Together AI has released Together Link, a free, MIT-licensed CLI now in beta. It connects the coding agents developers already use to open models hosted on Together AI. Supported tools include Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex, ChatGPT Desktop, OpenCode, and Pi. The idea is simple: keep the harness, swap the model, and shrink the bill.
Is it deployable today? Yes. It installs with one command on macOS or Linux and needs only a Together API key. It is in beta, so commands, routing, and the model list may change.
The Problem It Targets
Coding agents often send every task to the same premium model, from a one-line fix to a full rewrite. In its launch post, Together team states that engineering orgs spend tens of thousands to millions of dollars monthly on closed models. Its argument is that open models have closed much of the gap. Kimi K3 and GLM 5.3 target hard coding work. GLM 5.3 Flash and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash cover everyday tasks.
How Together Link Works
Installation is a single command:
curl -fsSL https://link.together.ai/install | bashThe installer adds Bun if needed and places commands in ~/.local/bin. Run togetherlink to open a launcher, or start a tool directly with togetherlink claude, togetherlink codex, togetherlink opencode, or togetherlink pi. Shortcuts such as tclaude also work.
According to the official docs, no local proxy or daemon runs. Each tool talks directly to Together’s hosted gateway. Terminal agents receive a temporary per-launch configuration that is removed when the session ends. Claude Desktop and ChatGPT Desktop use separate, reversible profiles. Commands like togetherlink chatgpt off switch back.
The Auto Router
Sessions default to a virtual auto model. Per the launch post, the router reads each session’s first task. Quick fixes go to fast, low-cost models, while hard problems get frontier capability. With an Anthropic API key, it routes between Opus 5.5 and GLM 5.3. Without one, it routes between GLM 5.3 and GLM 5.3 Flash. Routing happens once per session, so prompt caching keeps working.
The Opus path applies only to Claude Code and Claude Desktop, billed to your Anthropic account. Codex, OpenCode, Pi, and ChatGPT Desktop always stay on Together models. To pin one model, place the flag before the tool name: togetherlink --main zai-org/GLM-5.3 claude.
Inside Claude Code, the /model menu maps tiers to open models. Opus runs Kimi K3, Fable runs GLM 5.3, Sonnet runs GLM 5.3 Flash, and Haiku runs DeepSeek V4.1 Flash.
Models, Pricing, and Receipts
The docs list Kimi K3, GLM 5.3, GLM 5.3 Flash, and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, each with 1M context. The product page lists Kimi K3 at $3.00 in and $15.00 out, and GLM 5.3 at $1.40 in and $4.40 out. DeepSeek V4.1 Flash and MiniMax M3 are listed at $0.30 in and $1.20 out. Current rates live on Together’s pricing page.
Billing runs on your existing Together key, through pay-as-you-go or credit packs. Each session prints token and dollar totals on exit. In Claude Code, the status line shows estimated spend beside the equivalent Opus cost. Running togetherlink usage --last 7d shows gateway-tracked spend across sessions.
Together team also notes it serves the largest OpenRouter token share for DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (40.8%), GLM 5.3 Flash (28.2%), and Kimi K3 (23.1%), as of 9/30/2026.
Together Link vs Closest Alternatives
| Feature | Together Link | OpenRouter | Claude Code Router | Ollama launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | One curl install, then togetherlink claude |
Env vars in shell profile | Desktop app or npm CLI | ollama launch claude |
| Local proxy | No, hosted gateway | No, direct connection | Yes, local gateway on port 3456 | Local server, or direct to Ollama Cloud |
| Agents | Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex, ChatGPT Desktop, OpenCode 2, Pi | Guides for Claude Code, Codex CLI, OpenCode, Cursor, and more | 10 agents, including Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Pi | Claude Code, OpenCode, Claude and ChatGPT Desktop (macOS) |
| Auto routing | Auto router, optional Opus 5.5 escalation | openrouter/auto model |
Rule-based routing with fallbacks | Not documented |
| Cost tracking | Per-session receipt plus 7-day usage report | Activity dashboard plus statusline script | Token usage and cost estimates in logs | Not documented |
| Models | Curated Together lineup | OpenRouter catalog | Any provider you configure | Local and Ollama Cloud models |
| OS | macOS, Linux | Wherever Claude Code runs | macOS, Windows, Linux | Desktop app connect is macOS |
| License | MIT, free | Hosted service | MIT, free | Free locally, cloud needs API key |
Together Link’s edge is a curated, one-command path with built-in savings receipts. Claude Code Router offers broader provider control, but runs a local gateway you manage.
Interactive Explainer
Key Takeaways
- One install command connects 6 existing agents to open models on Together AI.
- The default Auto router picks between GLM 5.3, GLM 5.3 Flash, and optionally Opus 5.5.
- Together claims over 50% savings, and 50 to 80% versus all-Opus 5.5 sessions.
- No local proxy runs, and your normal agent configuration files stay untouched.
- Free and MIT-licensed, but limited to macOS and Linux during beta.
Check out the Technical details and GitHub. All credit goes to the researcher of this project. Also, feel free to follow us on Twitter and don’t forget to join our 150k+ML SubReddit and Subscribe to our Newsletter. Wait! are you on telegram? now you can join us on telegram as well.
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Asif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost AI Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.
