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€200 Claude.ai bill in one week — so I built a cheaper alternative
April 2026 — one week of intensive AI-assisted work, one surprising bill, and one decision to do something about it
The Claude.ai usage screen showed €169.51 spent in a single week. That number included €23 for a Pro subscription and four separate top-ups of €50 each in “extra usage.” One hundred and sixty-nine euros. In seven days. On a chat interface.