claude -p with OAuth (no API key) bills as API usage, not Max subscription

[joeykrug]

Bug Description

claude -p (print mode) bills as per-token API usage even when authenticated via OAuth with an active Max subscription and no ANTHROPIC_API_KEY in the environment.

This means Max subscribers (who have an organization with an api account as well) who use claude -p in automation are silently charged API rates instead of using their subscription, even when they have explicitly removed any API key from their environment.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Have an active Claude Max subscription
2. Be logged in via OAuth (claude auth login)
3. Ensure ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is not set in the environment
4. Run:

env -u ANTHROPIC_API_KEY claude -p --output-format json "say hi"

5. Observe the result JSON

Expected Behavior

• Usage should be billed against the Max subscription, not as API usage

Actual Behavior

Usage shows up on the platform.claude.com dashboard and not on the user’s max dashboard on Claude.ai

• Billed as API usage despite OAuth authentication from a Max account

Auth State

The OAuth credentials in ~/.claude/.credentials.json correctly show:

• subscriptionType: "max"
• billingType: "stripe_subscription"
• rateLimitTier: "default_claude_max_20x"

But -p mode ignores all of this and routes through API billing anyway.

Impact

This is a significant billing issue for anyone using claude -p in automation (CI/CD pipelines, agent orchestration, scripts). Max subscribers expect their subscription to cover CLI usage, but -p mode silently bills at API rates. I only discovered the billing leak after noticing unexpected API charges with no ANTHROPIC_API_KEY set.

See https://x.com/bcherny/status/2040207998807908432?s=46&t=56r0QbzszcSdz2BaE6Vj8A for clarity that this isn’t the expected behavior

Related issues:

• claude -p suggested to Max subscriber — caused unintended API billing ($1,800+ in two days) #37686 — claude -p suggested to Max subscriber caused $1,800+ in two days
• [BUG] API Error: Rate limit reached + Silent API Credit Billing Despite Active Claude Max Subscription (VS Code Extension) #32286 — Silent API credit billing despite active Max subscription
• [BUG] print mode (-p) doesn't seem to be using my claude max subscription, instead pulling an API key from the environment #3040 — print mode does not use Max subscription
• Invalid API key · Fix external API key #9694 — Stuck in API billing mode with no API key set
• [Bug] Claude Code ignores subscription tier when $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is set, requires separate API key variable name for billing #12352 — Claude Code ignores subscription tier when API key is set

Environment Info

• Platform: Linux x86_64 (6.12.67)
• Claude Code version: 2.1.91
• Node.js: v22.22.0
• Terminal: bash (headless server)
• Subscription: Max (confirmed in credentials)
• ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: explicitly unset via env -u

[joeykrug]

This issue is fixed now!

[github-actions]

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