← Daily AI recipesStudy✓ Verified Jul 18, 2026

Launch Claude in 3 minutes: account, first chat, and document analysis

Create an Anthropic account, write your first message, and upload a PDF for analysis - all free with no credit card needed

  1. 1.Go to claude.ai and click Sign up. Use your email or Google account to register - no credit card required.

    Confirm your email if prompted. The page loads from claude.ai

    Claude by Anthropic ↗
  2. 2.After logging in, click 「New chat」 or start typing in the text field. Make sure Claude Sonnet 4.6 is selected in the model dropdown menu (it's selected by default).

    Model selection is visible on the left side of the interface. Sonnet 4.6 and Haiku 4.5 are available on the free plan.

    Claude by Anthropic ↗
    Prompt
    Hi Claude! Introduce yourself and tell me how you can help me.
    What this prompt doesA simple test prompt to verify your chat works. Replace the text with any question for Claude.
  3. 3.Click the paperclip icon or 「Add files」 button (plus icon at the bottom of the text field). Select a document from your disk - PDF, Word, TXT, CSV, or other supported format.

    Maximum 20 files at once, up to 500 MB each. Files upload to one chat. For multiple PDFs, create separate chats.

    Claude by Anthropic ↗
  4. 4.After uploading the file, type your request about the document in the text field and send the message (Enter).

    Be specific: exactly what you need from the document (summary, answer to a question, table). The clearer your prompt, the more precise the answer.

    Claude by Anthropic ↗
    Prompt
    I uploaded a document [filename]. Give me a 5-point summary of the main ideas. Skip tables and charts, focus only on conclusions.
    What this prompt doesStandard prompt for document analysis. Replace [filename] with your PDF or Word file name. You can change the number of points and level of detail.
  5. 5.Read Claude's response. If you need clarification, write a follow-up question - it will remember the uploaded file within this chat. For a new document, create a new chat.

    Context (message history and uploaded files) is saved in one chat. The free plan has a limit of 15-40 messages per 5-hour window. If you exceed it, wait a few hours.

    Claude by Anthropic ↗
    Prompt
    Based on this same document, answer: [specific question]. Format your answer as a table.
    What this prompt doesFollow-up prompt for clarification. Replace [specific question] with what you want to learn from the document. You can replace the table with a list, paragraph, or any other format.
💰 What it costs to followprices as of 2026-07
  • freeClaude free tier (claude.ai)All recipe steps are completely free: registration, file uploads, and document analysis.
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Why today

Anthropic Officialweb
Claude Help Centerweb

AI services change fast - interfaces and free limits may differ from what's described.