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.

Warning

This path is technical compatibility only. Anthropic has blocked some subscription usage outside Claude Code in the past. You must decide for yourself whether to use it and verify Anthropic's current billing rules before relying on it.

Anthropic's current support docs say claude -p is Agent SDK/programmatic usage. Starting June 15, 2026, subscription-plan claude -p usage draws from a separate monthly Agent SDK credit first, then from usage credits at standard API rates if usage credits are enabled.

Why use this?

Approach	Cost route	Best for
Anthropic API	Pay per token through Claude Console or cloud	Production apps, shared automation, volume
Claude subscription proxy	Claude Code / claude -p plan and credit rules	Personal experiments with compatible tools

If you have a Claude Max or Pro subscription and want to use it with OpenAI-compatible tools, this proxy may fit some personal workflows. It is not an unlimited flat-rate path. API keys remain the clearer policy and billing path for production use.

How it works

Your App → claude-max-api-proxy → Claude Code CLI / claude -p → Anthropic
     (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)

Getting started

Install the proxy

Requires Node.js 22+ and Claude Code CLI.

```bash
npm install -g claude-max-api-proxy

# Verify Claude CLI is authenticated
claude --version
```

Start the server

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

Test the proxy

```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!"}]
  }'
```

Configure OpenClaw

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" },
    },
  },
}
```

Built-in catalog

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

Advanced configuration

Proxy-style OpenAI-compatible notes

This path uses the same proxy-style OpenAI-compatible route as other custom
`/v1` backends:

- Native OpenAI-only request shaping does not apply
- No `service_tier`, no Responses `store`, no prompt-cache hints, and no
  OpenAI reasoning-compat payload shaping
- Hidden OpenClaw attribution headers (`originator`, `version`, `User-Agent`)
  are not injected on the proxy URL

Auto-start on macOS with LaunchAgent

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
```

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
• Inherits Claude Code claude -p billing, usage-credit, and rate-limit behavior
• The proxy runs locally and does not send data to any third-party servers
• Streaming responses are fully supported

Note

For native Anthropic integration with Claude CLI or API keys, see Anthropic provider. For OpenAI/Codex subscriptions, see OpenAI provider.

Related

• Anthropic provider — Native OpenClaw integration with Claude CLI or API keys.
• OpenAI provider — For OpenAI/Codex subscriptions.
• Model selection — Overview of all providers, model refs, and failover behavior.
• Configuration — Full config reference.