What Is Claude, Actually?
Claude vs. ChatGPT — what actually matters
You've probably heard of both. Here's the honest answer: they're more similar than different, and you don't need to overthink the comparison. Both are AI assistants you talk to in plain English and get helpful answers from.
But here's why many people prefer Claude: it tends to give longer, more thoughtful answers, it's particularly good at reading and understanding documents, and a lot of people find its tone warmer and less robotic. It also has a strong track record for being honest when it doesn't know something rather than making things up.
The short version: Claude is brilliant for writing, summarising, explaining, brainstorming, and having a genuinely useful back-and-forth conversation. That's what we're going to focus on.
Claude is made by a company called Anthropic. You don't need to know anything else about them — just that Claude is their AI, and it's updated regularly to get better at helping you.
Where to find and open Claude
Claude lives at claude.ai. That's it. Open your browser, go to claude.ai, and create a free account with your email address. There's also a free mobile app if you prefer using your phone.
| Where | Best for |
|---|---|
| claude.ai (browser) | Writing, research, longer tasks at a desk |
| Claude mobile app | Quick questions, voice input, on the go |
| Claude desktop app | More advanced use — don't worry about this yet |
The free plan gives you a generous daily limit of conversations. For most beginners, it's plenty. There's a paid plan (Claude Pro) if you ever want unlimited access, but there's absolutely no need to pay anything to start.
Open a new tab and go to claude.ai. Sign up for a free account. It takes less than 2 minutes.
The 3 things beginners get wrong immediately
Most people try Claude once, feel a bit underwhelmed, and quietly give up. Here's why — and how to avoid it.
Treating it like a search engine. Typing "best pasta recipe" into Claude is like asking a brilliant chef for their best recipe and then walking away before they can answer properly. Give Claude context — "I want to make pasta for 4 people, I have tomatoes, garlic and basil, and I'm a beginner cook" — and watch the difference.
Giving up after one attempt. Claude is a conversation, not a vending machine. If the first answer isn't quite right, say so: "That's good but can you make it shorter?" or "Actually I meant X, not Y." Push back — it loves it.
Being too vague. "Help me write something" gets you something generic. "Help me write a friendly but professional email to my landlord asking him to fix the boiler — I've already asked twice" gets you something actually useful. The more you say, the better Claude does.
Your very first conversation (guided)
Let's start with something simple and genuinely useful. Copy and paste this prompt into Claude and see what comes back.
Hi Claude! I'm brand new to AI and I'd love your help. I'm going to use you to save time at home and at work. To start, can you tell me 5 practical things you could help me with this week — keep it simple and friendly, like you're explaining to someone who's never used AI before.
Read through the answer. Notice how Claude adapts its tone — it knows you've said you're new, so it meets you where you are. This is exactly how to use it. Give it context about who you are and what you need, and it adjusts.
🎯 Try it yourself
- Open claude.ai in a new tab
- Start a new conversation (the big "New chat" button)
- Paste in the prompt above and press enter
- Read the response — then try asking a follow-up question
🎉 Module 1 complete! You know what Claude is, where to find it, and you've had your first conversation.
On to Module 2 →Your First 5 Power Prompts
The one thing that changes everything
Here's the secret that most people never figure out: Claude is only as good as what you ask it. Not because it's limited — it's incredibly capable — but because vague questions get vague answers.
Think of Claude like a brilliant friend who happens to be an expert in almost everything. If you rang a friend and said "I need help with work," they'd say "Okay... what kind of help?" But if you said "I've got a difficult email to write to a client who's complaining about a delay, I want to be apologetic but not overdo it, and I need it done in 10 minutes" — now they can actually help.
Great prompts have three parts: context (who you are / what the situation is), task (what you actually want), and format (how you want the answer). You don't need all three every time — but the more you include, the better the result.
Prompt 1 — Summarise anything long
You can paste almost anything into Claude — a long email, an article, a job description, a contract, a letter from your bank — and ask it to give you the short version. This alone is worth the price of... well, your free course.
I'm going to paste in something I need to read. Please summarise it for me in plain English — 3-5 bullet points, focus on the most important things I need to know or do. Here it is: [paste your text here]
Try it with any long email in your inbox right now. You'll never read a long document the same way again.
Prompt 2 — Write something in your voice
Claude can write emails, messages, social posts, thank-you notes, complaints, reviews — anything. The trick is to tell it your tone so it sounds like you and not a robot.
