Ultimate cost-saving guide: Routing Claude Code via DeepSeek API
Unlikely_Bluejay5392 · reddit · 2026-08-26
A detailed guide on routing Claude Code's architecture to the DeepSeek API for cost-effective coding agents. By modifying .claude/setting., users can force the use of DeepSeek models.
The Setup
{
"env": {
"ANTHROPICBASEURL": "https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic",
"ANTHROPICAUTHTOKEN": "yourdeepseektokenhere",
"ANTHROPICMODEL": "deepseek-v4-pro"
}
}
The Math
Leveraging DeepSeek's Prompt Caching, a session processing 20.6M tokens achieved 97.6% cache efficiency, costing only $1.58.
Golden Rules
- Use /clear frequently to reset context and prevent token bloat.
- Adopt a "Single Folder" chat strategy for a universal coding terminal.
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