Claude Code In-Depth Experience: 5 Major Advantages That Get Developers Hooked, But Account Ban Risks Cannot Be Ignored

Claude Code's Key Strengths

1. Autonomous Coding Agent with Multi-Step Reasoning

The biggest difference between Claude Code and traditional completion tools is that it can think independently and solve problems.

For example, when you tell it "Add login functionality to this project," it will:

Analyze the existing codebase structure
Determine which files need modification
Write backend API code
Create frontend forms
Add database migrations
Run tests and fix any failures
Commit changes to Git

All of this happens without you having to break down the tasks step by step. It's like having an intern who can follow through on entire features.

Real case: A developer had Claude Code fix a bug. It not only identified the issue but also:

Modified 3 related files
Added corresponding unit tests
Updated documentation
Created a Pull Request with a detailed commit message

The whole process took 15 minutes, whereas doing it manually would've taken at least 2 hours.

2. Dramatic Efficiency Boost

Multiple developers have reported that Claude Code can increase development speed by 3-5x. Here are some specific examples:

Task Type	Traditional Approach	With Claude Code	Time Saved
Building new API endpoints	2-3 hours	30 minutes	75%
Fixing bugs + writing tests	1-2 hours	15-20 minutes	80%
Code refactoring	4-5 hours	1 hour	80%
Writing documentation	1 hour	10 minutes	85%

But there's a catch: this efficiency boost has a cost ceiling. Some users report spending $100/hour when Claude Code runs at full throttle, which could completely blow your budget if you're not careful.

3. Git Operations Master

Claude Code truly shines at Git operations. It can:

Create feature branches automatically
Write proper commit messages
Submit Pull Requests
Resolve merge conflicts
Revert problematic commits

Example: When you say "Submit this feature as a PR," it'll:

Create a new branch
Commit code with a clear message
Push to remote
Open a PR with a detailed description

All in one shot. This is incredibly convenient for teams that need frequent code reviews.

But there's a detail worth noting: Claude Code adds itself as a commit co-author by default (through Git's Co-authored-by tag). While transparent, some developers find this intrusive to their commit history.

4. Terminal-Native, Natural Interaction

Unlike tools that need a browser, Claude Code runs directly in your terminal. This means you can:

Use natural language to give commands ("refactor this function")
Review AI-proposed changes in real-time
Accept/reject modifications with a single keystroke
Leverage familiar command-line workflows

For developers who live in the terminal, this experience is far smoother than constantly switching to a browser.

5. Highly Customizable

Claude Code supports extensive customization:

Custom prompts to guide behavior
.codeignore files to exclude sensitive code
User/project-specific settings

Practical tip: Create a custom instruction like "Always follow the company's code style guide" and Claude will remember it across all sessions.

Claude Code's Main Drawbacks

1. Frequent Permission Prompts Interrupt Workflow

The biggest complaint from users is that Claude Code constantly asks for permission to execute actions, severely disrupting flow.

For example:

Before editing a file: "Allow edit?"
Before running a command: "Allow execution?"
Before making a Git commit: "Allow commit?"

While this is for security, when you're in deep work mode, these constant interruptions drive people crazy.

Worse: Sometimes permissions expire, forcing you to re-grant them.

2. Code Quality Can Be Inconsistent

While Claude Code performs well on SWE-bench benchmarks, real-world code quality can vary:

Scenario	Performance	Issue
Simple CRUD operations	Excellent	–
Complex business logic	Variable	May miss edge cases
Performance optimization	Mediocre	May introduce performance issues
Security-sensitive code	Requires careful review	May have subtle vulnerabilities

Real case: A developer had Claude Code implement a payment feature. The code looked fine, but upon review, they found a race condition that could've led to duplicate charges.

Recommendation: Treat Claude Code like a junior developer – useful for routine work, but always review carefully for critical features.

3. Costs Can Spiral Out of Control

Claude Code's pricing is based on token usage (input + output). Since it's an autonomous agent, costs can balloon when:

Processing large codebases
Running many iterations
Making frequent mistakes that need fixing

Real example: A user spent $100 in one hour while Claude Code was troubleshooting a complex bug.

Cost control tips:

Use .codeignore to exclude large dependency folders
Set token limits for single sessions
Monitor costs regularly

4. Default AI Co-Authorship Feels Intrusive

As mentioned earlier, Claude Code adds itself as a commit co-author by default. While technically transparent, some developers feel this:

Pollutes commit history
Raises questions during code reviews
Doesn't align with team conventions

Solution: You can disable this through config, but it's opt-out rather than opt-in.