Please help me write [what you need — e.g. "an email to my boss asking for a day off next Friday"]. My tone is usually [e.g. "friendly but professional"]. Keep it short and natural — it should sound like me, not like a formal letter. Here's any extra context you need: [add any details]
After Claude gives you a draft, say "make it a bit warmer" or "cut it by half" or "change the opening line." Keep nudging until it's exactly right. That's the whole point of the conversation.
Prompt 3 — Explain it like I'm a beginner
Claude is exceptional at taking confusing, technical, or jargon-heavy things and explaining them in plain language. Bills, medical terms, legal language, tech concepts, financial statements — anything.
Can you explain [topic or paste in the confusing text] in plain, simple English? Imagine you're explaining it to someone with no background in this area. Use an everyday analogy if it helps. I want to actually understand it, not just get a technical definition.
Prompt 4 — Help me make a decision
Stuck on a choice? Claude is a fantastic sounding board. It won't make the decision for you — but it can lay out the pros and cons clearly, ask you questions you hadn't thought of, and help you see the situation from a different angle.
I'm trying to decide between [option A] and [option B]. Here's my situation: [brief context — e.g. budget, timeline, what matters most to you]. Can you give me an honest pros and cons for each, and then tell me which you'd lean towards and why? Feel free to ask me any questions that would help you give better advice.
Prompt 5 — Brainstorm ideas with me
Claude is a brilliant brainstorming partner — for gifts, business ideas, weekend plans, solutions to problems, content ideas, anything. Give it a brief and watch the ideas flow.
I need ideas for [what you're brainstorming]. Here's the context: [e.g. who it's for, any constraints, what's already been tried]. Give me 8-10 ideas — a mix of obvious and surprising ones. Don't filter yourself, I want the full range.
🎉 Module 2 done! You now have 5 prompts you can use today for real things in your real life.
On to the final module →Quick Wins You Can Try Today
You've got the basics down. Now let's make it real. These four quick wins are things you can try in the next hour — each one will save you time or effort in a way you'll actually notice.
Quick win 1 — Plan a week of meals in 60 seconds
This one reliably blows people's minds the first time they try it. Tell Claude what you like, what you have in the fridge, and how many people you're cooking for — and get a full week of dinners with a shopping list.
Can you plan 5 weeknight dinners for me? Here's my situation: [number of people], [any dietary needs or preferences], [anything you already have in the fridge or cupboards you want to use up], [how long you want to spend cooking each night]. For each meal give me the name, a one-sentence description, and a rough time to make. Then give me a combined shopping list for anything I'll need to buy.
Quick win 2 — Write a tricky email effortlessly
We all have that one email sitting in our drafts that we keep putting off — the awkward one, the complaint, the chaser, the "I need to say no" message. Claude handles these brilliantly.
I need to write a [type of email — e.g. complaint / follow-up / refusal / apology] to [who it's going to]. The situation is: [brief explanation]. I want the tone to be [e.g. firm but polite / friendly / professional]. I don't want it to be too long. Can you write a draft I can edit?
"I need to write a complaint email to an online shop that sent me the wrong item three weeks ago. I've already emailed once with no reply. I want the tone to be firm but not aggressive. Keep it under 150 words."
Quick win 3 — Understand a confusing document
Insurance policies, rental agreements, terms and conditions, NHS letters, council notices — Claude can read them and tell you what they actually mean and what (if anything) you need to do.
I'm going to paste in a document I've received. Please read it and tell me: 1) What is this document actually about in one sentence, 2) Is there anything important I need to know or do, 3) Is there anything confusing, concerning, or that I should get a second opinion on? Here it is: [paste your document]
Claude is great at explaining things, but it's not a lawyer or financial advisor. For anything with serious legal or financial implications, use Claude to understand the document, then get professional advice before you act on it.
Quick win 4 — Get a second opinion on any decision
One of Claude's underrated superpowers: it asks good questions back at you. Try this for any decision you're mulling over — big or small.
I'm trying to decide [describe the decision]. Here's what I'm thinking so far: [your current thinking]. Can you help me think this through? Ask me any questions that would help you give me better advice, then share your honest perspective on what you'd consider doing in my situation.
🎊 You've finished the free course!
You now know how to talk to Claude properly, and you have 9 real prompts to use immediately. Most people who get this far are amazed by how much time they save in their first week.
See the full course →