# Generation models & creativity (https://docs.fuser.studio/docs/apps/models)

Every app is built by a model, and you choose which one. The model chip sits in
the composer next to the **+** button. Click it to open the picker.

![The model picker showing Free, Efficient, Balanced, and Best](/app-node-model-picker.png)

Each option carries three ratings — **Value**, **Speed**, and **Quality** — so
you can weigh the trade-off at a glance. Your choice is remembered per app.

## The models [#the-models]

| Model         | Best for                   | Notes                                                          |
| ------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Free**      | Everyday builds            | The default, and the quality baseline. **No credits.**    |
| **Efficient** | Faster iteration           | Free's quality, but quicker — **spends credits** for speed.    |
| **Balanced**  | Higher-quality work        | A genuine step up in quality. Spends credits.                  |
| **Best**      | Your most ambitious builds | Highest quality, for complex or polished apps. Spends credits. |

Start on **Free** — it's the quality baseline and costs nothing. **Efficient**
doesn't build *better* than Free; it builds *faster*, trading credits for speed.
When you need higher quality — the logic is off, or the result isn't polished
enough — step up to **Balanced** or **Best**, then drop back down for routine
tweaks.

> [!NOTE] The model behind each name
>
> The names describe the trade-off, not the vendor. Fuser maps each tier to a capable underlying model and may update that mapping over time — so you always get a strong model for the job without tracking vendors or versions yourself.

## Creativity [#creativity]

Below the model, a **Creativity** slider controls how adventurous the agent is.
Lower values keep it precise and predictable; higher values invite more
invention and surprise. For functional tools, keep it low. For expressive,
visual, or playful apps, nudge it up.

Some reasoning-focused models run at a fixed setting — when that's the case, the
slider is disabled.

## When a model is unavailable [#when-a-model-is-unavailable]

If the model you picked is temporarily down or rate-limited, Fuser tells you it
couldn't be reached. Try again in a moment, or switch to another model and
continue — your app and history are untouched.

## What's next [#whats-next]

  - [Building with the agent](https://docs.fuser.studio/docs/apps/building.md): Prompts, crafting, generation activity, and error fixes.

  - [Publishing & versions](https://docs.fuser.studio/docs/apps/publishing.md): What it costs to publish, and the plan limits on published apps.