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Claude Max API Proxy

claude-max-api-proxy is a community tool that exposes your Claude Max/Pro subscription as an OpenAI-compatible API endpoint. This allows you to use your subscription with any tool that supports the OpenAI API format.

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Why Use This?

ApproachCostBest For
Anthropic APIPay per token (~15/Minput,15/M input, 75/M output for Opus)Production apps, high volume
Claude Max subscription$200/month flatPersonal use, development, unlimited usage
If you have a Claude Max subscription and want to use it with OpenAI-compatible tools, this proxy can save you significant money.

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How It Works

Your App → claude-max-api-proxy → Claude Code CLI → Anthropic (via subscription)
     (OpenAI format)              (converts format)      (uses your login)
The proxy:
  1. Accepts OpenAI-format requests at http://localhost:3456/v1/chat/completions
  2. Converts them to Claude Code CLI commands
  3. Returns responses in OpenAI format (streaming supported)

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Installation

# Requires Node.js 20+ and Claude Code CLI
npm install -g claude-max-api-proxy

# Verify Claude CLI is authenticated
claude --version

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Usage

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Start the server

claude-max-api
# Server runs at http://localhost:3456

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Test it

# Health check
curl http://localhost:3456/health

# List models
curl http://localhost:3456/v1/models

# Chat completion
curl http://localhost:3456/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "claude-opus-4",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
  }'

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With Moltbot

You can point Moltbot at the proxy as a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint: 
{
  env: {
    OPENAI_API_KEY: "not-needed",
    OPENAI_BASE_URL: "http://localhost:3456/v1"
  },
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      model: { primary: "openai/claude-opus-4" }
    }
  }
}

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Available Models

Model IDMaps To
claude-opus-4Claude Opus 4
claude-sonnet-4Claude Sonnet 4
claude-haiku-4Claude Haiku 4

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Auto-Start on macOS

Create a LaunchAgent to run the proxy automatically: 
cat > ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.claude-max-api.plist << 'EOF'
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
  <key>Label</key>
  <string>com.claude-max-api</string>
  <key>RunAtLoad</key>
  <true/>
  <key>KeepAlive</key>
  <true/>
  <key>ProgramArguments</key>
  <array>
    <string>/usr/local/bin/node</string>
    <string>/usr/local/lib/node_modules/claude-max-api-proxy/dist/server/standalone.js</string>
  </array>
  <key>EnvironmentVariables</key>
  <dict>
    <key>PATH</key>
    <string>/usr/local/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:~/.local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin</string>
  </dict>
</dict>
</plist>
EOF

launchctl bootstrap gui/$(id -u) ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.claude-max-api.plist

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Notes

  • This is a community tool, not officially supported by Anthropic or Moltbot
  • Requires an active Claude Max/Pro subscription with Claude Code CLI authenticated
  • The proxy runs locally and does not send data to any third-party servers
  • Streaming responses are fully supported

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See Also