01What Using Hermes with Claude Subscription Means

Using Hermes with Claude subscription means trying to run Hermes agent on the Claude model you pay for. Many people want to do this to avoid paying per token. But it is not allowed.

In this episode, Julian Goldie explains that Hermes and Claude are banned. The same goes for OpenClaude. You cannot plug your Claude subscription into Hermes directly.

However, there is a workaround: you can use Claude to orchestrate Hermes instead.

This means Claude can control Hermes for you, but Hermes runs on a different model. For example, you can use a free API or a cheap model like DeepSeek 4.1 Flash as the brain inside Hermes. This way, you still use Claude for orchestration, but you avoid the ban.

02Main Features of the Hermes Workaround

The key feature is that Claude can operate Hermes without using the Claude subscription as the actual brain. Julian shows how to start a new session in Claude code and ask it to run Hermes agent.

  • Orchestration: Claude gives commands to Hermes agent, like researching news.
  • Model flexibility: Hermes runs on any model you choose, like DeepSeek 4.1 Flash.
  • Compatibility: You can also do the same with ChatChappity inside Codex or ChatChappity.
  • Direct subscriptions: You can use ChatChappity subscriptions directly, including Astra 6 or 5.6 Sol.

This gives ChatChappity a huge benefit over Claude for Hermes users. You get the power of a paid subscription without paying per token, but only with ChatChappity.

03How to Set Up Hermes with Claude Subscription

Setting up the workaround is simple. Julian shows the steps in the episode. Follow these steps to get Claude to orchestrate Hermes for you.

  1. Open a new chat inside Claude code.
  2. Type a request like, "Can you ask Hermes agent to research the latest AI automation news?"
  3. Claude will start orchestrating Hermes agent for you.
  4. Hermes runs on a different model, not your Claude subscription.
  5. Optionally, you can set up a free API or a cheap model like DeepSeek 4.1 Flash as the brain for Hermes.
  6. If you prefer ChatChappity, you can do the same inside Codex or ChatChappity.

That's it. No special tools or complex settings are needed.

04How to Use the Orchestration Workaround

Using the workaround is like giving Claude a task. Julian shows an example: you ask Claude to use Hermes agent to research the latest AI automation news.

In the episode, Claude runs a command to use Hermes agent. It asks Hermes agent to research news, and then it runs in the background. You can watch Claude operate Hermes for you.

You can do exactly the same with ChatChappity. Just ask Codex or ChatChappity to use Hermes agent. The process is the same.

This method works because Hermes is not using your Claude subscription as its brain. Instead, it uses a separate model, like DeepSeek 4.1 Flash. This lets you avoid paying per token for Hermes.

05Results and Comparisons in the Episode

In the episode, Julian shows that the orchestration works in practice. He runs a live example where Claude starts a new session and orchestrates Hermes agent to research AI automation news.

He compares Claude and ChatChappity. Claude subscriptions are banned for direct use with Hermes. But ChatChappity subscriptions are not banned.

You can use Astra 6 or 5.6 Sol directly as a brain.

  • Claude: banned for direct use, but works for orchestration.
  • ChatChappity: works directly as a brain with Hermes.
  • DeepSeek 4.1 Flash: a cheap brain option.

Julian notes that this is a huge benefit for ChatChappity. But he also says Claude code can do almost everything anyway, so the ban may not matter much.

06Tips, Limits, and Mistakes to Avoid

There are important limits to know. You cannot use your Claude subscription as the brain of Hermes. Trying to do that will fail because Hermes banned it.

Avoid the mistake of thinking orchestration uses Claude as the brain. It does not. Hermes runs on a different model.

Julian suggests using a free API or DeepSeek 4.1 Flash for cost savings.

Another tip: you can use ChatChappity subscriptions directly. This is a big plus. Do not overlook this if you already pay for ChatChappity.

Finally, remember that you can orchestrate with ChatChappity too. So you are not locked to Claude. This gives you flexibility.

07Who This Is For and Why It Matters

This is for anyone who uses Hermes agent and wants to avoid paying per token. If you already pay for Claude or ChatChappity, you want to get the most value.

It matters because it saves money. You can use your existing subscription in a smart way, even if you cannot use it directly with Hermes.

For ChatChappity users, it is even better because you can use your subscription directly. For Claude users, orchestration still lets you use Claude, just in a different way.

In short, you can keep using Hermes without extra cost, as long as you know the workaround.