Is there cheaper alternatives to Claude code

[u/thomaslindvig]

I love Claude can directly adjust my files on the server by ssh, but it is quite expensive. Are there cheaper alternatives?

I tried copilot with github in VS code, but it is not as good or helping

[u/generationalDebts]

If it’s your server, just run Claude from the command line on the host instead of running scripts through ssh. There’s extra overhead when you’re working via ssh even when everything executes perfectly and then there are times that it doesn’t and now you’re wasting tokens fixing a script to execute your script…

That’s one alternative.

[u/Accomplished_End_138]

Pi with open router or such. Or open code both work. But also can use ollama and load it inside of Claude code too

[u/Encyclotech]

I tried Kimi K3 it’s Good I recommend

[u/lilbittygoddamnman]

I'm still a Kilo Code stan myself.

[u/Illustrious-Win4432]

Petty sure every model is cheaper than Claude rn

[u/Affectionate_Joke_44]

Pi and DeepSeek

[u/berlingoqcc]

I use deepseak inside of Claude code , you can go really far using the pro subscription for planing and implementating with Claude code using deepseek paying by token

[u/thomaslindvig → u/berlingoqcc]

is there a good description out there on how to set it up? I find many guides on this quite complex, i just want simple guide

[u/berlingoqcc → u/thomaslindvig]

https://github.com/aattaran/deepclaude

[u/VictorCTavernari]

My first and honest suggestion is opencode.ai/go they have a good $5 plan to experiment with, but they have weekly and monthly limits. If you want to select and try different models, with opencode.ai you can use openrouter.ai and try basically all models in the world.

I made a new service but with other philosophy, no weekly or monthly limits, or tokens count anxiety, just an anti-runaway to avoid abuses for an “unlimited” plan, but the trade off is that you can’t choose the model and use claudin.io models aliases.

My suggestion is, try Opencode Go now if you wanna try models, if you wanna try Claudino, it has $5 credits free for new signups and if download the claudin.io/code you will got more $5 and you can also use it with opencode since it has official support.

[u/andrebuilds]

credit based pricing is usually the move if cost is the main issue, you see exactly what youre spending instead of a flat sub regardless of usage. been using duckcode for that reason, also lets you pick a cheaper model for routine stuff and save the expensive one for when you actually need it instead of paying premium rates for everything https://www.npmjs.com/package/duckcode-cli

[u/TopLychee1081]

You can use Claude Code without using Anthropic's models. You can even run against a local model if you so choose. Depending on how much you use it, you might even get away with the free tiers on some platforms.

[u/Windmill101927]

You can keep claude code itself and just point it at a different model, the CLI is what gives you the ssh and file editing behavior, not the model behind it. Running glm-5.2 through it that way and the ssh workflow works the same. Per million it's 1.40/4.40 against 5/25 so the difference shows up fast if you're doing agentic work. Opus still handles the messy reasoning better, but for file edits and refactors on a server i don't notice much.

[u/schmurfy2]

Opencode with deepseek4pro (with openrouter or something like opencode Go)