# Claude Code API Token **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Tags:** challenge:claude-code\ **Created:** [February 4, 2026, 1:34pm UTC](https://forum.codecrafters.io/t/claude-code-api-token/15870 "2026-02-04T13:34:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tomasdepi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.codecrafters.io/tomasdepi/32/22621_2.png) [@tomasdepi](https://forum.codecrafters.io/u/tomasdepi)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 1:34pm UTC](https://forum.codecrafters.io/t/claude-code-api-token/15870/1 "2026-02-04T13:34:24Z")
Hello everyone! I’ve been trying out the new Claude-code challenge, which I was exited for, I tried to run the code locally but seems that the Openrouter service is paid and unfortunately can’t afford it right now. Is there a way to use another LLM service with a free tier ?? (at least locally, so I can test and try my code before commiting) Thanks!! ---
**Author:** ![rohitpaulk](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.codecrafters.io/rohitpaulk/32/6_2.png) [@rohitpaulk](https://forum.codecrafters.io/u/rohitpaulk)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://forum.codecrafters.io/t/claude-code-api-token/15870/3 "2026-02-04T21:29:46Z")
Most LLM providers (local or hosted) should support an OpenAI-compatible API, so I think small changes to your code can get it working against any other provider. Haven’t tried this myself yet though! ---
**Author:** ![tomasdepi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.codecrafters.io/tomasdepi/32/22621_2.png) [@tomasdepi](https://forum.codecrafters.io/u/tomasdepi)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 2:08am UTC](https://forum.codecrafters.io/t/claude-code-api-token/15870/4 "2026-02-05T02:08:54Z")
thanks for you reply! yeah, I ended up running ollama locally using docker and a gemma3 model ---
**Author:** ![rohitpaulk](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.codecrafters.io/rohitpaulk/32/6_2.png) [@rohitpaulk](https://forum.codecrafters.io/u/rohitpaulk)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://forum.codecrafters.io/t/claude-code-api-token/15870/5 "2026-02-05T02:20:40Z")
@tomasdepi nice! What changes did you have to make? I assume just pointing the base url to localhost + changing the model name worked? ---
**Author:** ![tomasdepi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.codecrafters.io/tomasdepi/32/22621_2.png) [@tomasdepi](https://forum.codecrafters.io/u/tomasdepi)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://forum.codecrafters.io/t/claude-code-api-token/15870/6 "2026-02-05T02:43:07Z")
here are the commands: 1. Run ollama locally `docker run -v ollama:/root/.ollama -p 11434:11434 --name ollama ollama/ollama` 2. Pull the model `docker exec -it ollama ollama pull gemma3` btw, gemma3 does not support Tools, which is required for next steps in the challenge, so I’m exploring other model 3. Set the env vars (api key may have any value, since it’s local ollama doesn’t auth) `OPENROUTER_API_KEY=ollama` `OPENROUTER_BASE_URL=``http://localhost:11434/v1` ---
**Author:** ![andy1li](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.codecrafters.io/andy1li/32/10_2.png) [@andy1li](https://forum.codecrafters.io/u/andy1li)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://forum.codecrafters.io/t/claude-code-api-token/15870/7 "2026-02-05T18:45:06Z")
2 posts were split to a new topic: [Error code 134 in Typescript](https://forum.codecrafters.io/t/error-code-134-in-typescript/15877) ---
**Author:** ![nerdcoder0101-arch](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/forum.codecrafters.io/nerdcoder0101-arch/32/29074_2.png) [@nerdcoder0101-arch](https://forum.codecrafters.io/u/nerdcoder0101-arch)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 6:13am UTC](https://forum.codecrafters.io/t/claude-code-api-token/15870/9 "2026-10-09T06:13:50Z")
go to openrouter , select free module but with these you can work merely locally .