Run Claude Code for Free on Windows with OmniRoute and Google AI Studio (Gemini Flash)

Description and use

Run Claude Code for free on Windows using OmniRoute and Google AI Studio (Gemini Flash).

Problem

Use Claude Code without paying for the model on a Windows laptop.

Outcome

Claude Code can be used on a Windows laptop for free by routing its requests through OmniRoute to the free Gemini Flash model, avoiding paid API usage.

Workflow

• Install Node.js and npm on Windows.
• Run npm install -g omniroute to install OmniRoute.
• Start OmniRoute with omniroute and open its dashboard.
• Connect Google AI Studio by entering the API key and enable "Import only free models" so only free models are imported.
• Launch OmniRoute with the profile omniroute launch --profile auto-coding-free to start Claude Code through the gateway.
• Run Claude Code; it sends requests to the local OmniRoute endpoint, which forwards them to Gemini Flash, keeping the workflow free.

Evidence

OmniRoute is a free, open‑source AI gateway that runs on your own computer. It gives you one local endpoint (http://localhost:20128/v1) and connects it to many AI providers, including those with free tiers, such as Google AI Studio (Gemini Flash).

Source

you install it with npm and start it with omniroute. In its dashboard you connect a provider with your API key and enable “Import only free models”, so only free models are imported.

Source

Then omniroute launch --profile auto-coding-free starts Claude Code through OmniRoute. Claude Code sends its requests to OmniRoute, which forwards them to the free models, so you use Claude Code’s workflow without paying for the model.

Source