| Feature | Standard Mode | Cowork Mode | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session persistence | Session persistence | Ends when terminal closes | Persistent thread across sessions |
| Project context | Project context | CLAUDE.md and auto memory | Claude Projects integration plus CLAUDE.md |
| Scheduled tasks | Scheduled tasks | Not available | Background tasks on a schedule |
| Plugins | Plugins | MCP servers only | Plugin system plus MCP servers |
When to use Cowork mode
Cowork mode is most valuable for long running projects where you want Claude Code to maintain deep context across multiple sessions. If you are working on a project for weeks or months and want Claude Code to remember architectural decisions, ongoing tasks, and project state without re-explaining everything each session, Cowork mode is the way to go.