deepclaude
Use Claude Code's autonomous agent loop with DeepSeek V4 Pro, OpenRouter, or any Anthropic-compatible backend. Same UX, 17x cheaper.
A proxy server that lets you use Claude Code's terminal coding agent with cheaper AI models like DeepSeek instead of Anthropic's paid Claude, cutting costs by about 90% while keeping the same workflow.
deepclaude lets you use Claude Code — Anthropic's popular AI coding agent that runs in your terminal — but swaps the underlying AI model from Anthropic's expensive Claude to cheaper alternatives like DeepSeek V4 Pro, OpenRouter, or Fireworks AI. The pitch is simple: you get the same coding agent experience with the same tools and workflow, but at roughly 90% lower cost for typical usage.
The way it works is that Claude Code sends its requests to an API endpoint expecting Anthropic's servers. This project intercepts those calls by pointing them at a local proxy, which then forwards them to whichever backend you choose — DeepSeek by default, or others via a flag. The tool loop, file editing, bash execution, git operations, and multi-step autonomous coding all function the same. The only thing that changes is which AI model processes your requests. You can even switch backends mid-session without restarting, using a simple slash command inside Claude Code.
This is built for developers and technical founders who already use or want to use Claude Code but find the $200/month subscription too expensive, especially given the usage caps. If you're someone who runs coding agents heavily throughout the day — for routine tasks like writing features, fixing bugs, refactoring code — you'd get comparable results for a fraction of the cost. The project notes that for routine work (about 80% of tasks), DeepSeek performs comparably to Anthropic's top model. For harder reasoning problems, you can flip back to Anthropic with a single command.
A few notable tradeoffs: image and vision input aren't supported through the alternative backends, and some advanced features like MCP server tools don't work through the compatibility layer. DeepSeek's servers are in China, which may mean higher latency for US users, though OpenRouter and Fireworks offer US-based alternatives. The project also includes a remote control mode that lets you run a Claude Code session in any browser, even on your phone, while still routing model calls through the cheaper backends.
Where it fits
- Run an AI coding agent in your terminal at a fraction of Anthropic's subscription cost.
- Switch between cheaper and premium AI models mid-session depending on task difficulty.
- Control your terminal coding agent remotely from a phone or browser while using cheaper backends.
- Automate routine coding tasks like writing features, fixing bugs, and refactoring at lower cost.