How to Install Superpowers for Claude Code

Superpowers is a free plugin for Claude Code. It makes Claude ask questions and plan before it writes any code. Then it builds in small, tested steps. This guide shows you how to install it and what it does once it's on.

First, a few plain terms. Claude Code is Anthropic's coding tool: you tell Claude what to build, and it writes the code. A plugin adds extra abilities to it. A skill is a set of instructions Claude follows for one kind of job. A subagent is a fresh helper that Claude starts up to do one task.

1. Check your plan

Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan, like Pro or Max. It isn't included in the Free plan. The Superpowers plugin itself is free and open source, under the MIT licence.

2. Install the plugin

Superpowers is in Anthropic's official Claude plugin marketplace. Open Claude Code and type:

/plugin install superpowers@claude-plugins-official

That's it. You don't need to call the skills by name. They kick in by themselves.

3. Say what you want to build

Before it builds anything, Superpowers asks you questions to find out what you actually want, and why. Then it plays its understanding back to you so you can correct it. For a project, it also writes a design document. Start with:

I want a simple web page that tracks the books I read each week. Ask me questions first, one at a time, before you write any code.

4. Read the plan

Next, it breaks the work into bite sized tasks of 2 to 5 minutes each. Each task lists the files it will change and how to check it worked. Read the plan before you say yes. If you want a change, say:

Change the plan so the first task only sets up the page layout. Keep the rest the same.

5. Let it build, test first

A test is a small check that proves the code does what it should. For each task, Superpowers writes a failing test first, then the smallest bit of code that makes it pass. It even deletes code that was written before its test.

6. Reviews between tasks

It reviews the work between tasks. If it finds a critical issue, it doesn't move on to the next task.

Good to know

• Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan (Pro or Max). The plugin itself is free.
• The more thorough mode runs a fresh subagent for each task, with a review after each one. This can use more of your usage, so keep an eye on your limits.
• The skills trigger automatically, so the install command is the only one you need to type.
• Superpowers also works with other coding agents, for example Codex and Cursor.
• The project has over 300,000 stars on GitHub.

Official sources

Superpowers on GitHub (README, install steps and workflow)

Superpowers in the Claude plugin directory

Claude Help: Use Claude Code with your Pro or Max plan