DeepClaude Slashes Claude Code Costs 17x—Without Changing Your Workflow

DeepClaude is a localhost proxy that reroutes Claude Code's API calls to cheaper alternatives like DeepSeek V4 Pro and OpenRouter, eliminating the $200/month subscription barrier for independent developers. The tool enables seamless mid-session backend switching via slash commands—grinding routine edits on DeepSeek at $0.87/M output, then instantly switching to Claude Opus for complex problems without restarting or losing context. This combination of dramatic cost reduction, transparent operation, and workflow continuity has resonated strongly with the developer community, earning 678 upvotes and 281 comments on Show HN in its first week.