Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

In Claude Code, the advisor is a second model that Claude may consult for guidance at important decision points. The main session model still handles the ongoing coding task; the advisor does not take over every turn. Anthropic describes the feature as experimental, and its use adds model usage on top of the main session.

What the advisor does

Anthropic describes the advisor as a second, typically stronger model that Claude can consult before choosing an approach, after getting stuck on a recurring error, or before calling a task complete. It receives the conversation, including tool calls and results, and returns guidance for the main Claude Code session to consider.

Claude Code decides when to make an advisor call. That timing is model-driven rather than governed by a fixed schedule. You can ask Claude to consult the advisor in your instructions, but Anthropic’s documentation says there is no setting to force or cap the number of calls. See Anthropic’s advisor documentation.

Advisor vs. coding model vs. subagent

Option What it does Does it do the main task?
Main coding model Handles the ongoing work in the Claude Code session and responds to you. Yes. It remains responsible for the ordinary task work.
Advisor Provides guidance when Claude consults it at a decision point. It receives the conversation and tool results. No. It advises the main session rather than replacing it.
Subagent Handles a delegated, specialized subtask in its own context, with its own system prompt, tool access, and permissions, then returns results. It performs the delegated work, but not as the main session model.

Anthropic calls subagents “specialized AI assistants that handle specific types of tasks.” The practical distinction is that an advisor offers a second opinion to the main thread, while a subagent is assigned work to carry out separately. See Anthropic’s subagent documentation.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Elebase USB to USB C Adapter for iPhone 18 Pro Max,USBC Car Charger Adapter
  • Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
  • Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
  • Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
  • Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
  • 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.

When an advisor is useful

An advisor is most relevant when a task has consequential decisions and benefits from an additional perspective, rather than needing the strongest model for every routine turn. Anthropic suggests considering it for:

  • Large refactors where choosing a sound plan matters.
  • Debugging a recurring error after the main session has struggled.
  • Getting an independent check before considering work complete.

For short tasks with little planning, or work where you want the strongest model involved in every turn, the advisor may add little. It is not a substitute for selecting a different main model when you want that model to handle the session itself.

Rank #2
Anker USB-C Hub, 5-in-1 USB Hub for Laptops, 4K HDMI Multiport Adapter
  • 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
  • 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
  • Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
  • 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
  • What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.

How to enable or change it

Anthropic documents three ways to configure the advisor:

  • Use /advisor in Claude Code to enable or change it.
  • Set advisorModel in settings.
  • Pass --advisor when starting a session to use it for that session.

Advisor models must satisfy the documented compatibility pairing for the main model; eligible pairings can be equal-ranked or higher-ranked. Check the current model configuration documentation rather than assuming a pairing will work for every main model.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Sale
Anker USB C Hub, 7in1 Multi-Port USB Adapter, 4K@60Hz USBC to HDMI Splitter
  • Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
  • Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
  • Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
  • Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
  • What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.

How it differs from changing the model or using opusplan

The advisor adds a consulting model while leaving the main session model in place. By contrast, /model changes which model handles requests from that point onward. The opusplan option uses a model during plan mode and then switches to Sonnet for execution, where supported by model settings. These are different ways to allocate model work; neither should be confused with a second opinion called at selected moments.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Availability, cost, and limitations

The advisor is experimental and requires the Anthropic API. Anthropic says it is not available on Amazon Bedrock, Claude Platform on AWS, Google Cloud’s Agent Platform, or Microsoft Foundry. Its behavior, pricing, and availability may change.

Rank #4
Sale
UGREEN USB to USB C Adapter Combo 4-Pack, 10Gbps USB C Converter Space Gray
  • Dual Converters, Infinite Potential:Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
  • Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
  • Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
  • Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
  • Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft

Each advisor call processes the conversation with the advisor model, so it consumes tokens at that model’s rates in addition to the main model’s usage. With API billing, advisor input and output tokens are charged at the advisor model’s rates. Subscription use generally counts against plan limits; Fable usage credits apply on some plans. There is no single universal cost or savings figure: the amount depends on call frequency, model, and billing arrangement.

Best Value
Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USBC to HDMI Splitter with 4K Display
  • 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
  • Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
  • Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
  • HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
  • What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.