5. Account Ban Risk for Chinese Mainland Users

This is the most critical issue for Chinese developers. Since September 2024, Anthropic officially restricted access from China and other regions. Starting in November, mass account bans began.

Ban characteristics:

Accounts get banned suddenly without warning
All historical data becomes inaccessible
Even paid Pro accounts aren't exempt
No appeals process

For Chinese developers, this means:

Official channels are almost unusable
Need alternative solutions (API relay services)
Risk of sudden ban remains

Recommended workaround: Use API relay services like APIYI – a stable AI model API relay platform with affordable pricing and free trials.

How Chinese Users Can Avoid Bans

Option 1: Use API Relay Services (Recommended)

What are API relay services?
Third-party platforms that provide API access to Claude and other models while bypassing regional restrictions.

Why choose APIYI?

Stable and reliable service
Affordable pricing
Free trial credits
Supports multiple AI models
No ban risk

How to set up:

Register at APIYI
Get your API key
Configure Claude Code to use the relay endpoint
Start using normally

This approach is the safest and most stable solution currently.

Option 2: Use VPS + Official API

If you have international VPS resources:

Set up Claude Code on the VPS
Connect via SSH
Use the official API

Pros: Direct official access, best performance
Cons: Requires technical knowledge, higher costs

Option 3: Switch to Alternatives

If you can't accept the ban risk, consider:

Cursor: Similar features, better support for China
GitHub Copilot: Mature and stable, official support
国产 AI coding tools: Increasing in capability

But none currently match Claude Code's autonomous capabilities.

Who Should Use Claude Code?

Best Suited For:

Developers needing to handle large amounts of routine tasks
Teams requiring frequent cross-file refactoring
Projects with high Git operation frequency
Users with budgets to spare

Not Recommended For:

Security-critical projects (needs human review)
Teams on tight budgets (costs can explode)
Chinese mainland users without relay solutions
Developers who can't tolerate workflow interruptions

Conclusion: Weighing Pros and Cons

Claude Code is undeniably powerful – it's the most capable autonomous coding agent on the market. When working at full capacity, it can save hours daily.

But for Chinese users, the ban risk is a real issue that can't be ignored. The official channel is essentially unusable, making API relay services the most practical solution.

Final recommendations:

If you're outside China: Give it a try, but keep an eye on costs
If you're in China: Only use it via APIYI or similar relay services
For all users: Always review AI-generated code carefully, especially for critical functionality

Technology is advancing rapidly, but regional restrictions remain a harsh reality. Hopefully, in the future, developers worldwide can access these cutting-edge tools without barriers.

Related resources:

APIYI official site: [Stable AI model API relay platform]
Claude Code official docs: [Setup guides and best practices]
Community discussion: [Share your experiences using Claude Code]

Claude Code's 5 Core Advantages

Advantage 1: Native Terminal Integration

Claude Code runs directly in your local development environment, supporting:

Direct command-line invocation: Issue instructions in natural language
IDE integration: Native plugins for VS Code and JetBrains
Web access: Browser version launched in October 2025

No need to constantly switch between browser and editor—everything happens within your familiar workflow.

Advantage 2: Git Operations Master

Claude Code's Git proficiency is truly "ninja-level":

Git Operation	Claude Code Performance
Regular commits	Auto-generates meaningful commit messages
Branch management	Batch applies changes across branches
Rebase operations	Handles Rebase and Squash effortlessly
Conflict resolution	Intelligent merge conflict handling

You can simply say "commit and push" or "apply this change across all branches," and it'll execute correctly. It's like having a senior engineer who never gets tired of handling version control for you.

Advantage 3: Dramatically Improved Development Efficiency

Developers most frequently mention efficiency gains:

Unit test writing: Test code that used to take hours now completes in minutes
Code refactoring: Batch refactoring is no longer a nightmare
Documentation generation: Auto-generates technical docs and API documentation
Debug assistance: Quickly locates and fixes bugs

One developer noted: "Claude Code has shortened the software development cycle several times over, meaning lower costs for both software companies and clients."

Advantage 4: Highly Customizable

Claude Code offers rich configuration options:

CLAUDE.md: Project-level AI behavior configuration
Skills: Custom skill extensions
MCP (Model Context Protocol): Connect external tools and services
Slash commands: Quick command system

This "flexibility over prescription" design philosophy lets developers deeply customize according to their workflow.

