Home
cd ../playbooks
Developer ToolsBeginner

Claude Usage Analyst

Analyze Claude Code token usage, cost, quota burn, model mix, and cache read/write using ccusage evidence — and explain in human terms why your quota got exhausted.

10 minutes
By daymadeSource
#claude-code#usage#tokens#cost#ccusage

Your Claude quota vanished and you have no idea which model or session burned it. This playbook reads the ccusage data and explains exactly where the tokens went.

Who it's for: Claude Code users, developers, teams managing AI spend

Example

"Why did my Claude quota run out today?" → A breakdown of tokens, cost, and model mix per session, pinpointing what burned the quota

CLAUDE.md Template

New here? 3-minute setup guide → | Already set up? Copy the template below.

# Claude Usage Analyst

## Overview

Use this skill to produce evidence-based usage explanations from local `ccusage` data. Separate observed numbers from interpretation, and explain quota burn in human terms.

## Workflow

1. Verify `ccusage` is available:
   ```bash
   ccusage --version
   ```
   If missing, install or update with `npm install -g ccusage@latest` or run with `npx ccusage@latest`.

2. Run the bundled analyzer for the requested window:
   ```bash
   python3 /path/to/claude-usage-analyst/scripts/analyze_claude_usage.py \
     --since YYYY-MM-DD --until YYYY-MM-DD --timezone Asia/Shanghai
   ```
   Default `--since/--until` is today in the selected timezone.
   For historical comparison, set `--since` to an earlier date such as the first day of the month; otherwise rank/median fields only describe the single target day.

3. If the user asks about a specific model comparison, pass aliases:
   ```bash
   python3 scripts/analyze_claude_usage.py --model-a fable --model-b opus-4-8
   ```

4. Read `references/explanation-guide.md` when writing the final answer.

## Evidence Rules

- Base numeric claims on `ccusage` output or the bundled analyzer output.
- State the scope: `ccusage claude` measures local Claude Code usage logs, including Claude Desktop's Claude Code sessions when those local logs exist. It is not a complete ordinary Claude.ai chat bill.
- Report dates with timezone.
- Explain cache clearly: cache read tokens are still usage/quota pressure even though the user did not type those words.
- Do not infer Anthropic plan quota rules from local token counts unless the user provides plan details. Say "quota-like pressure" or "ccusage estimated cost/token burn" when exact plan accounting is unknown.
- When comparing models, compare both token volume and estimated cost. A model can have similar token volume but higher cost.

## Output Shape

Use this structure unless the user asks otherwise:

1. Short conclusion in plain language.
2. Evidence table: total tokens, cost, input, output, cache create, cache read.
3. Model comparison table.
4. 5-hour block table when quota exhaustion is discussed.
5. Explanation of why the burn happened.
6. Confidence and caveats.

Keep the answer readable for non-technical users. Avoid unexplained terms like "cache read" without a one-sentence translation.
README.md

What This Does

Analyze Claude Code token usage, cost, quota burn, model mix, and cache read/write using ccusage evidence — and explain in human terms why your quota got exhausted.

What's Inside

The template covers:

  • Workflow
  • Evidence Rules
  • Output Shape

Quick Start

Step 1: Create a Project Folder

Make a dedicated folder for this workflow and open it in Claude Code.

Step 2: Download the Template

Click Download above to save the template, then drop it into your project as CLAUDE.md (or paste it into your existing one).

Step 3: Start Working

Tell Claude what you need in plain language — it will follow the template's workflow automatically. For example:

Why did my Claude quota run out today?

Claude reads the template and runs the steps for you.

$Related Playbooks

Developer Tools

CLI Demo Generator

Generate professional animated CLI demos as GIFs using VHS terminal recordings — with self-bootstrapping setup, output filtering, and frame-level verification.

15 minutes
Intermediate
Developer Tools

Cloudflare Troubleshooting

Investigate and resolve Cloudflare issues with API-driven evidence — ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS, SSL mode mismatches, DNS, and proxy problems — instead of guessing.

15 minutes
Intermediate
Developer Tools

Codebase Documenter

Create comprehensive, beginner-friendly documentation for codebases including READMEs, architecture guides, API docs, and code comments.

10 minutes
Beginner
Developer Tools

Distinctive Frontend Design

Design lead guidance for building frontends that don't read as AI-generated — deliberate palette, typography, and layout choices grounded in the actual subject, with a built-in self-critique pass before you write code.

5 minutes
Intermediate
Developer Tools

Continue Claude Work

Recover actionable context from local .claude session artifacts and continue interrupted work — without running claude --resume — by inspecting history first.

10 minutes
Intermediate
Developer Tools

Docs Cleaner

Consolidate redundant documentation while preserving all valuable content — merge overlapping files, reduce sprawl, and cut bloat without losing anything important.

10 minutes
Beginner
Developer Tools

Developer Presentation Builder

Create developer-focused presentations with live code demos and diagrams using Slidev.

10 minutes
Advanced
Developer Tools

DevOps Automation Assistant

DevOps and IT Ops automation - CI/CD, monitoring, incident management, and infrastructure workflows

10 minutes
Advanced
Developer Tools

Discord Bot Builder

Discord bot development - community management, moderation, notifications, and AI integration

10 minutes
Advanced
Developer Tools

Composio SDK with Claude Code: Connect 250+ APIs in Minutes

Connect Claude Code to 250+ APIs using Composio SDK. Build AI agents that send emails, create GitHub issues, and post to Slack — not just generate text.

15 minutes
Advanced
Developer Tools

Network Issue Debugging

Apply falsification-first, layered isolation to pin down the responsible network layer for connection resets, SSE stalls, and fixed-time drops — instead of stacking assumptions.

20 minutes
Advanced
Developer Tools

Database Sync Manager

Automate database synchronization, replication, migration, and cross-platform data integration

10 minutes
Advanced

Browse all Developer Tools playbooks →