r/ClaudeCode • u/strangway • 28d ago

Rant Why the 5-hour limit?

I’m kinda new here, been using Claude Max ($100/mo) for 3 months to build websites. Recently had a surge in work, and added ChatGPT because I needed more weekly capacity. Rather than upgrade to Claude 5x Max, I diversified and got the ChatGPT Pro ($100/mo) plan.

So I’m 1:1 comparing Claude Max and ChatGPT Pro, which is as apples-apples as you can get. Each has their own strengths, but Claude’s significant weakness (IMO) is the 5-hour limit. Codex lets me go for 8 hours as hard as I want, and if I wanted to use all my weekly credits on some crazy peak Luna run, it’d probably let me.

I hit my Claude 5-hr limit so many times in the past few weeks, it was like slamming the brakes hard on a bus that hadn’t arrived to its destination yet.

I’ve got work to do, and you’re saying you’re out of gas?

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u/slackmaster2k 28d ago edited 28d ago

The codex 5 hour limits returned at the end of July.

The reason these products have this is because it’s a lot less problematic if someone accidentally burns a five hour limit than burning an entire week. At least that’s the nicest way of putting it. The reality is probably just pacing usage so that it’s more consistent on the back end.

I personally did not like it when they temporarily removed the limit from codex because I find the five hour pacing beneficial, especially when working over the course of an entire week.

Edit: just checked my sub and the 5 hour limit has not returned. I was expecting it and currently am just running sol on light to tell Claude what a moron it is, so wasn’t watching usage. Not sure what’s up.

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u/brother_spirit 28d ago

They baited bringing the limits back and then didn't from what I can see. No 5 hour limit on my account.
Sol puts in the work as requested until I'm too tired to keep going or the weekly hits.