Auto model
Let Hull Gateway pick a model for each request. Compare the Frontier, Balanced, Efficient and Free tiers.
Auto lets Hull pick the model for you. Select an Auto tier in the model picker and Hull Gateway routes each request to a model that fits the work, so you don't have to switch models as you move between planning, coding and debugging.
Auto runs on Hull Gateway, so you need to be signed in to Hull. Paid tiers count against your plan's AI allowance. See pricing.
| Tier | Model ID | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Frontier | hull-auto/frontier | The most capable models for demanding work |
| Auto Balanced | hull-auto/balanced | Strong results at a lower cost |
| Auto Efficient | hull-auto/efficient | The lowest cost per task, matched to task difficulty |
| Auto Free | hull-auto/free | Trying Hull with free models |
Use Auto
- Open the model picker in Hull Desktop, the VS Code extension, the JetBrains plugin or the Hull CLI (
/models). - Choose an Auto tier, for example Auto Frontier.
- Work as usual. Hull routes each request to a model for that tier.
The expanded model picker shows which models a tier currently routes to. The mapping for each tier is also listed in Gateway models and providers.
Routing can change
Hull updates the models behind each tier on the server as better options appear or as provider pricing and availability change. The tier ID you select stays the same.
Tiers
- Frontier routes by the kind of work. Planning, asking, debugging and architecture go to the most capable reasoning model; building, exploring and coding go to a fast frontier coding model.
- Balanced routes to a cost-effective model for each request. It uses the same routing service as Efficient and falls back to a fixed, capable default when no routing decision is available.
- Efficient classifies each request and routes it to the cheapest model that Hull's continuously run benchmarks show is accurate enough for that task. Routine work stays lean and harder tasks get a more capable model. If no decision can be made, it falls back to the Balanced default.
- Free routes to available free models and keeps a session on the same model where it can. Free model availability changes often, so quality is lower than paid tiers and the models may change.
Data handling for Auto Free
Auto Free can route to providers that log prompts and outputs and use them to improve their services. Don't send personal or confidential data when using Auto Free.
Organization Auto
Organizations can also use Organization Auto (hull-auto/org), which routes requests using model settings your organization's admins configure for each mode. See model access controls.
When to pick a specific model
Choose a named model instead of Auto when:
- You need a particular model's capability, such as a very long context window.
- You're using your own provider account or a local model.
- You want full control over which model runs, for comparison or reproducibility.