VARION FOR CLAUDE CODE

Use fewer Claude Code input tokens. Keep the coding intent.

Varion sits between Claude Code and the Anthropic API, removes only safely redundant context and passes uncertain requests through unchanged.

Start with 100,000 tokens View setup

≈49% measured reduction in a real Claude Code request18,348 input tokens avoided0 failed-call token charge

Measured example: 37,424 original input tokens and 19,076 provider-bound input tokens. Results vary.

Claude Code + Varion

ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL
https://api.varion.tech

ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN
YOUR_VARION_API_KEY

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY

Keep your existing Claude Code installation

No ZIP, local proxy, npm package or website key form is required.

Create a Varion key

Create a separate key named “Claude Code” in your customer dashboard.

Set three local variables

Paste the commands into your own terminal. Your keys are not entered on the Varion website.

Restart Claude Code

Open a new terminal, run claude and view measured usage in Varion.

Direct local setup

Your Anthropic credential is forwarded transiently through Varion in direct gateway mode and is not stored in normal logs or the dashboard.

Windows PowerShell

setx ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL "https://api.varion.tech"
setx ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN "YOUR_VARION_API_KEY"
setx ANTHROPIC_API_KEY "YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"

Close PowerShell completely, open it again, then run claude.

macOS / Linux

export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://api.varion.tech"
export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="YOUR_VARION_API_KEY"
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"
claude

Add the exports to your shell profile to keep them after restarting.

MAXIMUM QUALITY

When Varion is uncertain, it changes nothing.

System and developer instructions are preserved exactly. Code, strict structured output, high-risk instructions and sensitive workflows are conservatively protected or bypassed.

Native Anthropic Messages gatewayStreaming supportTool-use supportAutomatic safe passthroughProvider-reported token usage

What Varion receives

Request payload

Claude Code sends the request payload through Varion so eligible context can be reduced before forwarding to Anthropic.

Anthropic credential

The credential is transmitted for request forwarding, but it is not saved in normal request logs or displayed in the Varion dashboard.

Varion is an independent third-party product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic.

Troubleshooting and reset

Claude still uses the old endpoint

Close every terminal window and open a new one so the environment variables reload.

Varion reports an invalid key

Confirm ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN contains the full Varion key beginning with varion_.

Anthropic rejects the provider key

Confirm ANTHROPIC_API_KEY contains the full active Anthropic key and that the Anthropic account has available credit.

How do I remove Varion?

Delete the three environment variables or restore ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL to Anthropic’s normal endpoint, then restart the terminal.

Measure Claude Code savings on your own workload.

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