---
title: "Models & Providers"
description: "Learn about the AI models available through the Kilo AI Gateway, including model IDs and how to use them."
---

# Models & Providers

The Kilo AI Gateway provides access to hundreds of AI models through a single unified API. You can switch between models by changing the model ID string -- no code changes required.

## Specifying a model

Models are identified using the format `provider/model-name`. Pass this as the `model` parameter in your request:

```typescript
const result = streamText({
  model: kilo.chat("anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6"),
  prompt: "Hello!",
})
```

Or in a raw API request:

```json
{
  "model": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6",
  "messages": [{ "role": "user", "content": "Hello!" }]
}
```

## Available models

You can browse the full list of available models via the models endpoint:

```
GET https://api.kilo.ai/api/gateway/models
```

This returns model information including pricing, context window, and supported features. No authentication is required.

### Popular models

| Model ID | Provider | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `anthropic/claude-opus-4.7` | Anthropic | Most capable Claude model for complex reasoning |
| `anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6` | Anthropic | Balanced performance and cost |
| `anthropic/claude-haiku-4.5` | Anthropic | Fast and cost-effective |
| `openai/gpt-5.4` | OpenAI | Latest GPT model |
| `openai/gpt-5.4-mini` | OpenAI | Fast and efficient |
| `google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview` | Google | Advanced reasoning |
| `google/gemini-2.5-flash` | Google | Fast and efficient |
| `x-ai/grok-4` | xAI | Most capable Grok model |
| `x-ai/grok-code-fast-1` | xAI | Optimized for code tasks |
| `deepseek/deepseek-v3.2` | DeepSeek | Strong coding and reasoning model |
| `moonshotai/kimi-k2.5` | Moonshot | Strong coding and multilingual model |
| `minimax/minimax-m2.7` | MiniMax | High-performance MoE model |

### Free models

Several models are available at no cost, subject to rate limits:

| Model ID | Description |
|---|---|
| `stepfun/step-3.7-flash:free` | StepFun Step 3.7 Flash |
| `poolside/laguna-m.1:free` | Poolside Laguna M.1 |
| `nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b:free` | NVIDIA Nemotron 3 Ultra |
| `openrouter/free` | Best available free model |

Free models are available to both authenticated and anonymous users. Anonymous users are rate-limited to 200 requests per hour per IP address.

{% callout type="warning" title="NVIDIA free endpoints" %}
For NVIDIA free endpoints (Super/Ultra/etc): Trial use only - do not submit personal or confidential data. Your use is logged for security purposes and to improve NVIDIA products and services. The logged session data for improvement purposes is not linked to your identity or any persistent identifier. For more information about our data processing practices, see our [Privacy Policy](https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/about-nvidia/privacy-policy/). By interacting with this endpoint, you consent to our collection, recording, and use of such information and the [NVIDIA API Trial Terms of Service](https://assets.ngc.nvidia.com/products/api-catalog/legal/NVIDIA%20API%20Trial%20Terms%20of%20Service.pdf).
{% /callout %}

## Auto models

Auto virtual models select an underlying model using tier-specific routing. Frontier uses the `x-kilocode-mode` request header. Balanced uses the API interface, Free uses deterministic affinity across available candidates, and Small uses account balance.

{% callout type="info" title="Underlying models can change" %}
The mappings below reflect the current routing. The underlying models behind each `kilo-auto/*` tier are updated server-side as better options become available or as providers change pricing and availability — the tier IDs themselves remain stable.
{% /callout %}

### `kilo-auto/frontier`

Highest performance and capability for any task. Frontier requests are sent with medium reasoning effort and medium verbosity.

| Mode | Resolved Model |
|---|---|
| `plan`, `general`, `architect`, `orchestrator`, `ask`, `debug` | `anthropic/claude-opus-4.7` |
| `build`, `explore`, `code` | `anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6` |
| Default (no / unknown mode) | `anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6` |

### `kilo-auto/balanced`

Great balance of price and capability. The resolved model depends on the API interface used by the client.

| API interface | Resolved Model | Reasoning effort |
|---|---|---|
| Completions (default) | `qwen/qwen3.6-plus` | enabled |
| Responses API | `openai/gpt-5.5` | low |
| Messages API | `anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6` | low |

### `kilo-auto/free`

Free with limited capability. No credits required. The resolved model is selected dynamically per session from a curated set of available free models; the mapping updates server-side as free model availability shifts.

{% callout type="warning" title="Data handling for Auto Free" %}
Auto Free may route your requests to providers that log prompts and outputs and use them to improve their services. Do not submit personal or confidential data when using Auto Free. In particular, it may route to NVIDIA's free endpoints (see NVIDIA Trial Terms of Service above).
{% /callout %}

### `kilo-auto/small`

Automatically routes to a small, fast model for lightweight background tasks (session titles, commit messages, summaries).

| Condition | Resolved Model |
|---|---|
| Account has paid balance | `google/gemma-4-31b-it` |
| No balance / free account | `google/gemma-4-26b-a4b-it:free` |

### Example usage

```json
{
  "model": "kilo-auto/frontier",
  "messages": [{ "role": "user", "content": "Help me design a database schema" }]
}
```

With the mode header:

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.kilo.ai/api/gateway/chat/completions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $KILO_API_KEY" \
  -H "x-kilocode-mode: plan" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model": "kilo-auto/balanced", "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Design a database schema"}]}'
```
