Anthropic now runs the Claude API inside Google Cloud, billed via Marketplace

Anthropic launched a second way to use Claude from Google Cloud on October 22, 2026. Called Claude Models on Google Cloud (Anthropic managed), it is the Claude API itself, operated by Anthropic, but reached through a Google Cloud project. Google Cloud IAM controls who can call it, and usage is billed through Google Cloud Marketplace, so it shows up on the Google Cloud bill.

What changed

The existing option, which Anthropic’s docs call Claude Models on Google Cloud (Google managed), has Google run the models on its Agent Platform, reached through Model Garden. That option stays. The new one differs in a few ways that matter to developers:

Item	Anthropic managed (new)	Google managed
Who runs it	Anthropic	Google
API	Claude API endpoints, same request format	Agent Platform prediction endpoints
Rate limits	Set by Anthropic	Set by Google Cloud
Billing	Google Cloud Marketplace	Google Cloud, as Agent Platform usage
Console	Claude Console, opened from Google Cloud	Google Cloud console

Anthropic’s docs say requests use the same model IDs, headers and context windows as the Claude API. Listed as working: fast mode for Claude Opus 5.5, tool use including web search and code execution, prompt caching, extended thinking, the Message Batches API, the Files API, Agent Skills and Claude Managed Agents. MCP tunnels are not supported.

What it costs

Anthropic meters usage and reports it to Google Cloud in Claude Consumption Units, where one unit is $0.01. There is no separate Anthropic invoice, and usage counts toward a Google Cloud spend commitment like other Marketplace purchases. The docs don’t publish a separate per-token price list for this offering. Anyone with an existing discount is told to contact their account rep before setup, because discounts can’t be applied to past usage.

Who it affects

Teams that already pay Google Cloud and want the Claude API’s features without a second vendor bill. Setup creates a new Anthropic organization tied to the project, separate from any existing one, including Claude Enterprise. It doesn’t use API keys: calls carry Google Cloud credentials, and a Zero Data Retention deal on another Anthropic organization doesn’t carry over.

What to do

If you call api.anthropic.com today, nothing changes. If you want Claude on your Google Cloud bill, compare the two Google options against your rate-limit and feature needs. Our AI model price comparison lists current Claude API prices per million tokens.