deepclaude
Use Claude Code's autonomous agent loop with DeepSeek V4 Pro, OpenRouter, or any Anthropic-compatible backend. Same UX, 17x cheaper.
deepclaude is an AI agent wrapper that runs Claude Code's autonomous coding agent with DeepSeek V4 Pro, OpenRouter, or any Anthropic-compatible backend instead of Claude models. It preserves the full Claude Code experience—including file editing, bash execution, git operations, and multi-step autonomous loops—while reducing costs by up to 17x ($0.87/M vs $15/M output tokens). The tool works by intercepting Claude Code's API calls and routing them to alternative model providers, with support for mid-session backend switching and remote browser control.
Key Features
Use Cases
- 01Reducing Claude Code subscription costs by 60-90% for developers with heavy autonomous agent usage
- 02Running long autonomous coding loops on DeepSeek for routine tasks, switching to Claude Opus only for complex reasoning
- 03Testing DeepSeek V4 Pro's LiveCodeBench performance (96.4%) on real coding projects within Claude Code's UX
- 04Opening browser-based remote Claude Code sessions powered by cost-effective backends for mobile or tablet coding
- 05Comparing model performance and latency across DeepSeek, OpenRouter, Fireworks AI, and Anthropic backends
- 06Leveraging DeepSeek's automatic context caching for repetitive agent workflows with large file contexts
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deepclaude — FAQ
What is deepclaude and what does it do?+
deepclaude is a wrapper that routes Claude Code's autonomous agent API calls to alternative AI backends like DeepSeek V4 Pro or OpenRouter. It keeps Claude Code's full tool loop (file editing, bash, git, subagents) intact while reducing costs by up to 17x compared to Anthropic's pricing.
How do I install and configure deepclaude?+
Sign up for a DeepSeek API key at platform.deepseek.com, set the DEEPSEEK_API_KEY environment variable, then copy the deepclaude script to your PATH (Windows) or create a symlink to /usr/local/bin (macOS/Linux). Launch with the 'deepclaude' command instead of 'claude'.
Which AI clients and backends does deepclaude work with?+
deepclaude works exclusively with Claude Code (CLI and VS Code extension). It supports DeepSeek, OpenRouter, Fireworks AI, and Anthropic as backend model providers, all accessed via Anthropic-compatible APIs.
What API keys or prerequisites are required?+
You need a DeepSeek API key (minimum $5 credit at platform.deepseek.com) for the default backend. Optional: OPENROUTER_API_KEY for OpenRouter, FIREWORKS_API_KEY for Fireworks AI. For remote control mode, you must be logged into Claude Code (claude auth login) and have a claude.ai subscription, plus Node.js 18+.
Is deepclaude free to use?+
The deepclaude tool itself is open-source and free (MIT license). However, you pay for API usage on your chosen backend: DeepSeek costs $0.87/M output tokens, OpenRouter $0.44/M input, compared to Anthropic's $15/M output. There are no additional deepclaude fees.
Can I switch between backends without restarting Claude Code?+
Yes, deepclaude supports mid-session backend switching via slash commands (/deepseek, /anthropic, /openrouter), CLI flags (--switch ds), or VS Code keyboard shortcuts. A local proxy intercepts API calls and routes them to the selected backend instantly.
How do I install deepclaude?+
Open the source repository on GitHub and follow its README. deepclaude is a agent — MCP Agents Market links you directly to the official repo.
Is deepclaude free?+
deepclaude is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. Check the repository for its license and any usage requirements.