Claude Craft vs SuperClaude vs Vanilla Claude Code
Both Claude Craft and SuperClaude Framework are open-source, MIT-licensed configuration layers that sit on top of Claude Code — neither replaces it, both extend it. If you're deciding whether to add a framework at all, and if so which one, here's an honest, sourced comparison.
Data as of 2026-07-15, sourced from this repository's own docs and the SuperClaude_Framework GitHub README. Feature counts change between releases — check each project's own docs for the current numbers before deciding.
At a glance
| Aspect | Claude Craft | SuperClaude Framework | Vanilla Claude Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | MIT | Proprietary (Anthropic product) |
| Install method | git clone + Makefile, or npx @the-bearded-bear/claude-craft install | pipx install superclaude (PyPI) | Built in |
| Ecosystem | Node.js / npm | Python / PyPI | — |
| Slash commands | 126 core across 15 namespaces (219–220 total incl. infra/project) | 30 | None by default |
| Agents / personas | 31 default + 39 on-demand infra agents (70 total available) | 20 specialized agents | None by default |
| Behavioral modes | — (BMAD quality gates + Ralph Wiggum loop cover similar ground, differently) | 7 | — |
| MCP servers bundled | 0 — documents setup (Context7, etc.), doesn't auto-install | 8 (Tavily, Context7, Sequential-Thinking, Serena, Playwright, Magic, Morphllm-Fast-Apply, Chrome DevTools) | 0 |
| Tech-stack-specific rulesets | 11 stacks (C#/.NET, Symfony/PHP, Flutter, React, React Native, Angular, Vue.js, Laravel, Python, PHP, Paperclip) | Not stack-specific — general-purpose personas | — |
| Skills catalogue | 55 | Not documented as a distinct concept | — |
| Project management framework | BMAD v6 (PRD, quality gates, sprint-status routing) | Not documented | — |
| Autonomous loop | Ralph Wiggum v2.0 (adaptive circuit breaker, DoD validators) | Not documented | — |
| Documentation languages | 5 (en, fr, es, de, pt) | English only (README) | English |
What each one actually is
Claude Craft is a rules-and-agents installer: it drops technology-specific reference docs, reviewer/architect subagents, and slash commands into your project, scoped per stack. It also ships two standalone subsystems — BMAD v6 (a lightweight PRD → sprint → quality-gate workflow) and Ralph Wiggum (a continuous-run loop with a Definition-of-Done validator and an adaptive circuit breaker) — that you can adopt independently of the per-stack rules.
SuperClaude Framework describes itself as "a meta-programming configuration framework that transforms Claude Code into a structured development platform through behavioral instruction injection and component orchestration." It installs via a Python CLI (pipx install superclaude) and layers in 30 commands, 20 general-purpose agent personas (PM, security engineer, frontend architect, deep-research agent, and others), 7 behavioral modes, and — notably — 8 bundled MCP servers covering web search, browser automation, and UI generation.
Vanilla Claude Code is Anthropic's CLI on its own: no added commands, no personas, no stack-specific rules. It's the right baseline if you don't want an opinionated layer at all, or you're still evaluating whether you need one.
Where they actually differ
- Stack-awareness vs. general-purpose. Claude Craft's core bet is per-stack depth: a Symfony reviewer knows Doctrine and API Platform idioms, a Flutter reviewer knows BLoC and Riverpod. SuperClaude's personas are role-based (PM, security, frontend) rather than stack-based — useful across any language, but without the same stack-specific depth.
- MCP servers. SuperClaude installs 8 MCP servers as part of its setup. Claude Craft documents MCP configuration (see MCP reference) but doesn't bundle or auto-install any server — you wire up what you need yourself.
- Project management layer. Claude Craft's BMAD v6 gives you PRD quality gates and sprint-status routing out of the box. We didn't find an equivalent in SuperClaude's public docs.
- Install footprint. Claude Craft assumes a Node/npm toolchain (or plain
git clone); SuperClaude assumes Python/pipx. If your team already standardizes on one ecosystem, that alone may decide it. - i18n. Claude Craft's rules and guides ship translated in 5 languages; we found no equivalent in SuperClaude's README.
Who each one is best for
- Claude Craft — teams working in one or more of the 11 supported stacks who want stack-aware review agents plus a lightweight sprint/PRD workflow, without adopting a separate project-management tool.
- SuperClaude Framework — users who want MCP tooling (search, browser automation, UI generation) bundled at install time and are already in the Python/pipx ecosystem.
- Vanilla Claude Code — anyone who wants zero added structure, or is still deciding if a framework is worth the setup cost at all.
Can I run both?
Both are configuration layers on top of Claude Code and aren't inherently mutually exclusive — but we haven't tested installing them side by side. If you try it, expect possible overlaps in command namespaces or persona naming; treat it as unsupported until proven otherwise.
FAQ
Is Claude Craft free to use? Yes. Claude Craft is 100% open-source under the MIT license — no paid tier, no open-core split.
Does Claude Craft replace Claude Code? No. Claude Craft is a configuration layer installed on top of Anthropic Claude Code — you still need Claude Code itself installed and running.
Which has more agents, Claude Craft or SuperClaude? Claude Craft ships 31 default agents plus 39 on-demand infrastructure agents (70 total available). SuperClaude Framework ships 20 specialized agents.
Does SuperClaude support specific tech stacks like Claude Craft does? Not as documented. SuperClaude's agents are general-purpose roles (PM, security engineer, frontend architect, deep research). Claude Craft ships dedicated rulesets and reviewer agents for 11 named technology stacks.
Can I install Claude Craft and SuperClaude together? Both are configuration layers on top of Claude Code and are not inherently exclusive, but we have not tested running them side by side. Expect command-namespace or persona-naming overlaps if you try.
Ready to try Claude Craft? Get started in 5 minutes or view the source on GitHub.