Advantage 5: Building Reusable Systems

Using Claude Code isn't just about completing individual tasks—it's about building reusable automation systems:

"This is a fundamental shift: you're no longer treating AI as a Q&A service, but starting to build AI-driven systems that get better over time."

Through accumulated CLAUDE.md configurations, Skills, and workflows, your AI assistant increasingly understands your project and preferences.

Claude Code's Main Drawbacks

Drawback 1: Frequent Usage Limit Hits

This is the most complained-about issue among developers. After Sonnet 4.5's release in September 2025, many users reported limits becoming more restrictive:

Subscription Plan	Theoretical Usage	Actual Experience
Pro ($20/month)	~45 messages per 5 hours	Hitting limits in 10-15 minutes
Max 5x ($100/month)	~225 messages per 5 hours	Significant improvement but still limited
Max 20x ($200/month)	~900 messages per 5 hours	"You're buying more rate-limited access"

As one developer put it: "Even at $200/month, you're just buying more rate-limited access, not actual control."

Drawback 2: Inconsistent Code Quality

Since late August 2025, complaints about declining model programming capabilities have been increasing:

Ignoring its own plans: "It's gotten noticeably dumber… ignores its own plans and messes up the code"
False claims about modifications: Claims to have modified code when it actually hasn't
Incomplete analysis: Claims to have done a "full codebase analysis" when it actually only reviewed 21% of the code
Hidden bugs: Generated code runs on the surface but contains security vulnerabilities

A typical case: AI-generated API "indiscriminately returns all user data, including hashed passwords"—superficially functional but with serious security flaws.

Drawback 3: Costs Can Spiral Out of Control

The actual cost of using Claude Code can far exceed subscription fees:

Uncontrollable token consumption: AI may repeatedly read files, rapidly burning through quotas
Hidden time costs: Writing prompts, waiting for responses, reviewing output, correcting errors
Shared quotas: Claude.ai chat and Claude Code share quotas, heavy users quickly hit limits

As one enterprise user reported: "It feels like spending $100 per hour because the AI sometimes goes out of control, repeatedly reading files and burning through tokens."

Drawback 4: Workflow Interruptions

By default, Claude Code frequently interrupts your work:

Excessive permission confirmations: "Can I edit this file?" "Can I run this command?"
Black-box behavior: Sometimes gets stuck in loops, misunderstands requests, or starts "hallucinating" solutions
Auto-attribution: Defaults to adding itself as a co-author in Git commits (can be disabled)

Drawback 5: Steep Learning Curve

To truly unlock Claude Code's potential requires significant learning investment:

Writing and optimizing CLAUDE.md configuration files
Learning specialized workflows (git worktrees, ultrathink prompting techniques, etc.)
Extensive prompt engineering practice
Determining when the AI is "guessing" and when to reset context

For teams unfamiliar with AI tools, this learning cost may exceed expectations.

Mainland China Users: Account Ban Risks

This is the biggest challenge facing Chinese users, and it's what we'll focus on in this article.

Anthropic's Regional Restriction Policy

In September 2025, Anthropic officially updated its Terms of Service with explicit prohibitions on Claude usage in the following scenarios:

Restriction Type	Details
Direct Access	Direct access from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and similar regions
Corporate Control	Companies with more than 50% ownership by entities from the above regions
Subsidiary Workarounds	Access through overseas subsidiaries is also prohibited

Anthropic's stated reason: "Companies controlled by authoritarian states face legal requirements to share data and cooperate with intelligence agencies."

Timeline of Ban Waves

Time	Event
September 2025	Anthropic releases updated regional restriction policy
November 10, 2025	Large-scale bans begin, numerous developer accounts suspended
Ongoing	Risk control systems continue tightening, new account registration becomes harder

Common Triggers for Account Bans

Based on user feedback and public information, these behaviors may trigger account suspension:

Using VPN Access: Accessing from unsupported regions via VPN is the most common cause
Unusual Usage Patterns: Excessive API calls, bot-like conversation patterns
Multi-Device Account Sharing: Single account logged in across multiple devices
Payment Info Mismatch: Registration information doesn't match payment region
Frequent IP Changes: Login IP frequently switching between different countries/regions

Appeals After Account Suspension

Anthropic provides official appeal channels:

Support email: [email protected]
Official appeal form

However, user feedback suggests appeal success rates are low, with wait times potentially extending to several weeks. Many users never receive any response.

Note About "Fake Ban Screenshots"

At the end of 2025, a screenshot circulated online claiming Claude would "report to local law enforcement" after banning accounts. Anthropic has officially clarified this is a fake screenshot, stating "we don't use that kind of language or display that kind of message." These fake screenshots "circulate every few months," and users shouldn't panic.

