Claude Access

Claude access: with or without a subscription

Apply Desk calls Claude through the Claude Agent SDK, which ships its own Claude Code CLI. Pick one of three options.

Option	You need	You pay	Best for
A. Subscription login	Claude Pro or Max	Nothing extra; usage counts against your plan	You already use Claude Code
B. Subscription token	Claude Pro or Max	Same as A	Docker, servers, no browser
C. API key	An Anthropic Console account	Per token	No subscription, or separate billing

If ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is set, it is used instead of a subscription login.

A. Subscription login

1. Install Claude Code: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
2. Run claude, type /login, sign in.
3. .venv/bin/python -m app selftest prints ok Claude login works.

The login lives in ~/.claude/. The Docker setup mounts it into the container.

B. Subscription token (headless)

1. On a machine with a browser: claude setup-token
2. Running directly: export CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=<token> before python -m app serve. Docker: cp app/.env.example app/.env and set CLAUDE_CODE_OAUTH_TOKEN=<token>.

C. API key

1. Create a key at console.anthropic.com and add credit.
2. Running directly: export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-... Docker: set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-... in app/.env.

You do not need Claude Code installed for this option. You do need it once for the /setup interview, or fill the profile by hand (First Run).

app/.env is git-ignored. Never commit a key or token.

Other providers

Amazon Bedrock and Google Vertex AI work through the usual Claude Code variables (for example CLAUDE_CODE_USE_BEDROCK=1 plus AWS credentials). Model IDs in Settings must then be valid for that provider.

Models and cost

Step	Default model	Volume
Triage	Claude Haiku	many short calls (titles only)
Scoring, Gmail replies	Claude Sonnet	tens per day
Drafting, interview prep	Claude Opus	up to "Drafts per run"

Drafting is the biggest cost. To spend less: lower Drafts per run, raise Minimum fit score, set the drafting model to Sonnet, raise Minimum company size, or turn off schedules you don't need.