Using Polydev with Claude Code

Polydev is a tool Claude Code calls, not a replacement for its model. Claude Code keeps its own model and sign-in, and calls Polydev only when you name another model. The answer comes back in your session and says what paid for it. The hosted link has four tools:

ask_model

Sends a prompt to one model, or several, and returns each answer with what paid for it. The older name get_perspectives still works.

list_models

The models you can reach right now, and what pays for each.

search_x

Recent public posts on X. Read-only, and it needs your own xAI API key.

rank_perspectives

Ranks the answers, best first, when you ask. Rankings feed the public leaderboard as counts.

Nothing to install and no keys in config files.

1. 01

   Add the link

   terminalCopy

   claude mcp add --transport http polydev https://polydev.ai/mcp

2. 02

   Sign in

   In Claude Code, run /mcp, choose Polydev and sign in. Your browser opens the Polydev sign-in; approve access and return to the terminal.

/plugin marketplace add backspacevenkat/polydev-claude-code-plugin
/plugin install polydev-hosted@polydev-marketplace

The hosted link is all most people need. The local client is the npm package polydev-ai (version 1.12.0, Node.js 20 or newer, open source under Apache-2.0). It runs on your machine and adds three things: image models, your ChatGPT plan, and the Claude Code and Codex you are already signed in to.

Called from Claude Code, it can run your own Codex under your own login. It never runs Claude Code itself, so Claude Code does not call itself.

claude mcp add polydev -- npx -y polydev-ai@latest

The first call opens your browser to sign in to Polydev (or ask Claude Code to run login). If you already added the hosted link as polydev, remove it first (claude mcp remove polydev) or give the local one another name, such as polydev-local.

On top of the hosted tools, the local client has:

generate_image

Makes an image with an OpenAI or Google model, such as GPT Image or Nano Banana. Uses your key, or one free request.

connect_chatgpt_plan

Continue with ChatGPT: sign in once in the browser and GPT requests use your ChatGPT Plus or Pro plan.

chatgpt_plan_status

Shows whether your ChatGPT plan is connected.

login

Signs in to Polydev in the browser and saves the token on this machine.

get_auth_status

Shows the connection, the Claude Code and Codex it found, and your configured models.

To have GPT requests use your ChatGPT Plus or Pro plan, ask your app to run connect_chatgpt_plan, or sign in from a terminal:

npx -y polydev-ai chatgpt login     # Continue with ChatGPT in the browser
npx -y polydev-ai chatgpt status    # is plan usage on?
npx -y polydev-ai chatgpt models    # models your plan can use
npx -y polydev-ai chatgpt logout    # sign out and delete the tokens

Continue with ChatGPT works in the local client only for now. On the hosted link it is waiting for OpenAI's approval.

On a machine without a browser, the local client can read a Polydev token from the environment instead; see the docs.

Ask in plain words and name the model, or mention Polydev. Claude Code calls Polydev when you ask, or may offer to; it does not call it on its own.

• Check before you run

  “Have GPT check this migration before I run it.”

• Pick the model per task

  “Ask Gemini whether Redis or Postgres is the better fit for session storage in this app.”

• Compare two answers

  “Ask GPT and Gemini why this test only fails in CI, then tell me where they disagree.”

• Make an image (local client)

  “Make a 1200×630 cover for this post with Nano Banana.”

Which models you can reach depends on what you set up in your dashboard. Ask for list_models to see them.

Polydev is free: there are no plans, tiers or credits to buy. Each request uses the first of these you have set up, and every answer ends with what paid for it, for example Paid by: your API key.

Your ChatGPT plan

Local client. GPT requests count toward your Plus or Pro plan, with a weekly cap you set in ChatGPT.

Your Claude Code or Codex

Local client. Runs the Claude Code or Codex you are signed in to on this machine.

Your API keys

OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI or OpenRouter, added in your dashboard. The provider bills you directly.

10 free requests

On Polydev, up to $1 in total. No card.

Polydev does not show up

Run claude mcp list in your terminal, or /mcp inside Claude Code. If it is missing, run the add command again and restart Claude Code.

It says Polydev needs authentication

Run /mcp, choose Polydev and sign in again. Sign-in happens in the browser; you do not need to paste a token.

Plugin not found

Add the marketplace first, then install polydev-hosted@polydev-marketplace.

Slow answers

Several models take longer than one. A short, focused question with the relevant code comes back faster than a whole file.

A model is missing, or the free requests ran out

Add your own API keys or an OpenRouter key in your dashboard, or use the local client with your ChatGPT plan or your Codex. Ask for list_models to see what you can reach and what pays for each.

Want to disconnect

Remove the server from Claude Code, and revoke access under Dashboard → Connected apps.