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summary: "Use Claude Max/Pro subscription as an OpenAI-compatible API endpoint"
read_when:
- You want to use Claude Max subscription with OpenAI-compatible tools
- You want a local API server that wraps Claude Code CLI
- You want to save money by using subscription instead of API keys
title: "Claude Max API Proxy"
---
# 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.
## Why Use This?
| Approach | Cost | Best For |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| Anthropic API | Pay per token (~$15/M input, $75/M output for Opus) | Production apps, high volume |
| Claude Max subscription | $200/month flat | Personal 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.
## 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)
## Installation
```bash
# Requires Node.js 20+ and Claude Code CLI
npm install -g claude-max-api-proxy
# Verify Claude CLI is authenticated
claude --version
```
## Usage
### Start the server
```bash
claude-max-api
# Server runs at http://localhost:3456
```
### Test it
```bash
# 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!"}]
}'
```
### With OpenClaw
You can point OpenClaw at the proxy as a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint:
```json5
{
env: {
OPENAI_API_KEY: "not-needed",
OPENAI_BASE_URL: "http://localhost:3456/v1",
},
agents: {
defaults: {
model: { primary: "openai/claude-opus-4" },
},
},
}
```
## Available Models
| Model ID | Maps To |
| ----------------- | --------------- |
| `claude-opus-4` | Claude Opus 4 |
| `claude-sonnet-4` | Claude Sonnet 4 |
| `claude-haiku-4` | Claude Haiku 4 |
## Auto-Start on macOS
Create a LaunchAgent to run the proxy automatically:
```bash
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
```
## Links
- **npm:** https://www.npmjs.com/package/claude-max-api-proxy
- **GitHub:** https://github.com/atalovesyou/claude-max-api-proxy
- **Issues:** https://github.com/atalovesyou/claude-max-api-proxy/issues
## Notes
- This is a **community tool**, not officially supported by Anthropic or OpenClaw
- 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
## See Also
- [Anthropic provider](/providers/anthropic) - Native OpenClaw integration with Claude setup-token or API keys
- [OpenAI provider](/providers/openai) - For OpenAI/Codex subscriptions
|