What is kerf-cli and how do I install it?

Kerf-cli is a TypeScript CLI for analyzing Claude Code session costs locally via SQLite. Install with `npm install -g kerf-cli`, then `kerf sync` to ingest logs.

Does kerf-cli work only with Claude Code or other AI tools?

Currently Claude Code only — parses its JSONL format. Open-source, so extensions possible.

How much can kerf-cli save on Claude bills?

Varies — users report 4x cuts switching models, plus cache tweaks. Enforce budgets to cap entirely.

🤖 Large Language Models

kerf-cli: The Tool That Finally Puts Claude Code Costs Under Your Control

Claude Code promised no-cost worries with Max subscriptions. Then it ate 91% of my weekly limit in one morning. Enter kerf-cli—the local tool that fights back.

theAIcatchup Apr 08, 2026 3 min read

Kerf-cli web dashboard displaying Claude Code weekly cost breakdown by project and model

⚡ Key Takeaways

Kerf-cli turns Claude Code's raw logs into SQL-queryable insights, revealing hidden costs like cache reads. 𝕏
Budget enforcement blocks overspends pre-tool-use; efficiency analyzer suggests model swaps for real savings. 𝕏
Anthropic's 'no need to monitor' advice is PR spin — tools like kerf-cli expose why AI costs spiral. 𝕏

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theAIcatchup

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Originally reported by Dev.to

⚡ Key Takeaways

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