Strategies for Chinese Users

Since using Claude Code directly carries ban risks, what are the alternatives?

Option 1: API Relay Services

Using third-party API relay platforms to call Claude models is currently the most stable approach:

Advantage	Explanation
Account Risk Transfer	Using relay platform APIs, your personal account isn't directly exposed
Payment Convenience	Supports domestic payment methods, no overseas credit card needed
Multi-Model Switching	Call multiple models through one interface for easy comparison
Cost Control	Pay based on actual usage, avoiding subscription waste

Recommendation: API Yi (apiyi.com) provides stable Claude API relay services, supporting latest models like Claude Sonnet 4 and Opus 4, with free trial credits—ideal for Chinese developers.

Option 2: Compatible Tools

Many development tools support custom API endpoints and can work with relay services:

VS Code Extensions: Configure custom base_url
Cursor: Supports custom API endpoints
Other IDE Plugins: Most support OpenAI-compatible interfaces

Option 3: Risk Distribution

If you really need to use official services:

Don't rely on a single account for all your work
Use localized solutions as backups for important projects
Regularly export important conversations and configurations

Option 4: Keep an Eye on Alternatives

The AI coding tool market is highly competitive. Other options include:

GitHub Copilot: Backed by Microsoft, fewer regional restrictions
Chinese Large Language Models: Like DeepSeek, Tongyi Qianwen—no regional restrictions
Other International Models: Access GPT-4, Gemini, etc. through API relays

FAQ

Q1: What makes Claude Code better than GitHub Copilot?

The core difference is its "agentic" capabilities. While Copilot mainly does code completion, Claude Code can autonomously complete entire tasks: reading through the whole codebase, making multi-file changes, running tests, and submitting PRs. It's more like an AI programmer who can work independently, rather than just a suggestion tool. But accordingly, it also comes with a steeper learning curve and higher usage costs.

Q2: Will Chinese users definitely get banned when using Claude Code?

Not "definitely," but the risk is quite high. Anthropic explicitly lists China as an unsupported region, and accessing via VPN may trigger their security controls. The large-scale ban wave in November 2025 has already affected numerous users. If your work heavily relies on Claude, it's recommended to use API relay services or other more stable solutions to avoid exposing your account directly to risk.

Q3: Is there a way to use Claude without worrying about getting banned?

We recommend using API relay services:

Get Claude API access through platforms like APIYI (apiyi.com)
Configure it in development tools that support custom endpoints
Pay based on actual usage, no need to maintain overseas subscriptions

This way your personal account doesn't interact directly with Anthropic, significantly reducing ban risk while still enjoying Claude's powerful capabilities.

Summary

Claude Code's core value:

True AI programming agent: Not just completion, but autonomously completing complex development tasks
Significant efficiency boost: Unit testing, refactoring, documentation generation and more get dramatically faster
Powerful Git integration: Advanced version control operations at your fingertips

Claude Code's main risks:

Frequent usage limits: Even paid users often hit rate limits
Variable code quality: Occasionally produces code with subtle issues, requires human review
Ban risk (Chinese users): Strict regional restriction policies, VPN access may lead to bans

For users in mainland China, directly using Claude Code's official service carries considerable account risk. We recommend using Claude models indirectly through API relay platforms like APIYI (apiyi.com) – you'll get the model's capabilities while avoiding ban risks, plus it supports domestic payment methods for more convenient usage.

References

⚠️ Link Format Note: All external links use the Resource Name: domain.com format – easy to copy but not clickable, helping avoid SEO weight leakage.

Anthropic Regional Restriction Policy: Official Announcement
- Link: anthropic.com/news/updating-restrictions-of-sales-to-unsupported-regions
- Description: Anthropic's official policy statement on unsupported regions
Claude Code Usage Restrictions Discussion: GitHub Issue
- Link: github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/9094
- Description: Developer community discussion about changes to usage restrictions
Claude Code Developer Experience Analysis: eesel.ai
- Link: eesel.ai/blog/claude-code-overview
- Description: Developer perspective on Claude Code's pros and cons
Claude Ban Screenshot Clarification: BleepingComputer
- Link: bleepingcomputer.com/news/artificial-intelligence/anthropic-viral-claude-banned-and-reported-to-authorities-message-isnt-real/
- Description: Anthropic's official clarification on fake ban screenshots

Author: Technical Team
Tech Discussion: Feel free to discuss in the comments. For more resources, visit the APIYI apiyi.com tech community