Is Claude Code really free with this method?

Yes! By registering on AgentRouter via the promotional link with your GitHub account, you receive a free allocation of $175 in API credits to power Claude Code.

Will this work on both Windows and macOS?

Yes, Claude Code is cross-platform. Both Windows (PowerShell, CMD, WSL) and macOS (Terminal, zsh, iTerm2) work identically.

Is Developer Mode safe to enable in Claude Code?

Yes, Developer Mode is an official Anthropic client feature built for custom proxy routing and alternative endpoints like AgentRouter.

Developer Guide • 2026

How to Use Claude Code for Free

Step-by-step tutorial to unlock Anthropic's agentic CLI coding tool on Windows & macOS with $175 in free credits.

August 26, 2026•4 min read•By Akshit Tiwari

Showing instructions tailored for windows

★ Exclusive Credit Grant

Claim $175 in Credits on Signup (Ready to Use)

Register on AgentRouter using your GitHub account. No credit card required. Use this credit grant to power your Claude Code sessions.

Get $175 Free Credits

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Step 01•$175 Bonus

Create Account with GitHub on AgentRouter

Navigate to the promotional registration page and select Sign up with GitHub. Once authenticated, AgentRouter instantly deposits $175 in ready-to-use AI credits into your dashboard.

Claim $175 in Free Credits on Signup

Step 01 — Windows Screenshot

Step 02•Installation

Download & Install Claude Code

Download Claude Code from the official website or run the global install command inside Windows PowerShell:

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

Step 02 — Windows Screenshot

Step 2: Claude Code Download & Installation

Step 03•Sign In

Sign In to Claude Code

Launch Claude Code or type claude in PowerShell. Follow the on-screen prompt to sign in to your workspace.

💡 Pro-tip: If your default tier shows $0 balance initially, don't worry—we will link the full $175 credit line in the next steps.

claude

Step 03 — Windows Screenshot

Step 04•Developer Mode

Enable Developer Mode in Settings

Unlock custom proxy routing by opening the settings dropdown in Claude:

☰ 3 Bars Menu (Top-Left)➔Help➔Troubleshooting➔Enable Developer Mode

Step 04 — Windows Screenshot

Step 4: Enable Developer Mode Menu Navigation

Step 05•Generate Token

Generate API Token on AgentRouter

Go to the AgentRouter Dashboard, navigate to the API Tokens tab and click Create New Token:

Name: Enter a label (e.g. claude-api)
Expiration time: Select Never expires
Quota Settings: Toggle Unlimited quota ON
Click Submit and copy your new API key

Step 05 — Windows Screenshot

Step 06•Gateway Config

Set Gateway Base URL, Select Static API & Paste Token

In Claude Developer Options ➔ Connection / Third-Party Inference, set your parameters:

Set Credential kind to Static API key
Set Gateway base URL to https://agentrouter.org/
Paste your AgentRouter token into Gateway API key
Click Apply Changes / Save Changes and restart Claude.

https://agentrouter.org/

Step 06 — Windows Screenshot

Step 6: Configure third-party inference settings

Step 07•Complete 🎉

Voila! Claude Code is Ready to Use

You are all set! You can now use Claude Code on Windows with your $175 credit grant. Run multi-file agentic edits, code refactors, and automated builds seamlessly.

Test Your Setup in PowerShell:

claude "analyze this repository and suggest performance improvements"

Step 07 — Windows Screenshot

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Start Coding with Claude Code for Free

Create your account on AgentRouter with GitHub and claim your $175 credit grant in under 60 seconds.

Claim $175 in Credits on Signup (Ready to Use)

Portfolio Projects Contact