Short answerA Project is a workspace with its own instructions and files. A skill is a packaged SKILL.md folder Claude can apply when relevant. For a simple GPT replacement a Project is quicker; for reuse across tools or code, a skill.
| Project | Skill | |
|---|---|---|
| Holds | Custom instructions, knowledge files, chats | A SKILL.md folder with optional reference files and scripts |
| Where | Claude apps | Claude apps (uploaded as a zip), the API, Claude Code |
| Plans | All plans; 5 projects on Free | Platform docs say Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise with code execution; a help article also lists Free. Not resolved |
| Sharing | Team and Enterprise | Per user in apps; workspace-wide in the API |
Start with a Project; use a skill if you want the same instructions in several tools (standard, how to convert).
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Sources
- Anthropic docs: Agent Skills overview
- Claude Help Center: What are skills?
- Claude Help Center: What are projects?
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