How to Use Claude Code with OpenRouter — Run Any AI Model for Free or Cheap 🚀

Dev.to AI
Generative AI AI Hardware

Ever wished you could use Claude Code with models other than just the official Anthropic ones? Maybe you want to try a powerful free model, cut costs, or experiment with something new like NVIDIA's Nemotron? Good news - it's totally possible. Claude Code s custom API base URLs, which means you can point it to OpenRouter and instantly unlock access to dozens of AI models, including free ones. 💡 In this guide, I'll walk you through the complete setup on Windows, macOS, and Linux - step by step, no fluff.