Find the Right Claude Tools for Your Team

Claude Desktop is Anthropic's application for Mac and Windows that gives you access to three modes: Claude Chat (conversation), Claude Cowork (file-based project work), and Claude Code (development). All the tools in this catalog work within the Claude Desktop app. You can download it from claude.com/download.

Claude Cowork is a mode in the Claude Desktop app designed for business users. You point it at a folder on your computer, and Claude can read, create, and edit files in that folder through a natural chat interface. No programming required. It's where most non-developers will spend their time with Claude.

Claude Code is the developer mode in the Claude Desktop app (also available as a standalone terminal tool). It gives Claude the ability to read your codebase, write and edit files, run terminal commands, and manage git workflows. Most skills and development tools in this catalog work in Claude Code.

Chat is for conversations and quick questions. Cowork is for working with documents and files in a project folder, designed for business users. Code is for software development with full terminal and codebase access. All three are inside the same Claude Desktop app. Many tools (especially connectors) work across all three modes.

A skill is a pre-built workflow that extends what Claude can do. Skills add new slash commands and capabilities like code review, commit message generation, document analysis, or UI design. Skills currently work in Claude Code only and can be installed through the plugin browser.

A connector (also called an MCP server) links Claude to an external service like Notion, Slack, GitHub, Jira, or a database. Once connected, Claude can read from and write to that service directly. Connectors work across Claude Code, Claude Cowork, and Claude Chat.

A pattern is a set of instructions you add to your project that shapes how Claude behaves. For example, the Delegation Framework pattern teaches Claude to ask three clarifying questions before starting any task. Patterns work in Claude Cowork (via Folder Instructions) and Claude Code (via CLAUDE.md files). They require no installation, just copy and paste.

A workflow is a methodology or approach for working with Claude, not software you install. Examples include folder organization strategies, scheduled task patterns, and prompt libraries. You use them by following the described steps or pasting instructions into a Claude conversation.

Use the filter chips above the catalog to narrow by platform (Claude Code, Cowork, or Chat). If you use Claude Cowork, begin with the Delegation Framework (a free pattern that immediately improves your results). If you use Claude Code, start with the Code Review and Commit skills. Both are free and take under 5 minutes to set up.

For connectors and skills: Open the Claude Desktop app, click the Customize icon in the sidebar, and browse available plugins. Click Install on anything you want. For patterns: copy the instructions from the tool's page and paste them into your Cowork Folder Instructions or CLAUDE.md file. You can also paste install commands directly into a Claude Code conversation.

No. Many tools work for non-technical users, especially connectors (which link Claude to Notion, Slack, etc.) and patterns (which are just instructions you paste). The 'Works In' column in the catalog shows which modes each tool supports. Look for tools that work in Claude Cowork or Claude Chat.

Most tools in this catalog are free. The Cost column shows pricing for each tool. You do need a Claude subscription (Pro, Team, or Enterprise) to use Claude Desktop. Some connectors require separate accounts with the connected service (e.g., a Notion account to use the Notion connector).

We don't assign security certifications. Instead, each tool page shows factual trust signals: GitHub activity (stars, contributors, last update), license type, dependency counts, and whether the tool has a security policy. We also share what the community says and our own experience notes where we have them. See our evaluation guide for a framework you can use to assess tools yourself.

When you use Claude with any extension, your prompts and the content Claude works with are sent to Anthropic's API for processing. Enterprise and Team plans include data processing agreements that exclude training on your inputs. If your organization handles sensitive data (healthcare, financial, legal), confirm your Claude subscription tier and data handling policies with Anthropic before deploying any tool.

Ratings reflect our observatory assessment based on ease of use, versatility, reliability, and data handling. Recommended means top-rated across dimensions. Solid means strong with minor caveats. Usable means functional but with notable gaps. These are one evaluator's structured observations, not certifications. Each tool page also shows factual project health data you can verify independently.

Every tool shows how deeply it was reviewed. 'Personally Tested' means the reviewer installed and used it in real work. 'Source Reviewed' means the code and docs were read. 'Automated Scan' means we collected GitHub metrics and ran dependency audits. 'Listed' means the tool was cataloged from its description only. The deeper the review, the more weight our notes carry.

This catalog is maintained by Aaron Matthews, an AI transformation consultant at Value Alignment Consulting, LLC. Tools are evaluated using a structured methodology described on the About page. This is an independent resource with no financial relationships with any tool authors or vendors.

The catalog is updated regularly as new tools are discovered, evaluated, and existing reviews are refreshed. The 'Updated' date in the header shows when the catalog was last regenerated. Individual tool pages show when each tool was last evaluated.

Yes. Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn and share the tool you would like to see evaluated. Tools with active maintenance, clear documentation, and a real use case are prioritized for review.

Yes. Tools with security concerns, misleading claims, or Terms of Service violations are excluded. We publish a Tools We Don't Recommend page with specific reasoning for notable exclusions.