Use Claude in Cursor via Roo Code Plugin: A Beginner’s Setup Guide (2026)

Skip the Cursor Pro subscription. With the Roo Code plugin + ClaudeAPI, you can use Claude Opus 4.7, Sonnet 4.6, and the full model lineup — completely free of charge.

What You’ll Have After This Tutorial

✅ Cursor editor installed and configured
✅ Roo Code plugin connected to Claude models
✅ Ability to chat, generate, and review code directly inside Cursor

Who this is for: Developers who are new to AI coding tools, or anyone who doesn’t want to pay for Cursor Pro.

Prerequisites: Get Your ClaudeAPI Key

Before configuring the plugin, grab your API key first.

Go to console.claudeapi.com and create an account
Navigate to the API Keys page and click Create Key
Copy the key and store it somewhere safe

New accounts receive free trial credits upon registration. Top up via credit card when you’re ready to scale.

Step 1: Download and Install Cursor

Head to cursor.com to download the installer.

Choose the version for your OS (Windows / macOS / Linux), run the installer, and follow the prompts to complete setup.

Cursor is an AI-native code editor built on VS Code. If you’ve used VS Code before, you’ll feel right at home.

Step 2: Install the Roo Code Plugin

Cursor’s built-in AI features require a Pro subscription — but Roo Code is a free, open-source plugin that lets you connect any third-party API. That’s exactly how we work around the paywall.

Installation steps:

Open Cursor and click Open Project to load any folder
Click the Extensions icon (four squares) in the left sidebar
Search for Roo Code and click Install
Once installed, the Roo Code icon will appear in the left sidebar

Click the Roo Code icon to open the AI chat panel.

Step 3: Configure the Claude Model

This is the most important step in the entire guide.

⚠️ Critical: When selecting a provider, you must choose Anthropic — do NOT select “OpenAI Compatible.” The two use different API formats, and choosing the wrong one will cause all calls to fail.

Configuration steps:

In the Roo Code panel, click the Settings icon in the top-right corner
Select Custom Configuration
Fill in the fields as follows:

Field	Value
API Provider	Select Anthropic
Use Custom Base URL	✅ Check this box, then enter `https://gw.claudeapi.com`
API Key	Paste the key you generated in the ClaudeAPI console
Model Name	See model list below

Available Models on ClaudeAPI:

Model Name (use in config)	Pricing (input / output, per 1M tokens)	Best For
`claude-opus-4-7`	$4 / $20	Complex coding, long-running tasks, advanced reasoning
`claude-sonnet-4-6`	$2.40 / $12	Everyday development, code review, best price-performance balance
`claude-haiku-4-5-20251001`	$0.80 / $4	Quick completions, simple Q&A, high-frequency calls

💡 New to ClaudeAPI? Start with claude-sonnet-4-6 — it offers the best value for money and handles most day-to-day coding tasks with ease.

4.Once you’ve filled in all the fields, click Save.

Step 4: Send a Test Message

After saving your configuration, go back to the Roo Code chat panel and send a test message:

Introduce yourself. What model are you?

Introduce yourself. What model are you?

If the model responds with a proper introduction, your setup is working. ✅

FAQ

Q: Where is the Roo Code chat panel?

After installing Roo Code, simply click the Roo Code icon that appears in the left sidebar to open it.

Q: I’m getting a 401 error. What should I do?

A 401 means authentication failed — usually caused by an incorrect API key. Go back to the ClaudeAPI console, copy your key again, and make sure there are no extra spaces when pasting.

Q: I’m getting a 404 error. What should I do?

A 404 means the request URL or model name doesn’t exist. Double-check the following:

Your Base URL is set to exactly https://gw.claudeapi.com (no trailing slash)
The model name matches exactly what’s listed in the table above

Q: I sent a message but got no response. What’s wrong?

Work through this checklist in order:

Check your internet connection
Verify your ClaudeAPI account balance (log into the console to check)
Confirm the model name is entered correctly

Q: I want to use Opus 4.7 for the most demanding tasks. Any tips?

Set the model name to claude-opus-4-7 and bump the effort level to high or above in Roo Code’s settings. This unlocks deeper reasoning output — ideal for complex architecture decisions and tricky bug investigations.

Quick Recap

Step	Action
1	Sign up for ClaudeAPI and get your API key
2	Download and install Cursor
3	Install the Roo Code plugin
4	Configure provider (Anthropic) + ClaudeAPI base URL + API key + model name
5	Send a test message to confirm everything works

Once you’re set up, you can use Claude directly inside Cursor for code generation, explanation, refactoring, and review — all on a pay-as-you-go basis, with no Cursor Pro subscription required.