How to Use Claude Code with Crazyrouter: Base URL Setup, Model Routing, and Cost Savings

How to Use Claude Code with Crazyrouter: Base URL Setup, Model Routing, and Cost Savings#

If you are already using Claude Code, switching to Crazyrouter takes about 2 minutes. You keep your existing workflow, gain access to more models, and typically reduce your API cost by 40-50%.

Why Switch Claude Code to Crazyrouter?#

Setup: 3 Steps#

Step 1: Get a Crazyrouter API Key#

1. Register at crazyrouter.com
2. Go to Token Management
3. Create a token — copy the sk- key

Step 2: Set Environment Variables#

# Add to your shell profile (.bashrc, .zshrc, etc.)
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://crazyrouter.com
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-your-crazyrouter-key

Reload your shell:

source ~/.bashrc  # or source ~/.zshrc

Step 3: Use Claude Code Normally#

claude

That's it. Claude Code will now route through Crazyrouter. Your prompts, context, and workflow stay exactly the same.

Verify It Works#

Run a quick test:

claude "What model are you and what is your base URL?"

You should see Claude respond normally. Check your Crazyrouter console logs to confirm requests are flowing through.

Advanced: Model Routing#

One of the biggest advantages of using Crazyrouter is model flexibility. You can switch between models without changing your integration.

Use Different Claude Versions#

# Default: Claude Sonnet (balanced)
export ANTHROPIC_MODEL=claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929

# For complex tasks: Claude Opus (strongest)
export ANTHROPIC_MODEL=claude-opus-4-6-20250918

# For simple tasks: Claude Haiku (fastest, cheapest)
export ANTHROPIC_MODEL=claude-haiku-4-5-20250929

Use Non-Claude Models via OpenAI Codex / Other Tools#

Since Crazyrouter supports OpenAI-compatible format too, you can also use:

# For OpenAI Codex CLI
export OPENAI_BASE_URL=https://crazyrouter.com/v1
export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-crazyrouter-key

This means one Crazyrouter key powers both Claude Code and OpenAI Codex.

Cost Comparison#

For a typical developer using Claude Code moderately (about 500K tokens/day):

The savings come from Crazyrouter's lower per-token rates. For heavy users, the difference adds up fast.

Common Issues and Fixes#

FAQ#

Does Claude Code work exactly the same through Crazyrouter?#

Yes. Same model, same capabilities, same context window. Crazyrouter proxies to the official Anthropic API.

Can I use Claude Code and OpenAI Codex with the same key?#

Yes. One Crazyrouter key works for both. Set the appropriate base URL for each tool.

Will my Claude Code settings and permissions carry over?#

Yes. Claude Code settings are local to your machine. Only the API routing changes.

Is there any latency difference?#

Minimal. Crazyrouter adds typically <50ms of routing overhead.

Can I switch back to Anthropic direct anytime?#

Yes. Just remove or change the ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL environment variable.

Related#

• Claude Code Pricing Guide
• Claude Code Installation Guide
• OpenRouter vs Crazyrouter
• Pricing
• Quickstart