Topic Hub
Claude Code does not switch accounts natively. These guides cover claude-swap, running multiple Anthropic logins on one machine, VS Code and Cursor, rate-limit workarounds that stay inside the terms of service, and what Claude Code actually costs.
CLI · MIT · realiti4
claude-swap install guide
Install command, quickstart, and command reference. Independent guide; the CLI is not mine. The full teardown lives in the articles below.
claude-swap is an open-source CLI that switches Claude Code accounts in seconds — no browser re-login. How it works, how to use it, and what it misses.
The honest answer to using Claude Code and Codex for free in 2026: what's truly $0, what isn't, the best free AI coding CLIs, and how to cut your bill.
Claude Code has no built-in account switcher. claude-swap (cswap) stores each account’s OAuth credentials and swaps the active profile. Install with `uv tool install claude-swap`, then `cswap add` per account and `cswap switch` to rotate. Independent guide: https://umesh-malik.com/tools/claude-swap.
Yes. VS Code and Cursor use the same Claude Code credential store as the CLI. After `cswap switch`, restart the Claude Code session in the editor so it picks up the new token. Full steps: https://umesh-malik.com/blog/claude-swap-multi-account-switcher-guide.
Switching to a second account you own is a legitimate way to keep working when one plan hits its usage cap. Sharing one seat across people, or automating login abuse, is against Anthropic’s terms. Own each account you switch into.
Claude Code itself is tied to a paid Anthropic plan. There is no lasting $0 official tier for the CLI. Free-adjacent options are Gemini CLI, limited Copilot, and using API keys with usage caps. Cost breakdown: https://umesh-malik.com/blog/use-claude-code-codex-for-free.
Google Search · Preferred sources
If you already read this writing, add umesh-malik.com as a Preferred Source. Google can then highlight it with a preferred badge in Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode — for you, not as a site-wide ranking boost.