Run Claude Code For Free

Claude Code is one of the most powerful AI coding tools right now.

It can read your codebase, edit files, and even execute commands.

But there’s one problem…

👉 It’s expensive and locked to Anthropic models.

Developers want flexibility — not restrictions.

The Problem

• Only works with Anthropic models out of the box
• High API costs for long coding sessions
• No flexibility to use better or cheaper models

The Solution

Use OpenRouter and Ollama to unlock multiple models and run Claude Code without paying Anthropic.

Step 1: Install Claude Code

Install the CLI using the method appropriate for your operating system. If you have used Claude Code before, run /logout first.

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Alternatively, use npm:

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

• Run claude to initialize.
• Log in via the default Anthropic flow to authorize the CLI.
• You can close the "Add Credit" screen; once authorized, the terminal will show "Login successful."

Step 2: Configure OpenRouter

Create an API Key in OpenRouter > Activity > API Keys. Then, override the default settings using one of the methods below:

Method A: Shell Profile (Permanent)

Add these to your ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc:

export OPENROUTER_API_KEY="your-key-here"
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://openrouter.ai/api"
export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="$OPENROUTER_API_KEY"
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="" # Must be explicitly empty
export ANTHROPIC_MODEL="openrouter/free"
export CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_EXPERIMENTAL_BETAS=true

Method B: Project Level

Edit .claude/settings.local.json:

{
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://openrouter.ai/api",
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "<your-openrouter-api-key>",
    "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL":"openrouter/free",
    "CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_EXPERIMENTAL_BETAS": "true"
  }
}

Step 3: Pick a Model

OpenRouter allows you to use various models. If you get a 402 error, check your balance or switch to a free model.

Tip: Use /model inside Claude Code to switch models on the fly.

Step 4: Verify & Build

Restart your terminal and run claude. If it asks for permissions, choose "Yes, allow all" to avoid repeated prompts.

"Hi, how are you doing today?"

Create a weather application showing rainy weather for Guwahati, stormy for Kohima, and sunny for Delhi. Include animations and a clean UI with navigation.

You don’t need premium models for everything.

Most developers just need something that works well.

And now — you can do it for free.