| Interface / tab | Runs where | Context window | Memory across sessions | MCP connectors | Custom skills — persist across sessions? | Custom skills — shared across interfaces? | What carries over to other Claude surfaces | Pick up on another interface? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| claude.ai — web + mobile | |||||||||
| Web / mobile chatbrowser · iOS · Android | Cloud | 200K | Memory feature — facts extracted; history doesn't auto-load | Yes — Gmail, Slack, Airtable… | Yes — account zip skills persist indefinitely | Yes — available on Desktop Chat tab, Cowork tab, Excel/PPT add-ins Not shared with Code CLI/VS Code (different system) |
Memory, connectors, Projects, zip skills → account-synced | Same chat thread on any device; Projects + memory carry | |
| Claude Desktop app (Mac / Windows) — 3 tabs | |||||||||
| Desktop | ↳ Chat tabclaude.ai native wrapper | Local app → cloud | 200K | Same account memory as web | Yes — same account; + OS screenshots, dictation | Yes — same account zip skills as web | Yes — fully shared with web/mobile chat | Fully shared with web/mobile — same account | Yes — identical to web chat |
| Desktop | ↳ Cowork tabagentic · sandboxed VM | Local VM → cloud | Session-scoped; starts fresh | No auto-memory — CLAUDE.md workaround; history local only | Yes — account connectors + folder + Chrome | Yes — account zip skills persist and always load Folder-local SKILL.md files also work but scoped to that folder only |
Account zip skills shared with Chat/web Folder-local SKILL.md files are NOT shared — stay in that working folder only |
Connectors + account zip skills shared; CLAUDE.md + folder skills local only | Files on disk carry; conversation context does not |
| Desktop | ↳ Code tabClaude Code GUI · local/remote/SSH | Local or Anthropic cloud | 200K; repo indexed | Auto Memory + CLAUDE.md; same as CLI | Yes — account + local MCP | Yes — ~/.claude/skills/ (personal, all projects) or .claude/skills/ (project-scoped) | Yes — same filesystem as CLI + VS Code ext Not shared with Chat/Cowork zip skills |
Identical to CLI + VS Code ext (Auto Memory, CLAUDE.md, SKILL.md files) | Yes — full continuity with CLI + VS Code ext |
| Claude Code — standalone | |||||||||
| Code standalone | CLI (terminal)npm · command line | Local terminal → cloud | 200K; repo indexed | Auto Memory + CLAUDE.md | Yes — account + local MCP | Yes — ~/.claude/skills/ personal skills available in every session + project | Yes — shared with Desktop Code tab + VS Code ext Not shared with claude.ai zip skills |
Shared with Desktop Code tab + VS Code ext | Yes — Desktop Code tab or VS Code ext |
| Code standalone | VS Code extensionIDE | VS Code → cloud | Same as CLI | Same Auto Memory + CLAUDE.md | Yes | Yes — same ~/.claude/skills/ as CLI | Yes — same filesystem as CLI + Desktop Code tab | Same state as CLI + Desktop Code tab | Yes |
| Browser & Office add-ins | |||||||||
| Add-ins | Claude Code webbrowser · Oct 2025 | Browser → cloud | Same as CLI | Partial — no local repo | Yes | Partial — account zip skills only; no ~/.claude/skills/ | Account zip skills only; no filesystem skill continuity | Account shared; no local file or CLAUDE.md continuity | Partial |
| Add-ins | Claude in Chromeextension · Aug 2025 | Chrome ext → cloud | Chat-level | Account memory | Account connectors | Account zip skills carry over | Account zip skills shared with claude.ai surfaces | Memory + connectors + zip skills shared with claude.ai | Browsing context only |
| Add-ins | Claude in Excel / PPTM365 add-ins · beta | Microsoft 365 | File-scoped | None | N/A | Yes — account zip skills enabled in Settings carry here | Account zip skills only; output adapts to spreadsheet/slide context | Zip skills shared; otherwise isolated | Via file sharing only |
| API (direct) | |||||||||
| Claude APIREST / SDK | Cloud — your app | 200K; 1M beta | Stateless — manage history in payload | Manual via mcp_servers | Via container.skills param — pass skill_id per call | No — fully isolated; no account state | Fully isolated — no account state | No — you own all state | |