Claude Code plugins are add-ons that extend what the agent can do, new commands, skills, and integrations you install rather than build yourself. They turned Claude Code from a single tool into a small ecosystem. This guide covers what plugins are, how skills fit in, and how to install them.
Plugins, skills, and the marketplace
Think of skills as capabilities (a thing Claude Code can now do) and plugins as the package that delivers them. You browse and install from a marketplace, which is where the ecosystem lives. Anthropic runs an official marketplace, and third-party ones exist too.
The pieces
| Piece | What it is |
|---|---|
| Plugins | Installable packages that add commands or integrations to Claude Code. |
| Skills | Specific capabilities a plugin can give the agent. |
| Marketplace | Where you discover and install plugins, official and third-party. |
| Agents | Plugins can define specialized agents for particular tasks. |
How to install a Claude Code plugin
Getting started with plugins
- Open the marketplaceBrowse the official Claude Code plugin marketplace for what you need.
- Pick a pluginChoose one that adds the command, skill, or integration you want.
- Install itAdd it to Claude Code using the install flow the docs describe (see callout, exact command pending confirmation).
- Use itThe new commands or skills become available inside Claude Code.
What plugins don't do
Plugins extend Claude Code's behavior, but they don't change which model you're running or how you're billed. If your goal is cheaper runs or access to other providers, that's a routing question, not a plugin one, and it's where a router comes in.
What that looks like with Wuwei
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Switch models freely | Run Claude Code against Claude, GPT, Gemini, Kimi, DeepSeek and more from one entry point. |
| Cheaper routine work | Route light tasks to low-cost models to cut spend. |
| Pay-as-you-go | Billed for what you run, no fixed plan. |
| No proxy setup | Natively supports OpenAI-compatible endpoints, nothing to configure. |
FAQ
What are Claude Code plugins?
They're installable add-ons that extend Claude Code with new commands, skills, and integrations, available from a marketplace instead of built by hand.
What's the difference between Claude Code skills and plugins?
Skills are specific capabilities the agent gains; plugins are the packages that deliver and distribute those skills and other features.
Where do I get Claude Code plugins?
From a plugin marketplace. Anthropic runs an official marketplace, and third-party ones exist. Browse, pick, and install from there.
Do plugins let me use different models?
No. Plugins extend behavior but don't change your model or billing. To run Claude Code against other models, use a router like Wuwei.