Bacon
an ad network that pays developers while their Claude works
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What is Bacon?
Bacon is an ad network for AI coding tools that pays developers while they use Claude Code. The plugin installs via a single command (npx @geturbacon/wizard@latest), runs alongside your coding sessions, and displays occasional clearly-labeled text ads next to AI replies in your terminal. Developers earn 50% of each ad placement's base rate, with cashout available weekly via Stripe once you reach $10.
Key features include five ad surfaces ranging from least to most intrusive (spinner, statusline, strip, card, marquee), user-controlled ad frequency dial (from minimal to heavy at ~300 ads/month), three consent tiers for privacy (anonymous default, stack opt-in, full context opt-in), real-time balance dashboard, and anonymous-by-default tracking where only coarse intent signals like
Bacon pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Free for developers to install and use. Developers earn 50% of each placement's base rate with weekly cashout via Stripe once $10 threshold is reached. For advertisers: prepaid wallet from $10 minimum, no monthly minimum or plans. First-price auction with CPM bidding per campaign. Surface floor CPMs: spinner $1 CPM (×0.15 multiplier, free unlock), statusline $3 CPM (×0.4, free), strip $5 CPM (×0.8, free), card $8 CPM (×1, unlocks at $100), marquee $12 CPM (×1.5, unlocks at $100). Higher-intent placements: inline mention $15 floor, tool suggest $20 floor. Effective CPM = bid × surface multiplier, floored.
Bacon pros
- Pays developers 50% of each ad placement's base rate
- Free to install with one-command setup (~30 seconds)
- User controls ad frequency from minimal to ~300 ads/month
- Anonymous by default—advertisers see only coarse intent labels
- Raw prompts never leave your machine, only derived intent signals
- Every ad is clearly labeled with 🥓 Sponsored marker
- Cash out weekly via Stripe once you reach $10 threshold
- No popups, no autoplay, no tracking pixels
- Real-time balance visible in dashboard
- Five ad surfaces with varying intrusiveness levels
- Uninstall stops data transmission instantly, no retention games
- Three consent tiers: anonymous, stack, and full context (all opt-in/reversible)
- Intent targeting based on real coding context, not cookies
- No monthly minimums or contracts for developers
- Works exclusively within Claude Code terminal environment
Bacon cons
- Earnings are found money only, not a paycheck—most devs make just a few dollars/month
- Real pay depends on fill rate and advertiser demand, no guaranteed per-ad price
- Requires using Claude Code specifically, not other AI coding tools
- Higher earnings require accepting more intrusive ads (card/marquee surfaces)
- Premium surfaces (card, marquee) unlock only at $100 cumulative advertiser funding
- Cashout threshold of $10 may take time for light users
- Ad frequency at full setting shows ~300 ads/month which may be distracting
- Anonymous default means less relevant ads compared to opt-in consent tiers
Frequently asked questions about Bacon
How do I install Bacon?
Run one command in Claude Code: npx @geturbacon/wizard@latest. This guided setup installs the plugin and connects your account in approximately 30 seconds. After installation, sign in to start earning.
How much can I earn with Bacon?
Earnings track your usage—most developers clear a few dollars a month, while heavy users at full frequency earn more. You keep 50% of each placement's base rate. Real pay depends on fill rate and advertiser demand, and unfilled slots pay nothing. It's found money for coding you were already doing, not a paycheck.
How do I cash out my earnings?
Cash out weekly via Stripe once you clear the $10 threshold. You can also ask Claude directly how much bacon you've made. The payout process is transparent with no dark-pattern accounting.
What are the five ad surfaces?
From least to most intrusive: spinner (brand flash in the thinking verb, never touches the reply), statusline (clickable status-bar line, never touches the reply), strip (single labeled line in context), card (bordered block with logo, tagline, URL), and marquee (prominent premium banner). Spinner and statusline never touch replies; the rest ride in context. All surfaces include the 🥓 Sponsored marker.
How do I control ad frequency?
You set the dial yourself—more ads means more earnings, but it's your call. At 100% ad frequency, you'd see about 300 labeled ads per month. You can set ad frequency to minimal anytime and watch your balance in real time from the dashboard. Turn it down to minimal or off whenever you want.
How does the advertiser auction work?
Bacon uses a first-price auction where advertisers bid a CPM per campaign. The highest effective bid in the eligible pool wins the slot, and the advertiser pays their bid. Effective CPM equals your bid multiplied by the surface multiplier, floored at the surface's floor CPM—never the raw bid. Each filled impression pays the developer 50% of the base rate.
What happens if I uninstall Bacon?
Uninstall the plugin and data transmission stops instantly. There are no retention games and no need to contact us to delete your data. You leave anytime with complete control over your participation.
How do advertisers unlock premium ad surfaces?
Spinner, statusline, strip, and card run on any budget. Premium surfaces (card and marquee) unlock at $100 cumulative funding. Advertisers prepay a wallet from $10 minimum, launch campaigns with copy, targeting, surface, and bid—no contracts or minimums. Daily budget pacing stops spending at your set limit.