What is frugal?
frugal is a Claude Code mod by saksham10arora-dotcom that cost-free mode for Claude Code. Helper subagents (Explore and friends) run on Haiku, and a summarize_free tool lets Claude hand big files and logs to a free Gemini model instead of reading. It is listed under Cost & usage and has no public popularity data yet.
| Type | Claude code mod |
|---|---|
| Author | saksham10arora-dotcom |
| Repository | saksham10arora-dotcom/claude-frugal |
| Popularity | no public popularity data yet |
| Category | Cost & usage |
| Security | Review before installing (76/100) |
| Rank | #4,502 of 5,272 Claude Code mods; #867 in Cost & usage |
| License | MIT |
| Last commit | 2026-10-04 |
| Hooks | 5 events |
| Sees | mcp__frugal__summarize_free calls, subagent spawns |
| Draws on | AbovePrompt |
Is frugal safe to install?
frugal scores 76/100 on the MCPMods security check: Review before installing. Things to review: sends data over the network; reads environment variables. It passed 6 of 8 checks.
Mod footprints come from claude plugin validate, which lists every event a mod hooks and every API call it makes without running it.
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| Sends data over the network | Review |
| Starts no processes | Pass |
| Writes no files or config | Pass |
| Reads environment variables | Review |
| Only sees the events it hooks | Pass |
| Doesn't drive Claude | Pass |
| Passes claude plugin validate | Pass |
| Has an open-source license | Pass |
API calls in its code
| Call | What it means |
|---|---|
$.command.register | |
$.env.get | reads env vars |
$.fs.read | reads files |
$.http.fetch | network requests |
$.store.get | keeps its own state |
$.store.set | keeps its own state |
$.tool.register | drives Claude |
$.ui.invalidate | draws interface |
$.ui.resolve | draws interface |
How do I install frugal?
- Check your Claude Code version. Mods need Claude Code 2.1.287 or later and are on by default.
claude --version
- Read its footprint. This lists every event it hooks and every API call it makes, without running it.
git clone https://github.com/saksham10arora-dotcom/claude-frugal claude plugin validate ./claude-frugal/.
- Install it. Run this in your terminal, then /reload-plugins in an open session.
claude plugin marketplace add saksham10arora-dotcom/claude-frugal && claude plugin install frugal@nerfsaksham-frugal
Or ask Claude to set it up
Paste this into Claude Code and it installs frugal for you:
Install the "frugal" Claude Code mod from https://github.com/saksham10arora-dotcom/claude-frugal. Run claude plugin validate on it first and show me what it can access before you enable it.