BYOCC — Bring Your Own Claude Code — is the optional power-user path: instead of metered AI billing at published rates, you run Equalizr on your own Claude Max subscription, paid to Anthropic with no markup. It works with the $199/mo plan; switch back to metered billing any time.
What does BYOCC stand for?
BYOCC stands for Bring Your Own Claude Code: Equalizr bills AI usage at its published rates by default, and BYOCC is the option to run those builds on your own Claude Max subscription instead.
Equalizr is built on Anthropic's Claude — every agent in the orchestration layer runs on it. By default that AI usage is billed at Equalizr's published rates, metered in real time, and most builders never change it. BYOCC is the optional swap: the meter for a flat subscription you hold yourself.
The relationship is deliberately direct: your Claude Max account belongs to you, your tokens are cryptographically bound to it, and your Claude Code runs locally on your own machine — Equalizr coordinates with it there rather than reselling access. There is no pooling, no proxying, and no middleman between you and Anthropic.
How much does BYOCC cost?
BYOCC itself costs nothing extra: you pay Anthropic $200/month for Claude Max directly, keep the $199/mo Equalizr platform plan, and Equalizr adds no markup on your AI usage.
The arithmetic is transparent. The platform plan covers the orchestration layer, deployment, and managed infrastructure. Claude Max — detailed on Anthropic's pricing page — covers the AI. Because the Max subscription is flat-rate, your AI cost stops scaling with how hard you build.
When does BYOCC save you money?
BYOCC saves money when your metered AI usage would cost more than the $200/month flat price of Claude Max — which is typical for heavy builders shipping multiple projects.
If you build occasionally, metered billing is usually cheaper: you pay for what you use, and you can see every dollar of AI and hosting in real time. If you build daily — multiple projects, long agent sessions, frequent rebuilds — the meter climbs past $200 quickly, and the flat rate wins.
You do not have to work this out yourself. When BYOCC would save you money, Equalizr tells you — the recommendation is built into the plan.
How do you set up BYOCC?
Setting up BYOCC takes four steps: subscribe to Claude Max, install Claude Code on your own machine, link it to Equalizr over MCP, and build on your own subscription.
First, get Claude Max — $200/month, straight to Anthropic, no middleman. Second, install Claude Code on your own machine: a command-line install of about 10 minutes, with a step-by-step guide provided. Third, one command links that local Claude Code to Equalizr over MCP. From then on, Equalizr coordinates with the Claude Code running on your machine instead of metering AI usage to your bill.
Who holds your Claude credentials under BYOCC?
You do — your relationship is directly with Anthropic, and Equalizr never receives, stores, or proxies your Claude credentials.
Tokens are cryptographically bound to your individual Anthropic account and cannot be shared, pooled, or transferred. That binding is the point of the model: your credentials stay on your own machine with your Claude Code and never touch Equalizr's systems, so every Equalizr user keeps a direct, legitimate relationship with Anthropic.
And BYOCC is never a one-way door. It works with the plan, and you can switch back to metered billing any time — nothing about your projects or infrastructure changes when you do.
Frequently asked questions about BYOCC
Do I still need the Equalizr platform subscription with BYOCC?
Yes. BYOCC replaces the metered AI usage, not the platform. The Equalizr platform plan is $199/mo and covers the orchestration layer, managed infrastructure, and deployment; your Claude Max subscription covers the AI engine.
Can I switch back from BYOCC to metered AI billing?
Yes. BYOCC works with the Equalizr plan and you can switch back any time — nothing about your projects or infrastructure changes when you move between the two.
Does Equalizr mark up Claude Max usage under BYOCC?
No. Under BYOCC you pay Anthropic $200/month directly for Claude Max, and Equalizr adds no markup — your subscription simply replaces metered AI billing while it is active.
Is BYOCC required to use Equalizr?
No. By default, Equalizr bills AI usage and hosting at its published rates, metered in real time. BYOCC is the optional path, recommended for heavy builders when it would save them money.