You can connect Claude Code to BetterToken API to work on code from Russia. Requests to this API are available without a VPN, you can top up in rubles, and charges follow actual usage. In your own project, ask Claude Code to explain an unfamiliar module, investigate an error, or prepare a change.
You need an installed Claude Code client, your own BetterToken account, and an API Key. Setup takes three steps: create a key, configure the connection, and check your first task.
Start with your own API Key and a ruble top-up. Create a BetterToken account
Why this setup is useful in Russia
BetterToken addresses two practical needs: API connectivity and paying for usage.
- API requests without a VPN. Claude Code sends model requests to the BetterToken endpoint.
- Ruble top-ups. Pay for API usage through your own BetterToken account.
- Pay as you go. Usage is deducted from your API balance; paid credit does not expire at the end of each month.
- Visible costs. Dashboard shows the model, request status, input, output and cached tokens, and the associated charge.
This connection uses a separate BetterToken balance. If you already pay for a Claude subscription, budget for API usage separately.
Step 1: Create your account and API Key
Register with BetterToken, top up your balance, and create an API Key in your account. You will use it to configure Claude Code.
Keep the key in local client settings. Do not put it in project files that will be committed to Git or paste it into error reports.
If Claude Code is not installed, follow the official installation guide first. Download access depends on the installation source and your network. Check that the command runs:
claude --version
Once the terminal displays a client version, continue with the connection.
Step 2: Connect Claude Code to BetterToken
Open the BetterToken guide for Claude Code and choose the setup method for your environment. It covers terminal and VS Code options, including manual configuration.
For manual setup, use your own API Key and this Base URL:
https://bettertoken.ai
For Claude Code, use the address without /v1. Copy the remaining fields from the guide and fully restart the client after saving.
If you previously used another API service, check old environment variables and client settings: they may override the new address or key.
Step 3: Run your first project task
Start with a small task whose result you can assess. Open your project in Claude Code, select a file, and include its path in the request:
Explain what the file
<file-path>does, what data it accepts, and what it returns. Do not modify files or run commands.
Replace <file-path> with your file path. This is an example for checking your connection. After receiving a response, open BetterToken Dashboard and find the request by time. Check its status, model, and charge. Dashboard does not display the full request text.
When you receive a response and see the request in your account, move on to a work task: for example, ask for the cause of a specific error, have Claude Code propose a fix first, then apply the change you approve.
GitHub, MCP servers, and other external resources connect separately. If a task needs them, check that they are reachable from your network.
Keep track of spending
Start with a specific file or error and expand the task as needed. This makes it easier to assess the result and understand what the request accomplished.
In Dashboard, compare costs with completed tasks. Budget for the selected model, the amount of context sent, and response length. Check current pricing in your account before a long session; the API cost calculator explains input, output, and cached token costs.
If the connection does not work
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
The terminal cannot find claude
|
Client installation and PATH. Start with installation troubleshooting. |
| The old connection is still used | Old environment variables, address, and key; then fully restart the client. |
The API returns 401
|
The API Key's accuracy and status in BetterToken. |
| A model error appears | The model name and its availability for the selected key in the current guide. |
| The request times out | The actual client address, local proxy settings, and network connectivity. |
You receive 429
|
The reason for the limit and next steps. |
| Short requests work but a project task loops | Recovering a stuck task. |
For help with a BetterToken API response, save the time with its time zone, Claude Code version, error code, and request ID if available. These help locate the request; you do not need to share your key.
Connect Claude Code and try your own task
Create your BetterToken account, top up in rubles, and connect your own API Key using the guide. Start by explaining one file, check the result and cost in Dashboard, then move on to your project tasks.
Get an API Key to use Claude Code through BetterToken from Russia without a VPN. Register and start setup · Open the setup guide
Originally published on the BetterToken blog.
BetterToken provides pay-as-you-go access to AI model APIs through
OpenAI-compatible and Anthropic-compatible endpoints — useful if you are wiring
Claude Code, Codex, or your own tooling to a custom base URL.
See the docs to get started.
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