist invitation.

More from my testing

I'll come back and update this when or if I have more to say while using Duet.

If you want to follow along, follow me on X, or get my newsletter, Running with Robots.

-Matt