Glossary
Session limit vs weekly limit: what is the difference?
AI coding plans cap usage twice: per five-hour session and per week. What each limit is, how they interact, and which one stops you on Claude Code and Codex.
· Facts checked October 3, 2026
- Claude Code
- Codex
The short answer
A session limit caps how much you can use within a short window, five hours on Claude Code and Codex, and comes back when that window rolls over. A weekly limit caps the total across the week, so you can stay under every session limit and still be stopped by the weekly one.
At a glance
| Session limit | Usage within a five-hour window; refills when the window rolls over. |
|---|---|
| Weekly limit | Total usage across a week; on Claude plans it resets at a fixed time assigned to your account. |
| Which applies | Both at once. Whichever runs out first stops you. |
| Codex Pro | OpenAI says Pro plans currently have no five-hour limit; weekly limits may apply. |
Why there are two limits
The session limit spreads demand across the day, so one long burst cannot use a week of capacity in an afternoon. The weekly limit caps the total, so steady use in every session still adds up to a ceiling. A developer who works in many short bursts tends to meet the weekly limit; one who runs long agent tasks back to back tends to meet the session limit.
On Claude plans the session window is rolling, while the weekly limit resets at a fixed weekday and hour. The Claude Code limits guide and the Codex limits guide give the details for each tool.
Reading the two together
A session at 90% with the week at 40% means a short wait. A session at 20% with the week at 95% means most of the week's room is gone, whatever the session bar says. everyaitoken shows both percentages and both reset times for Claude Code and Codex side by side, so the binding limit is clear at a glance.
Your own numbers
See what your AI coding really costs.
everyaitoken reads Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenRouter, Gemini CLI, and OpenCode on your Mac. It shows limits with reset times, API-equivalent cost, and what caching saved or cost, in the menu bar and 17 widgets. $9 once.
FAQ
Questions
Which limit resets first?
Usually the session limit, since its window is five hours. The weekly limit resets once a week at its own time, so near the end of a heavy week it can be the one that stops you.
Do session limits count toward the weekly limit?
Yes. Everything you use in each session also counts toward the weekly total, which is why the weekly limit can run out while sessions still show room.
Does a bigger plan raise both limits?
On Claude, Max plans multiply the per-session allowance and come with larger weekly limits. The Max plan guide covers when that is worth paying for.
Sources
Checked October 3, 2026. Plans and limits change; the linked pages are the authority.
