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Model Presets

Model Presets are named, reusable model setups. Every setup contains a main, utility, and embedding model.

Use them when you want to switch a chat between setups such as "fast", "cheap", "local", "balanced", or "maximum power" without rebuilding the settings each time.

Choose A Preset

The preset menu is the first dropdown on the left side of the chat status bar. Its closed label shows the preset and the short main-model name, without the provider prefix.

Model preset selector

  1. Open a chat.
  2. Click the current preset name.
  3. Choose the preset you want.

The selected preset affects the current chat. Choose Use scoped preset to return the chat to the default selected for its project and agent profile. If no more specific choice exists, Agent Zero uses the global preset.

The Default preset is always available. You can edit its models, but you cannot rename or delete it.

Initial Presets

When no saved preset collection exists at startup, Agent Zero downloads the curated Default, Efficiency, and Power presets from the public agent0ai/a0-presets repository. If GitHub is unavailable or the file is invalid, Agent Zero saves its bundled plugin fallback instead. Existing saved presets short-circuit this check and are never replaced.

Edit Presets

Click Edit presets from the same menu.

From this screen you can:

  • rename presets;
  • choose the main model;
  • choose the utility model;
  • choose the embedding model;
  • enter the shared API key for each model provider;
  • open API key settings;
  • add or delete presets (except Default);
  • save the preset list.

Think of a preset as a label on a model setup.

Field Simple meaning
Main model The model that does the main conversation and reasoning.
Utility model A smaller helper model for lighter internal tasks.
Embedding model The model that creates vectors for memory and knowledge retrieval.

The editor presents each preset as one complete setup. Internally, an existing non-default preset may inherit omitted advanced values from Default.

Add A Preset

Click Add, give it a name, choose models, then click Save.

Good preset names are easy to spot quickly:

  • Max Power
  • Balanced
  • Fast Cheap
  • Local Private
  • GPT-5 Mini
  • Claude Opus
  • Kimi Budget

Some people prefer names based on purpose. Others prefer names that look like the model they use most. Both are fine. The important thing is that your eyes can find the right option quickly.

A Simple Starting Set

If you are not sure what to create, start with three presets:

Preset Use it for
Best Hard work where quality matters more than cost or speed.
Balanced Everyday chats, coding, writing, and research.
Cheap Simple tasks, quick drafts, summaries, and tests.

You can always rename them later.

Choose Defaults For New Chats

In Settings → Agent → Models, choose the global preset used by new chats. The summary shows its main, utility, and embedding models. Changing it also applies that preset to the currently open chat.

Use Per-project / agent to open the full Model Configuration plugin. Its scope selector lets you choose a different default preset for a project, an agent profile, or their combination. These scopes store only the preset choice; editing a preset updates every scope that uses it.

How Presets Fit With Other Controls

Control What it changes
Model Preset Which main, utility, and embedding models power the chat.
Agent Profile The agent's role, tone, and prompt behavior.
Project Workspace, files, memory, secrets, and project instructions.
Skill A specific procedure added to prompt protocol.

For example, you can use the same "Researcher" Agent Profile with a cheaper preset for simple questions and a stronger preset for difficult investigations.