Claude Overlay
Always-on-top AI coding assistant that sees your entire screen
Quick answer
Claude Overlay — Always-on-top AI coding assistant that sees your entire screen. It's free. Best for getting inline AI coding help while working inside an IDE without switching windows.
Claude Overlay is a free, open-source Windows utility that wraps the full Claude Code agent in a floating, always-on-top chat window, giving developers hands-free AI assistance without switching between applications. Designed for Windows power users who already subscribe to Claude, it reads and edits files directly on your screen, letting you issue natural-language commands to a capable AI coding agent without leaving your current workflow. Because it runs on top of any application, it is especially useful for developers who want persistent AI help while working in an IDE, browser, or terminal. The tool requires no separate API key and no additional subscription fee beyond what you already pay for Claude, making it a zero-extra-cost productivity layer for existing subscribers. As an MIT-licensed open-source project, the codebase is fully auditable, freely forkable, and community-driven, which means developers can customize it to fit their own workflows or contribute improvements back to the project. Whether you are debugging code, drafting documentation, or navigating an unfamiliar codebase, Claude Overlay keeps your AI assistant one click away without hiding behind a separate window or requiring constant context switching.
Key features
- Always-on-top floating chat window that overlays any application on Windows
- Full Claude Code agent integration with screen-reading and file-editing capabilities
- No API key required - works directly with your existing Claude subscription
- Open-source MIT license with a fully auditable and customizable codebase
Pros & cons
- +Completely free with no additional subscription or API fees beyond your Claude plan
- +Always-on-top overlay eliminates context switching and keeps AI assistance instantly accessible
- +Open-source codebase is transparent, auditable, and customizable for developers
- −Windows-only, so macOS and Linux users cannot use it without workarounds
- −Requires an active Claude subscription, so it is not truly free for users without one
Pricing
Fully free and open-source (MIT license)
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Who is it for
- →Getting inline AI coding help while working inside an IDE without switching windows
- →Asking Claude to read, edit, or debug files visible on your screen in real time
- →Using natural-language commands to navigate or refactor an unfamiliar codebase hands-free
Frequently asked questions
Is Claude Overlay free?
Yes. Claude Overlay is fully free and released under the MIT open-source license. There are no fees, subscriptions, or API charges for the tool itself. However, you do need an existing Claude subscription from Anthropic to use it, since it connects to Claude Code through your account.
What is Claude Overlay best used for?
Claude Overlay is best used for on-screen AI coding assistance. It shines when you want to keep an AI agent visible on top of your IDE, terminal, or browser and issue commands to read, edit, or debug code without switching windows. It is ideal for developers who want a persistent, distraction-free AI co-pilot during active development sessions.
What are the best alternatives to Claude Overlay?
Strong alternatives include GitHub Copilot (integrated directly in popular IDEs), Cursor (an AI-first code editor), Codeium, and Continue.dev (an open-source IDE extension). For floating or overlay-style AI chat, tools like Raycast AI or custom AutoHotkey scripts with Claude API calls are also options, though none offer the same combination of always-on-top display and full Claude Code agent access.
Is Claude Overlay safe to use?
Because Claude Overlay is fully open-source under the MIT license, you can inspect every line of code before running it. This transparency makes it safer than closed-source tools, as there are no hidden behaviors. That said, it does have the ability to read and edit files on your screen, so you should review the code and understand its permissions before installing it on a sensitive machine.
How much does Claude Overlay cost?
Claude Overlay itself costs nothing. It is a free, open-source tool with no paid tiers. The only cost involved is your existing Claude subscription from Anthropic, which is required for the underlying AI functionality. If you already pay for Claude, there is no additional charge to use Claude Overlay.
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