Modes & Models

Two dials shape how Zinley answers: the mode (what kind of work this is) and the model (how much horsepower it gets). Most of the time you can leave both on Auto.

Modes

A mode tells Zinley what shape the job is — a quick lookup, a deep research dive, a spreadsheet. It changes how long Zinley works, which tools it reaches for, and what the answer looks like when it lands.

Mode Use it for
Auto Everything, unless you know better. Zinley reads your message and picks the mode itself.
Quick Search A fast factual answer from the web — dates, prices, "is this still true?"
Research A thorough dive across many sources, ending in a written brief with sources.
Analysis Reasoning over material you've given it — documents, numbers, options, trade-offs.
Deep work Long multi-step jobs that need planning and several passes to finish.
Documents Drafting and editing long-form writing — reports, proposals, letters.
Sheets Building and reworking spreadsheets and tabular data.
Design Visual work — layouts, mockups, and image-led output.

Auto mode

Auto is the default and it's the right answer most of the time. Zinley reads what you asked for and routes it — a one-line question doesn't get the deep-research treatment, and a "look into this properly" doesn't get a two-sentence reply.

Reach for a specific mode when you want to override that judgement: force a deep dive on something that looks simple, or force a quick answer on something that looks big.

Models

The selector at the bottom-left of the message box controls which models do the work.

The Auto Max selector: a Boss model that auto-routes, plus a team of worker models that run in parallel.
Zinley works as a team — a "boss" model routes the work and workers run in parallel.

Zinley doesn't run on a single model. A boss model reads the task and directs it, doing the high-value thinking itself and delegating the rest to a team of workers that runs in parallel — mostly on cheaper models, escalating to a premium one only when the task actually needs it.

What each plan unlocks

Plan Model picker
Free No picker — everything runs on Auto. Zinley chooses for you, every time.
Plus Picker unlocked, plus premium models.
Pro Adds more advanced models on top of the Plus set.
Max Everything — the full lineup, no model held back.

Being on Free doesn't mean weaker answers for everyday work — Auto still routes each task to a capable model. What you're unlocking with a paid plan is the ability to insist on a particular one.

Models cost different amounts

Every model carries a credit weight, and your message is charged accordingly:

Weight Meaning
0.5× Light and fast — costs half a normal message
1× Standard rate
2× Premium reasoning — costs double
The Remaining credits popover showing Daily, Monthly, and Wallet balances.
Remaining credits — daily, monthly, and wallet balances at a glance.

So a long conversation on a 2× model burns through credits four times faster than the same conversation on a 0.5× one. If you're watching your balance, leaving it on Auto is the cheapest sensible default — it only spends the expensive models where they earn it.

Speed & intelligence upgrades

Beyond the picker, some plans offer optional premium upgrades to how Zinley runs:

The Performance page: Priority processing, an experimental deep-work model, and the Boss model chooser.
Speed & Intelligence — optional premium upgrades for faster, deeper responses.
  • Priority processing — routes supported requests through a faster lane, so replies feel snappier on busy, multi-step tasks. You're only charged the premium when priority is actually delivered — never for standard responses.
  • Boss model — choose how smart the model that plans and directs the work is. The standard boss is included with every paid plan; deepest-reasoning bosses cost more per request but plan harder problems better.
  • Experimental deep-work models — opt in to a newer model for deep work. If it errors, your task falls back to a proven model automatically, so the work always finishes.

Turning any of these on only changes how the work is done — the team of models still runs as usual underneath.

Which should I change?

  • Answer feels too shallow? Switch the mode to Research or Deep work — that matters more than the model.
  • Burning credits too fast? Go back to Auto and let Zinley route.
  • Hard reasoning problem? A premium model or a deeper boss is worth it here.
  • Just need a fact? Quick Search on Auto is the cheapest, fastest path.

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