Claude Code installation, API Key, Base URL, and models

Connect Claude Code with your BetterToken API Key, Base URL https://bettertoken.ai, and the Model ID you want to use. Copy the exact Model ID from the model plaza.

Key settings

Field	Value
API Key	BetterToken API Key
Base URL	`https://bettertoken.ai`
Model	`YOUR_MODEL_ID`

Prerequisites

Install the latest Claude Code
Install Node.js
Create and copy a BetterToken API Key

Install

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Command-line setup

The BetterToken Automatic setup script writes the Claude Code provider configuration. It requires Node.js and prompts for the API Key when one is not passed as an argument.

macOS / Linux
Windows

curl -fsSL "https://bettertoken.ai/install-claudecode-provider.sh" | bash

iwr "https://bettertoken.ai/install-claudecode-provider.ps1" -OutFile "$env:TEMP\install-claudecode-provider.ps1"; powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$env:TEMP\install-claudecode-provider.ps1"

After it finishes, inspect ~/.claude/settings.json (or %USERPROFILE%\.claude\settings.json on Windows) and fully restart Claude Code. Use the manual setup below when you want to control each field yourself.

Manual setup

System	File
macOS / Linux	`~/.claude/settings.json`
Windows	`%USERPROFILE%\.claude\settings.json`

Copy the exact Model ID from the model plaza.

{
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://bettertoken.ai",
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_API_KEY",
    "CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC": "1",
    "API_TIMEOUT_MS": "3000000",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "YOUR_MODEL_ID",
    "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL": "YOUR_MODEL_ID",
    "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_SONNET_MODEL": "YOUR_MODEL_ID",
    "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_OPUS_MODEL": "YOUR_MODEL_ID"
  }
}

Replace YOUR_MODEL_ID with the Model ID you copied. Set ANTHROPIC_MODEL for the main model and the three ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_*_MODEL variables for the Haiku, Sonnet, and Opus aliases. You can map them to the same model or choose a different model for each role.

VS Code extension

The extension uses VS Code settings.json. Add a separate claudeCode.environmentVariables configuration:

{
  "claudeCode.environmentVariables": [
    {
      "name": "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL",
      "value": "https://bettertoken.ai"
    },
    {
      "name": "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN",
      "value": "YOUR_API_KEY"
    },
    {
      "name": "CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC",
      "value": "1"
    },
    {
      "name": "API_TIMEOUT_MS",
      "value": "3000000"
    },
    {
      "name": "ANTHROPIC_MODEL",
      "value": "YOUR_MODEL_ID"
    },
    {
      "name": "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL",
      "value": "YOUR_MODEL_ID"
    },
    {
      "name": "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_SONNET_MODEL",
      "value": "YOUR_MODEL_ID"
    },
    {
      "name": "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_OPUS_MODEL",
      "value": "YOUR_MODEL_ID"
    }
  ]
}

Verify the connection

Start Claude Code in your project:

claude

Send a short message. A normal response without 401, connection, or model errors confirms the setup. Fully restart Claude Code after changing the file.

Switch models

Update the Model ID in your configuration and restart Claude Code. To switch during a session, use /model YOUR_MODEL_ID.

Common errors

Error	Fix
`401` or authentication failure	Check `ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN` and remove spaces around the API Key.
`ConnectionRefused`	Use exactly `https://bettertoken.ai`; do not append `/v1`.
Model ID	Check the exact Model ID in the model plaza and enter it in the client model settings.
Configuration not applied	Check the file path, clear conflicting environment variables, and fully restart Claude Code.

Advanced setup

To manage several tool configurations in one app, see CC Switch.

Technical details

Protocol and endpoint

Claude Code uses Anthropic Messages. Set ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL to https://bettertoken.ai; the client appends /v1/messages, so do not add /v1 to the Base URL.

Getting started

Coding Agent setup

AI application platform setup

Advanced

Claude Code installation, API Key, Base URL, and models

Key settings

Prerequisites

Install

Command-line setup

Manual setup

VS Code extension

Verify the connection

Switch models

Common errors

Advanced setup

Technical details

​Key settings

​Prerequisites

​Install

​Command-line setup

​Manual setup

​VS Code extension

​Verify the connection

​Switch models

​Common errors

​Advanced setup

​Related FAQ

​Technical details

Key settings

Prerequisites

Install

Command-line setup

Manual setup

VS Code extension

Verify the connection

Switch models

Common errors

Advanced setup

Related FAQ

Technical details