How you choose a model depends on which experience you are using:
Agentic Chat (default at venice.ai/chat/agent)
By default, you do not need to pick a model yourself. Agentic Chat can route each request to a suitable model for the task, including multi-step work and tool use.
You can also select a specific model if you want. That model acts as a composer: it helps plan the work, decide when to call agents or tools, and steer the overall response. Click the current model name in the prompt bar to open the model selector and choose one.
Classic Chat (venice.ai/chat/classic)
Use Classic Chat when you want to choose the model yourself for each reply:
Click the current model name in the prompt bar to open the model selector.
Browse the list, use search, or use the filter icon.
Open a model’s details in the selector to compare capabilities, privacy level, and context size before you choose.
Click the model you want. You can switch again at any time in the same conversation without starting over.
In the selector, models are labeled Free, Pro, or Pay Per Use. Pay Per Use models show a green coin icon and spend credits. Models without the green coin use your Free or paid-plan allotments instead. Current models and details are listed at venice.ai/models and in the API model overview.
Text vs image and video
Classic Chat is where you manually select text and chat models. For dedicated image and video generation workflows, open Studio from the left sidebar on Venice. You can still attach files or use image tools from chat when that workflow fits; Studio is the focused place for generation and editing tools.