Model badges explained
Written By Paolo Rufrano
Last updated 1 day ago
Models in the picker carry small badges. They tell you what a model costs you and whether you can use it right now.
Free
The Free badge (gift icon) means the model costs nothing to run:
Free to run: messages don't use credits or count towards your usage, on any plan. Web search is still billed separately.
These are the open-weight models Percy Chat serves at no cost. They're available on every plan, including Free, and they keep working even when your credit balance is zero. That's why running out of credits is a slowdown rather than a lockout. See What happens when you run out of credits.
The one exception is web search, which is billed per search whatever model runs it. Turning it on needs credits even on a free model.
Credits
The Credits badge (coins icon) marks the most expensive models in the catalogue:
Too costly to include in a plan, so this model runs on credits: each message draws its cost from your balance. Top up to use it.
These models are not covered by any plan's monthly allowance. Instead, each message draws its actual cost from your credit balance, and that works on any plan, including Free, as long as your balance is above zero. Buy a credit pack and the frontier models open up without needing a subscription.
Pro
The Pro badge (amber padlock) means:
Included in Pro and Premium plans. Upgrade to use this model.
These models are covered by your monthly allowance on a paid plan. On the Free plan they're locked. You'll see them dimmed, and clicking does nothing. Turn on Show all models in the filters if you want to browse what a paid plan would give you.
New
The green New badge marks models added this month. It's a heads-up, not a cost signal. A New model can also be Free, Credits or Pro.
Why a model is greyed out
A dimmed, unclickable model means one of three things:
If you send a message and the model has become unavailable since you picked it, you'll see one of these:
This model is currently unavailable.
This model runs on credits. Top up to use it.
This model requires a Pro subscription. Please upgrade to access this model.