Prerequisites
- Node.js installed locally
- The Claude Code CLI installed and reachable from your terminal
- Your CheapAI API key and the delivery details from the order you paid for
Set the environment variables
The current public CheapAI examples use the OpenAI-compatible public path for Claude Code as well. Start there unless your delivery package explicitly tells you to use a different value for your account or product.
macOS or Linux shell profile
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="YOUR_CHEAPAI_API_KEY"
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://cheapai-netifly-app.up.railway.app/v1"PowerShell
$env:ANTHROPIC_API_KEY = "YOUR_CHEAPAI_API_KEY"
$env:ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL = "https://cheapai-netifly-app.up.railway.app/v1"Launch and verify
Start Claude Code
cd /path/to/your/project
claudeAsk a small question first, such as a quick repo summary or a one-file explanation. If Claude Code responds normally, the integration is working and you can move on to real tasks.
Recommended starting models
claude-sonnet-4-6-20260217for daily coding, edits, and fast iterationclaude-opus-4-6-20260205for larger reasoning-heavy or architectural tasksclaude-haiku-4-5-20251001for lighter, faster utility work
Common issues
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 401 or unauthorized | Wrong key, extra spaces, or stale shell variables | Re-export the variables, open a fresh terminal, and check the key from the delivery package again. |
| Model not found | Slug typo | Copy the slug directly from Supported Models. |
| Connection errors | Wrong base URL or local network instability | Return to the exact value on this page or use the value from your delivery package if it differs. |
Keep your real key out of repo files.
Never store real credentials in committed dotfiles, shared workspace settings, or screenshots used in support requests.