Terminal pair programmer · ScaleMax integration
Use Aider with the ScaleMax API
Aider talks to any OpenAI-compatible endpoint through two environment variables. Point them at ScaleMax and prefix the model ID with openai/ when you start Aider.
- Choose in the client
- Aider’s OpenAI-compatible endpoint support (OPENAI_API_BASE)
- Protocol
- OpenAI Chat Completions
- ScaleMax installer
- Manual setup
- Video lesson
- Not yet
Aider settings for ScaleMax
Enter these values in Aider. A Pay as you go key and a token pack key use different base URLs — use the one that matches the key you bought.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| OPENAI_API_BASE | https://api.scalemax.pro/v1 (or https://api.scalemax.pro/token/v1 for a token pack) |
| OPENAI_API_KEY | Your ScaleMax key |
| --model | openai/<model-id>, for example openai/claude-sonnet-5-5 |
export OPENAI_API_BASE=https://api.scalemax.pro/v1
export OPENAI_API_KEY=YOUR_SCALEMAX_KEY
aider --model openai/claude-sonnet-5-5Step by step
- Set OPENAI_API_BASE to the ScaleMax base URL for your key.
- Set OPENAI_API_KEY to your ScaleMax key. On Windows use setx for both, then open a new terminal.
- Start Aider with --model openai/ followed by the exact ScaleMax model ID.
Installer support
The ScaleMax installer does not configure Aider. Two environment variables and one flag are all it needs.
Models to use in Aider
Rates are the published ScaleMax rates per million tokens, read from the live catalogue. Your key must include a model before Aider can call it — GET /v1/models with the key lists exactly which.
Claude models
| Model | Model ID | Input / 1M tokens | Output / 1M tokens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 | $1 | $5 |
| Claude Haiku 5.5 | claude-haiku-5-5 | $0.20 | $1 |
| Claude Opus 4.6 | claude-opus-4-6 | $5 | $25 |
GPT models
| Model | Model ID | Input / 1M tokens | Output / 1M tokens |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-6.1 Sol | gpt-6.1-sol | $2 | $10 |
| GPT-6 Sol | gpt-6-sol | $2 | $10 |
| GPT-6 Luna | gpt-6-luna | $0.10 | $0.50 |
DeepSeek, Gemini and other models
| Model | Model ID | Input / 1M tokens | Output / 1M tokens |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V4 Pro | deepseek-v4-pro | $1 | $4 |
| DeepSeek V4 Flash | deepseek-v4-flash | $0.19 | $0.51 |
| Gemini 3.8 Flash | gemini-3.8-flash | $0.75 | $3.75 |
Good to know
- The openai/ prefix tells Aider which API style to use; ScaleMax receives the ID after the prefix.
- Aider may warn that it does not know the model’s context window or price. That is expected for custom endpoints; the ScaleMax model page lists both.
Troubleshooting
- Aider calls api.openai.com instead of ScaleMax
- OPENAI_API_BASE is not set in this shell. Export it again or open a new terminal after setx on Windows.
- Model not found
- Keep the openai/ prefix and use the exact ID your key includes, for example openai/gpt-6-sol.
Aider's field names on this page were checked against Aider: OpenAI compatible APIs on October 14, 2026. If Aider has renamed a setting since, follow its documentation and keep the ScaleMax values above.
ScaleMax is not affiliated with the makers of Aider. Compatibility describes the API protocol; Aider's own features and plans are provided by its developer.
Aider and ScaleMax: questions
How do I point Aider at ScaleMax?
Set OPENAI_API_BASE=https://api.scalemax.pro/v1 and OPENAI_API_KEY to your ScaleMax key, then run aider --model openai/<model-id>.
Can Aider use Claude models through ScaleMax?
Yes. Use the OpenAI-compatible route with the Claude model ID, for example aider --model openai/claude-opus-5-5. Your key must include Claude.
Why does Aider need the openai/ prefix?
Aider uses the prefix to choose its OpenAI-compatible client. Without it, Aider tries to guess a provider from the model name.
Related setup guides
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