Models and engines
Which models Machine Code can use, who pays for each, the engine setting, your own Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor plan, comparing models, and the Usage view.
The model picker
Click the model button in the message box. The picker shows every model you can use in one list, a section per provider, grouped by model family. Each section has a tag that tells you who pays:
| Tag | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Machine credits | Your Machine balance, the same as in the rest of Machine. This covers Machine's own models and any provider you connected to your Machine project. |
| Bills your Claude plan | Your own Claude subscription, through Claude Code on this computer. |
| Bills your ChatGPT plan | Your own ChatGPT subscription. |
| Bills your Cursor plan | Your own Cursor subscription, through Cursor Agent on this computer. |
Machine models show the right context size from the first message.
Change the model in a running chat
In a chat that's already going, the picker lists the chat's own provider first. Pick another model there and it switches in place.
Other providers are listed too, marked Continues in a new chat with this conversation. Pick one and Machine Code starts a new chat on that provider, carrying the conversation so far, and puts it in the old chat's tab.
Engine
Machine models run inside an agent program called the engine. In the picker they're all under one entry, Machine.
To choose the engine, open Settings › Providers, expand Advanced, and set Engine:
| Engine | Notes |
|---|---|
| Claude Code | The default. |
| OpenCode | An open-source agent. |
| Codex | Shown only when Machine offers it for your account. |
The engine applies to new agents. Agents you already started keep their engine. Engines ship inside Machine Code, so there's nothing extra to install.
Your plans on this PC
If you pay for Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor yourself, Machine Code can use that plan on this computer. It uses your own Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor login on this computer and bills your plan, not Machine credits.
Open Settings › Providers and find Your plans on this PC. Each plan starts Off. Turn on the switch on its row; if you aren't signed in to that plan on this computer yet, a sign-in button appears under it:
| Row | Sign in with |
|---|---|
| Your Claude plan · Claude Code | Sign in to Claude |
| Your ChatGPT plan · Codex | Sign in with ChatGPT |
| Your Cursor plan · Cursor Agent | Sign in to Cursor |
Sign-in happens in the vendor's own login flow. Machine Code never sees your password. Once you're signed in, the plan's models appear in the picker with a Bills your … plan tag.
These agents still get your Machine connectors and web search. They just don't spend Machine credits.
Claude and Cursor plans you connected on the Machine web app
A Claude or Cursor subscription you connected to your Machine project runs in Machine Cloud, not on your computer. To use it from Machine Code, start the task with Run on › Machine Cloud. To use your plan locally, sign in under Your plans on this PC instead.
Compare models
Not sure which model will do best? Send the same task to several at once.
- On the New task screen, click Compare models.
- Tick 2 to 4 models, or click Use suggested for a set of flagships. Click Done.
- Send your task.
Each model works on its own copy of the code, in its own worktree. Read the results side by side and keep the one you like. Click Stop comparing to go back to a single model.
Usage
Click Usage at the bottom of the sidebar (or open Settings › Usage) to see what you've used:
| Section | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Machine | Your wallet balance as one bar: monthly credits left plus top-ups left. What you spent this billing period, split into compute and LLM, your plan, and the renewal date. |
| Connected to Machine | The ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and own-key connections on your Machine project, with their status. |
| Your plans on this PC | The plans you signed in to on this computer. Cursor shows Cursor's own meters and your on-demand limit. |
Click Refresh all to update everything. Summary in sidebar pins chosen meters to the sidebar footer.