> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://julius.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Model Cost Indicators

> Learn what the dollar signs next to each model in the model selector mean, and how to use them to manage your credit usage.

## Overview

When you open the model selector in Julius, you'll notice a set of dollar signs (\$, \$\$, \$\$\$, \$\$\$\$) beside each model. These are **cost indicators** — they show how quickly that model consumes your credits relative to the other options.

The more dollar signs a model has, the more credits it uses per action. Model choice is one of the biggest drivers of credit consumption, alongside task complexity, so picking the right tier is the easiest way to control your usage.

## Cost tiers

| Indicator | Tier     | Credit usage | Example models                         | Best for                                                        |
| --------- | -------- | ------------ | -------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| \$        | Light    | Lowest       | Julius 1.2 Lite, Claude Sonnet 5       | Quick questions, simple charts, routine tasks, high-volume work |
| \$\$      | Standard | Moderate     | Mid-tier general-purpose models        | Everyday analysis and reporting                                 |
| \$\$\$    | Advanced | High         | Capable reasoning models               | Multi-step analysis, larger datasets                            |
| \$\$\$\$  | Frontier | Highest      | Julius 1.2 Max, Claude Opus 5, GPT-5.6 | Complex, multi-step tasks where accuracy matters most           |

<Note>
  Example models are illustrative. Check the model selector in the app for the current lineup and each model's exact indicator.
</Note>

## Why model choice matters

Every action in Julius costs credits, and the total depends on three things:

* **Action type** — a simple message costs less than a full analysis or code execution
* **AI model** — more capable models use more credits (this is what the \$ symbols reflect)
* **Complexity** — longer outputs, bigger datasets, and multi-step tasks add up faster

Lighter models like Julius 1.2 Lite and Claude Sonnet 5 consume credits far more slowly than frontier models like Julius 1.2 Max, Claude Opus 5, and GPT-5.6. If you run a simple task on a \$\$\$\$ model, you'll get a similar answer to a \$ model — but spend significantly more credits for it.

## How to stretch your credits further

* **Default to a \$ or \$\$ model** for day-to-day work — quick questions, summaries, simple visualizations
* **Reserve \$\$\$\$ models for genuinely hard tasks** — complex modeling, multi-step analysis, or when a lighter model is struggling
* **Switch mid-conversation** — you can change models at any time, so start light and only escalate if the results aren't good enough
* **Watch your usage** — track your credit balance and per-action consumption in real time on the [Usage page](https://julius.ai/settings/usage)

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Do the dollar signs refer to real dollar amounts?">
    No. They're a relative indicator of credit consumption, not a direct dollar price. The actual credit cost of an action also depends on what you're doing and how complex the task is.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does a higher-cost model always give a better answer?">
    Not always. For simple tasks, light and frontier models often produce comparable results. Frontier models earn their cost on complex, multi-step, or high-stakes work.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I change models partway through a chat?">
    Yes — use the model selector at any point. A common pattern is to do exploratory work on a \$ model, then switch to a \$\$\$\$ model for the final, hardest step.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related

* [Understanding credits](/docs/billing/credits-overview) — how credits work and how many come with each plan
* [Model Selector](/docs/get-started/model-selector) — choosing a model and when to use each option
* [Reasoning](/docs/reasoning) — add extended thinking to complex tasks