Remote vs SSH+CLI vs Web — Decision Framework

~12 min · remote, ssh, comparison, decision-framework

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Three options, three jobs

"Run Claude on a different machine" has three answers. Claude Remote Control moves a session between machines (best for handoffs and monitoring). SSH + Claude CLI on the remote runs Claude where the code is (best when the work belongs on the remote). claude.ai web runs Claude in the cloud (best for quick questions with no local context).

Three-question decision framework. (1) Need AI coding help, or just remote terminal access? Just terminal → plain SSH. AI → next. (2) Need local files/tools, or is cloud chat enough? Cloud chat enough → claude.ai. Local files → next. (3) AI runs on a powerful remote, or just monitors a local session? Monitor local → Claude Remote. Run on remote → SSH + claude on the remote. Need both → Remote handoff.

Code

The matrix·text

                       Remote Control   SSH + Claude CLI   claude.ai
Setup complexity       Low (Desktop UI) Medium (SSH conf)  Zero
Code execution loc.    Local machine    Remote server      Anthropic cloud
File system access     Local files      Remote files       Uploaded only
Session persistence    Full (handoff)   Full (tmux/screen) Per-conversation
MCP servers            Local            Remote             Limited
Mobile access          Yes (monitor)    Yes (SSH client)   Yes (browser)
Compute                Your machine     Remote server      Anthropic cloud
Best for               Handoff/monitor  Remote-bound work  Quick async Q&A

All three together — common production pattern·bash

# 1. Local for exploration (full context, fast iteration)
claude

# 2. Hand off heavy work to a cloud runner
claude remote handoff cloud-runner

# 3. Monitor from phone via Claude Remote Control
#    (no SSH client app needed, just the Claude mobile app)

# 4. Quick async questions while remote session runs
#    open a tab to claude.ai, no setup

# 5. When done, hand back
claude remote handoff --back local

External links

Claude Remote vs SSH guide

Exercise

List four real "I need Claude on another machine" scenarios from your work. For each, walk the three-question framework and pick Remote / SSH+CLI / claude.ai. Note where the wrong choice was your default reflex.