Kickbacks

_{build 2026-06-12T10:51:00Z}

Get paid while you code. Earn up to 50% of ad revenue.

kickbacks.dev · Privacy · Support

How it works

Kickbacks works with the Claude Code and Codex VS Code extensions, and with the Claude Code terminal CLI. While either tool is thinking, its spinner shows a random verb ("Discombobulating...", "Baking..."). Kickbacks replaces that verb with a tiny, clickable sponsored line. Advertisers bid for the slot; up to 50% of the resulting ad revenue is credited to you.

In a terminal, the same ad appears two ways: a clickable line in the status bar (every Claude Code version) and the thinking-spinner verb itself (Claude Code 2.1.143 and newer). The terminal verb refreshes when you start a new claude session.

Your balance shows in the VS Code status bar and updates in real time.

Features

• Earn passively — impressions and clicks accrue while Claude Code or Codex works. Clicks earn 50× an impression.
• Revenue share — up to 50% of ad revenue, credited per impression and click.
• Fully reversible — one click restores Claude Code to its original state.
• Zero interference — never reads your code, prompts, or completions.
• Auto-updates — new versions install silently in the background.

Getting started

1. Install from the VS Code marketplace (search Kickbacks).
2. Click Kickbacks: Sign in in the status bar.
3. Authenticate with Google.
4. Start using Claude Code. Earnings begin automatically.

Before you sign in you'll already see real sponsored lines in the spinner — a live preview of the product. Those preview impressions don't earn you anything; sign in to start earning your share.

Your balance appears in the status bar: Kickbacks ($0.42 today · $7.11)

Status bar

Click the status bar to open the Kickbacks menu (sign in/out, enable/disable, restore Claude Code, check for updates, open debug log).

Privacy

Kickbacks communicates only with the Kickbacks backend at kickbacks.dev. It sends:

• An anonymous device ID (not tied to your identity until you sign in).
• Per-impression events (ad ID, surface, visible time, click).
• Your Google email only after you sign in, so earnings can be credited.

Kickbacks never reads your code, prompts, completions, or any chat content.

Patching is done by modifying Claude Code's webview/index.js (and the Codex extension's webview bundle) from byte-exact backups (VS Code), and by editing ~/.claude/settings.json to add a status-line script and a spinner-verb override (terminal CLI). All edits are fully reversible — select Restore Claude Code from the menu at any time and the originals are restored byte-for-byte.

Commands

Open the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P):

Compatibility

Works with both the VS Code extensions (Claude Code and Codex) and the Claude Code terminal CLI:

VS Code surfaces work on local VS Code, Cursor, Remote-SSH, and devcontainers. The terminal status-bar line works on every Claude Code CLI; the terminal spinner-verb ad needs Claude Code 2.1.143 or newer (older CLIs simply keep their stock verbs — nothing breaks).

If Kickbacks can't find a compatible target, it does nothing. It will never break your editor or your terminal.

FAQ

Does this affect Claude Code or Codex? No. The only change is the spinner text and the idle usage banner. All Claude Code and Codex features work exactly as before.

How do I get paid? Earnings are tracked on the Kickbacks backend. Visit kickbacks.dev to view your balance and set up payouts.

Can I turn it off? Yes. Click the status bar and select Disable Kickbacks, or run Restore Claude Code to fully revert.

Is my code safe? Kickbacks has no access to your code, prompts, or AI responses. It only modifies the spinner display text.

kickbacks.dev · Support