Kickbacks.ai
pays you for Claude Code spinner impressions
Last verified:
What is Kickbacks.ai?
Kickbacks.ai is a VS Code extension that turns AI wait states into an ad marketplace, allowing developers to earn money while they wait for Claude Code or Codex to process requests. The tool replaces the random verb shown in the AI spinner (like
Kickbacks.ai pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Free to use - no paid plans for users. Users earn up to 50% of ad revenue with no cost to install or use. Advertisers can bid any amount from $1 for 1,000 five-second impressions in the Claude Code spinner. Clicks are billed at 50× the impression rate. Highest bid serves first, and users receive 50% of every dollar settled to the developer whose machine showed the ad.
Kickbacks.ai pros
- Earn up to 50% of ad revenue directly
- Passive earnings while AI codes
- Clicks earn 50× an impression
- Real-time balance updates in status bar
- Works with Claude Code VS Code extension
- Works with Codex VS Code extension
- Works with Claude Code terminal CLI
- Fully reversible with one click
- Zero interference - never reads code
- Auto-updates silently in background
- Google authentication for sign-in
- No credit card required to start
- Terminal status bar shows clickable ads
- Spinner verb ad refreshes per session
- Bid any amount from $1 as advertiser
Kickbacks.ai cons
- Only works with Claude Code and Codex
- Terminal spinner verb needs Claude Code 2.1.143+
- Preview impressions don earn anything before sign-in
- No payout system details publicly available
- Terminal jockeys get less optimal experience
- Requires Google authentication
- Backend may go offline temporarily
- Some VS Code versions may be incompatible
Frequently asked questions about Kickbacks.ai
How do I get paid?
Earnings are tracked on the Kickbacks backend. Visit kickbacks.ai to view your balance and set up payouts. Payment is processed through Stripe when payouts open, and tax-information collection may be required.
Can I turn it off?
Yes. Click the status bar and select 'Disable Kickbacks', or run 'Restore Claude Code' to fully revert to the unpatched version. All edits are byte-for-byte reversible.
Is my code safe?
Kickbacks has no access to your code, prompts, or AI responses. It only modifies the spinner display text and never reads your source code, file contents, file names, project structure, prompts, AI responses, or chat history.
Does this affect Claude Code or Codex functionality?
No. The only change is the spinner text and the idle usage banner. All Claude Code and Codex features work exactly as before with no impact on functionality.
How do clicks earn compared to impressions?
Clicks earn 50× an impression. Impressions and clicks accrue passively while Claude Code or Codex works, with revenue credited per impression and click to your account.
What VS Code surfaces does Kickbacks work on?
VS Code surfaces work on local VS Code, Cursor, Remote-SSH, and devcontainers. The terminal status-bar line works on every Claude Code CLI version, while the terminal spinner-verb ad requires Claude Code 2.1.143 or newer.
What data does Kickbacks collect?
Kickbacks collects an anonymous device ID, per-impression events (ad ID, surface, visible time, click), and your Google email only after sign-in for earnings credit. It does not collect source code, prompts, completions, or chat content.
How do advertisers bid for the spinner slot?
Advertisers bid live for the slot, with each block buying 1,000 five-second impressions. Clicks are billed at 50× the impression rate. Highest bid serves first, and you can bid any amount from $1 to outbid the top or queue behind it.
What happens before I sign in?
Before signing in, you'll see real sponsored lines in the spinner as a live preview of the product, but those preview impressions don't earn you anything. You must sign in with Google to start earning your revenue share.
How long is data retained after account termination?
Account data is retained while active and may be retained for up to 7 years after termination or last activity for fraud prevention, financial reconciliation, and legal compliance. Personal identifiers are removed within 30 days upon deletion request.