Use OmniRoute with Claude Code

OmniRoute is a third-party model router. Its current repository describes 352 providers, including more than 150 with some form of free access, plus over 1,200 models. Those numbers can change and do not mean every model is free or unlimited.

What this helps you do

Send compatible Claude Code requests through one local routing layer, set provider priorities, and fail over when one configured provider is unavailable.

Before you start

You need Claude Code, a supported Node.js version, Git, and your own accounts or API keys for any provider you connect. Make a backup of your Claude settings and test with non-sensitive code.

Terms to know

• Router: chooses which configured model provider receives a request.
• Provider: the service that runs the model and sets its own pricing, limits, and privacy terms.
• Failover: tries another configured provider after a failure.
• Compression: shortens context to reduce tokens. It can remove useful detail.

Step-by-step

1. Open the OmniRoute repository and follow its current installation instructions.
2. Run any documented dry-run or preview before changing Claude Code settings.
3. Add only providers whose terms and data handling you understand.
4. Start with one provider and a harmless test request.
5. Confirm the selected model, usage record, cost, and failover behavior.
6. Add another provider only after the first route works.

Install and start the current npm package from a normal terminal:

npm install -g omniroute
omniroute

Open http://localhost:20128, connect one provider, and confirm its terms and quota. Then preview a Claude Code launch without changing configuration:

omniroute run claude --model [PROVIDER/MODEL] --dry-run

If the preview shows the provider and model you chose, launch it:

omniroute run claude --model [PROVIDER/MODEL]

The project also documents omniroute configure claude for writing a reusable Claude Code configuration. Use the run command first because it does not write a config file.

Copy this

Use this review prompt before connecting a provider:

Review this OmniRoute provider configuration before I use it: [PASTE CONFIG WITHOUT SECRETS].

Tell me the provider, model, endpoint, authentication method, current free allowance or price, rate limit, data-retention terms, and failover order. Label anything you cannot verify as unknown. Do not request or print my API key.

Things to know

OmniRoute does not give you paid Claude models for free. “Free” usually means a provider-specific trial, quota, promotional tier, or locally hosted model. Availability and rate limits change. Routing code through another provider changes who can process that code. Compression in the project is described as roughly 15% to 95%, not a fixed 90%, and output quality can change.

If something goes wrong

• If authentication fails, verify the provider's key format and account status without pasting the key into chat.
• If a free route stops, check that provider's current quota and rate limit.
• If answers lose important context, lower or disable compression.
• If Claude Code behaves unexpectedly, restore your saved settings and test OmniRoute separately.

Final check

The setup passes only when one test request reaches the provider you chose, usage and cost match that provider's dashboard, failover does not expose work to an unapproved service, and your original Claude setup can be restored.