What it is
Free Claude Code (FCC) is a local server that sits between a coding agent and the model provider. Despite the name, it does not give you free access to Anthropic's Claude models. It lets Claude Code, Codex, Pi, OpenCode, Cline and six other agents send their requests to other providers instead, mapping each of Claude Code's model tiers (Fable, Opus, Sonnet, Haiku) to a model you choose.
The README lists 61 providers it considers within their terms, including free tiers such as NVIDIA NIM (the default, with Nemotron 3 Ultra) and OpenRouter's free models, plus paid APIs, subscriptions and local models, and claims more than 1.3 billion free tokens a month across them. It falls back to the next configured model when a provider fails, can trim tool output with RTK and Headroom, and adds browser sessions, VS Code and JetBrains launchers, Discord and Telegram bots and voice input.
It is written by Ali Khokhar and licensed under AGPL-3.0-only. It is updated constantly: version 6.16.16 shipped on 21 October 2026.
Our review
Free Claude Code does not give you Claude for free, and it is worth being blunt about that. It keeps Claude Code's interface while sending each request to NVIDIA NIM, OpenRouter's free models, a local Ollama or one of 58 other providers. If you want Anthropic's models through it, you add a separately billed Anthropic API key like anywhere else.
The routing itself is good. You can map Claude Code's Fable, Opus, Sonnet and Haiku tiers to different models, set an ordered fallback list that takes over when a free tier runs out, and use the same catalogue from 11 agents including Codex, Cline and Aider. The README is candid that a failed request can draw on more than one provider before it succeeds, and that free-tier limits are set by each provider and may change.
The security defaults are the main reason for the rating. In our reading of the settings code, the proxy binds to 0.0.0.0 on port 8082 and proxy authentication is off unless you enable it, with a default token of "freecc". The admin panel is restricted to localhost, but the model endpoint is not, so on a shared office or café network anyone who can reach port 8082 can spend your configured keys. Installation pipes a remote script into your shell, which then installs uv and Python 3.14.7.
Agents tuned for Anthropic's models also tend to do worse on others, so the saving is real but so is the drop in quality on hard tasks. LiteLLM and Claude Code Router cover the same routing with smaller, easier-to-audit codebases; what FCC adds is the long, curated free-tier catalogue and launchers that wire each agent up for you.
Where it earns its place
A computer science student with no API budget
Learn agentic coding in Claude Code without paying for a subscription
Add a free NVIDIA NIM key, keep the default Nemotron 3 Ultra model and run fcc-claude. It costs nothing within the provider's limits, but expect weaker results than Claude on large refactors.
A developer with a 24 GB GPU workstation
Run Claude Code against a local model so code never leaves the machine
Point FCC at Ollama, LM Studio or llama.cpp and choose a tool-capable model with a long enough context for Claude Code's system prompt. Enable proxy authentication first, since the proxy otherwise listens on every network interface.
A two-person consultancy watching its AI spend
Cut monthly model costs while keeping the agent the team already knows
Route Haiku-tier calls to a free or cheap model and leave Opus-tier work on a paid key, with fallback for outages. The AGPL-3.0 licence matters only if they offer the proxy to clients as a hosted service.
Before you commit
- Setup
- One curl-to-shell or PowerShell installer sets up uv, Python 3.14.7 and the agents you choose; then add a provider key in the browser admin panel and run fcc-claude or another launcher.
- Integrations
- Claude Code, Codex, Pi, OpenCode, Cline, Hermes, DeepSeek Harness, Grok Build, Muse Code, Aider and VS Code Chat, plus VS Code, JetBrains, Claude Desktop, Discord and Telegram.
- Data and privacy
- Runs on your machine and forwards prompts and code to whichever providers you configure, under their terms; free tiers often have looser data policies than paid ones. No security certifications are published.
- Cost at scale
- The software is free; cost is whatever your chosen providers charge, and fallback chains can bill more than one provider for a single failed request.
- Limits
- Free-tier quotas and terms belong to each provider and can change; the proxy defaults to 0.0.0.0:8082 with authentication disabled.
What's good
- Maps each Claude Code tier to a model you pick
- Ordered fallback when a provider fails
- One catalogue for 11 coding agents
- Admin panel restricted to localhost
What's not
- Does not provide free access to Claude models
- Proxy listens on all interfaces with auth off
- Install pipes a remote script into your shell
- Free tiers are rate-limited and can change
Best for
Hobbyists and students who want to run Claude Code or Codex on free and local models.
Alternatives
Free Claude Code: common questions
- Is Free Claude Code worth it?
- A capable model router hiding behind a misleading name, and one that ships listening on your whole network with authentication switched off. We rate it 3.4 out of 5.
- How much does Free Claude Code cost?
- Free and open source under AGPL-3.0. Model costs depend on the providers you connect; many have free tiers with rate limits.
- What are the downsides of Free Claude Code?
- Does not provide free access to Claude models; proxy listens on all interfaces with auth off; install pipes a remote script into your shell; free tiers are rate-limited and can change.
- Who is Free Claude Code best for?
- Hobbyists and students who want to run Claude Code or Codex on free and local models.
- How much does Free Claude Code cost for a team or in production?
- The software is free; cost is whatever your chosen providers charge, and fallback chains can bill more than one provider for a single failed request.
- Is Free Claude Code safe for company data?
- Runs on your machine and forwards prompts and code to whichever providers you configure, under their terms; free tiers often have looser data policies than paid ones. No security certifications are published.
- What are the best Free Claude Code alternatives?
- The closest alternatives we have reviewed are Claude Code Router, LiteLLM and OpenCode.
Answers checked Oct 22, 2026.