openclaw/docs/providers/claude-max-api-proxy.md

summary, read_when, title

summary	read_when	title
Community proxy to expose Claude subscription credentials as an OpenAI-compatible endpoint	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 evaluate subscription-based vs API-key-based Anthropic access	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.

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

Requires Node.js 20+ and Claude Code CLI.

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

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

```bash claude-max-api # Server runs at http://localhost:3456 ``` ```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!"}]
  }'
```

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

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

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

For native Anthropic integration with Claude CLI or API keys, see [Anthropic provider](/providers/anthropic). For OpenAI/Codex subscriptions, see [OpenAI provider](/providers/openai).

Related

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