DEV Community: Api Token

Use Claude Code Without a Subscription

Api Token — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:33:08 +0000

Claude Code does not have to mean a fixed monthly plan. Point it at an API key with prepaid balance and you pay per token — ideal if your usage is spiky or you just want to try it.

Two environment variables

export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://api.apitoken.sale
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-pool-•••

# then just run
claude

That is the entire change. Claude Code keeps every feature — it simply bills against your prepaid balance at a discount instead of a subscription.

When pay-as-you-go wins

Occasional or bursty usage where a flat monthly fee is wasteful.
Trying Claude Code before committing to a plan.
Keeping several tools on one balance and one key.

Frequently asked questions

Does Claude Code work with a custom API key?

Yes. Set ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL and ANTHROPIC_API_KEY and Claude Code uses your key and balance directly.

Do I lose any features?

No. Claude Code behaves identically; only billing changes from a subscription to prepaid per-token usage.

Get a key: https://apitoken.sale/register
More guides: https://apitoken.sale/docs/learn

Originally published at apitoken.sale.

apiToken.sale vs OpenRouter for Claude

Api Token — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:27:25 +0000

Both let you reach Claude without an Anthropic account, but they are built differently. If Claude is your main model, a native Anthropic endpoint keeps things simple.

Native Anthropic endpoint

apiToken.sale exposes the standard Anthropic Messages API at https://api.apitoken.sale, so Claude Code, Cursor and the Anthropic SDKs work with zero adapters. You are not routing through a generic multi-provider abstraction.

Prepaid discount, not markup

Progressive B2C discount up to 80% off official Claude spend.
One key and balance for Opus, Sonnet and Haiku.
Card or crypto top-ups that never expire.

When to choose each

apiToken.sale — Claude is your main model and you want a native Anthropic endpoint with a discount.
OpenRouter — you need to route across many providers behind one abstraction.
Both let you start without an Anthropic account; only apiToken.sale discounts Claude spend directly.

Frequently asked questions

Why pick a Claude-native gateway?

If Claude is your primary model, a native Anthropic endpoint means your existing Anthropic tools and SDKs work unchanged.

Does apiToken.sale mark prices up?

No — it applies a discount to official Claude spend rather than adding a markup.

Get a key: https://apitoken.sale/register
More guides: https://apitoken.sale/docs/learn

Originally published at apitoken.sale.

Cheapest Claude API — Up to 80% Discount

Api Token — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:26:49 +0000

The Claude API is priced per token, and those tokens add up fast on long coding sessions. apiToken.sale gives you the identical API for up to 80% less by pooling prepaid balance and applying a progressive discount.

Why it is cheaper

You send the same request to the same Anthropic Messages API and get the same response. The only thing under the hood is billing: each call is metered at official rates, then your discount is subtracted before it touches your balance.

B2C accounts begin at 60% off official spend.
The discount grows to 80% off as your cumulative top-ups increase.
B2B volume pricing is negotiated separately.

Where the savings show up most

Agentic coding, long multi-turn sessions and prompt-cache-heavy workflows burn the most tokens — so they see the biggest absolute savings. Choosing the right model for each task compounds it further.

Tip: route quick, cheap work to Haiku and reserve Opus for hard reasoning to stretch your balance further.

No subscription, no lock-in

There is no monthly fee. You top up prepaid balance that never expires and spend it only when requests run, so idle days cost nothing.

How the Claude API discount is applied

There is no markup and no separate cheaper model — you get discounted access to the exact same Claude API.

Each request is metered at official Anthropic token rates.
Your progressive discount (60% up to 80%) is subtracted.
The net amount is drawn from your prepaid balance.

Model	Official in / out ($ per 1M)	Here from (−60%)	Best (−80%)
Claude Opus 4.8	$5 / $25	$2 / $10	$1 / $5
Claude Opus 4.7	$5 / $25	$2 / $10	$1 / $5
Claude Sonnet 5	$3 / $15	$1.20 / $6	$0.60 / $3
Claude Sonnet 4.6	$3 / $15	$1.20 / $6	$0.60 / $3
Claude Haiku 4.5	$1 / $5	$0.40 / $2	$0.20 / $1

Full per-model pricing, including cache rates

Estimate your monthly cost in the free calculator

Frequently asked questions

Is this really the same Claude API?

Yes — the same Anthropic Messages API, same model IDs, same request and response format. Only the price per call is lower.

How much can I save?

B2C pricing starts at 60% below official API spend and progresses to as much as 80% off with higher cumulative top-ups.

Are there hidden fees or subscriptions?

No. Balance is prepaid, never expires, and is consumed only by real API usage — there is no monthly charge.

Is there a cheaper Claude API than buying from Anthropic directly?

Yes. apiToken.sale sells the identical Anthropic API at a progressive discount of up to 80% off official spend, with no subscription.

Get a key: https://apitoken.sale/register
More guides: https://apitoken.sale/docs/learn

Originally published at apitoken.sale.