🎛️Modes: Agent · Plan · Debug · Ask
Pick the right mode so Claude uses the right model for the job.
4 min read·Last updated 2026-05-17
LimAI ships with four conversation modes. Each one biases the auto-router toward a different model and a different style of response. Picking the right mode keeps your bill small and your iterations fast.
| Mode | Best for | Default model | Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agent | Build new features end to end | Sonnet 4.6 (Opus on Pro+) | Decisive, writes code |
| Plan | Hard architectural choices | Opus 4.7 (Pro/Max only) | Structured, asks questions |
| Debug | Fix a specific bug | Sonnet 4.6 → Haiku for tiny edits | Focused, surgical |
| Ask | Quick questions, no code | Haiku 4.5 | Conversational, fast |
💡
Auto-router protects your wallet
On Free/Starter/Pro tiers, LimAI picks the model. On Max tier, you pick. See Billing for the full routing table.
When to switch modes
- Stuck on a design decision? Switch to Plan — Opus is genuinely better at thinking before typing.
- Crash loop? Switch to Debug — the prompt template tells Claude to read errors first.
- Just a question? Switch to Ask — keeps the conversation cheap and short.