Want to use Claude Code for free without paying for a Claude Pro subscription?
In this guide, I’ll show you how to configure Claude Code with official Anthropic Claude models using a free API credit setup.
You can use this method for AI-powered coding, website development, debugging, refactoring, and building full-stack applications with Claude Code.
Note: Free credits, usage limits, available models, and pricing can change over time. Always check the service’s latest documentation and dashboard for the current limits.
What You Need
Before getting started, make sure you have the following installed on your computer:
- Git Bash
- Node.js
- Claude Code
- A Free Model account
- An API key
Step 1: Create a Free Model Account
First, open the Free Model website and create an account.
You can sign up using Continue with Google.
After logging in, you may be asked to verify your account. Depending on the available options, you may see methods such as:
- Phone number verification
- Telegram verification
- Purchasing API credits
For this setup, you can use Telegram verification if it is available for your account.
Once your account is verified, you’ll be taken to the dashboard.
Step 2: Create an API Key
From your dashboard, open the API Keys section.
Then:
Create API Key → Enter a name → Create
Once the API key is generated, copy it and keep it somewhere secure.
⚠️ Important: Never share your API key publicly or upload it to GitHub.
Step 3: Install Git Bash and Node.js
Claude Code requires a terminal environment and Node.js.
Install Git Bash
If you’re using Windows, download and install Git Bash from the official Git website.
Install Node.js
Download and install Node.js according to your operating system.
After installation, verify that Node.js is working correctly by opening Command Prompt or Git Bash and running:
node --version
If Node.js is installed correctly, you’ll see the installed version.
Step 4: Install Claude Code
Next, install Claude Code using the installation command provided in the official Claude Code documentation.
Open your terminal, paste the installation command, and press Enter.
If Claude Code is already installed on your computer, you can skip this step.
Step 5: Configure Your API Key
Now we need to configure Claude Code to use the API key you created earlier.
On Windows, the Claude Code configuration file can typically be found at:
C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\.claude\settings.json
Open the settings.json file and add the configuration provided by the Free Model service.
Replace the placeholder API key with the API key you created in Step 2.
If the configuration requires the API key in multiple places, add the same key wherever required.
After making the changes:
Press Ctrl + S → Save the file
The configuration format can change, so always follow the latest documentation provided by the service.
Step 6: Start Claude Code
Now open the project folder where you want to use Claude Code.
For example:
cd your-project
Then start Claude Code from the terminal.
The first time you launch Claude Code, it may ask you to confirm permissions or approve the configured API credentials.
Select Yes where required and continue.
If everything is configured correctly, Claude Code should start successfully and you can begin working with the available Anthropic models.
Step 7: Change the Claude Model
Claude Code allows you to switch between available models.
Inside Claude Code, use:
/model
This will display the available models.
You can then select the model that best fits your requirements.
For example, depending on what is currently available, you may be able to choose between different Claude model tiers based on their capabilities, context window, speed, and usage cost.
How Much Free Usage Do You Get?
In the setup demonstrated in my video, the account showed approximately:
- $5 of daily usage
- $33 within a 7-day window
- Around $132 of monthly equivalent usage
This can potentially provide significantly more usage than a typical individual subscription, depending on the current limits and your actual usage.
However, these numbers are not guaranteed. Free credits, limits, and account policies can change, so always check your current dashboard before relying on these limits.
Why Use Claude Code?
Claude Code can be extremely useful for developers who want to build software with AI assistance.
You can use it for:
- Building websites
- Creating full-stack applications
- Generating code
- Debugging errors
- Refactoring existing code
- Understanding large codebases
- Working with terminal commands
- Building projects using AI
- Automating repetitive development tasks
Instead of manually writing every part of your application, you can give Claude Code instructions and let it analyze your project and help implement the required changes.
Important API Key Security Tips
When working with API keys, always follow these security practices:
- Never share your API key publicly.
- Never commit your API key to GitHub.
- Don’t expose API keys in frontend code.
- Use environment variables where appropriate.
- Check your usage regularly.
- Revoke and regenerate your API key if you accidentally expose it.
- Always follow the latest API and service documentation.
Final Thoughts
If you want to experiment with Claude Code and official Anthropic models without immediately paying for a subscription, this can be a useful setup to try.
By configuring Claude Code with the API access provided through the free tier, you can use Claude for AI-assisted development and work on projects such as websites, web applications, and full-stack applications.
I’ve also created a complete step-by-step video showing the entire setup process.
Watch the Complete Tutorial
If you’re interested in learning how to build applications using AI coding tools like Claude Code, make sure to subscribe to GeekyBeginners for more tutorials on AI, coding, web development, and developer tools.
Have questions about the setup? Leave a comment below and I’ll try to help.