Claude Code Setup with a Cheap Claude API

Claude Code's official subscription is a flat monthly fee that adds up fast if you use it daily. Point ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL at TokenProvider instead, pay per token actually used, and typically save 50%+. Works with Sonnet 4, Opus, and Haiku. 5 minutes end-to-end.

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+ (node -v to check)
• A TokenProvider account with an API key
• Terminal access to set environment variables (macOS / Linux / Windows)

Step-by-step

1. Install Claude Code

   Anthropic's official CLI via npm:

   npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

   claude --version should print the installed version.

2. Create an API key on TokenProvider

   Sign up → API Keys → "Create key". Use one key per project so you can track usage and revoke independently.

   The key is shown only once. Copy it immediately. Lost keys can't be recovered — only regenerated.

3. Set the environment variables

   Pick temporary or persistent:

   Temporary (current shell):

   # macOS / Linux
   export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://tokenprovider.store"
   export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="your_token_home_key"
   
   # Windows PowerShell
   $env:ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL = "https://tokenprovider.store"
   $env:ANTHROPIC_API_KEY = "your_token_home_key"

   Persistent (every new shell):

   echo 'export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://tokenprovider.store"' >> ~/.zshrc
   echo 'export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="your_key"' >> ~/.zshrc
   source ~/.zshrc

   On bash, replace ~/.zshrc with ~/.bashrc.

4. Verify

   Inside any project:

   cd your-project
   claude

   First launch asks a few config questions (model preference, tool permissions) — defaults are fine. Then try "summarize this repo" — a normal response means the proxy is working.

5. Watch usage and billing

   On the TokenProvider Usage page you'll see for each Claude Code request:

   • Model used (Sonnet 4 / Opus / Haiku)
   • Input + output tokens
   • Cost charged
   • Timestamp + request ID

   Email alerts fire when balance drops below your threshold so you don't get cut off mid-task.

Common errors and fixes

Advanced: per-project keys

Want different keys for different projects? Create a .env in the project root or override inside your npm script:

# Project A's .env
ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://tokenprovider.store
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-xxxxx-project-a

# Launch
source .env && claude

You can create multiple keys under the same TokenProvider account — each with its own billing view.

Why a proxy is cheaper than a subscription

Claude Code's official plan is a flat fee whether you use it all or not. A proxy pools many subscriptions and bills by the token you actually consume — no waste on idle months, no throttling on heavy months. Full breakdown: Claude Code Proxy vs Official Subscription.

FAQ