Cursor Router
Cursor Router is the intelligent routing behind Auto. It sends each request to a model that fits the task, with Cost, Balance, and Intelligence modes.
What is Cursor Router and how is it different from the previous Auto mode?
Cursor Router is the relaunched Auto mode. A machine-learning classifier routes each Auto request across a pool of models instead of you picking one yourself.
Instead of choosing a specific model, you select Auto. The router analyzes each request and sends it to the model that delivers comparable results at lower cost for that task.
Compared with the previous Auto mode:
- Legacy Auto is now called Cost in the Auto selection menu
- Balance is the default mode for new users
- All Auto modes bill at the routed model's list price
See available models for the current routing pool.
How does Cursor Router decide which model to use for my request?
An ML classifier runs on each agent request and routes by task type and complexity. Simple requests go to fast, cost-efficient models. Complex work goes to frontier models.
The goal is to pick the cheapest model that still produces comparable results for that request. Routing is data-driven and not configurable per request. You steer outcomes by choosing an optimization mode: Cost, Balance, or Intelligence.
If a model is blocked on your team, the router skips it and falls back to an allowlisted alternative. Blocking required models can disable the router entirely. See available models for details.
What are the Cost, Balance, and Intelligence optimization modes and how do I switch between them?
Open the model picker, select Auto, then choose an optimization mode:
- Cost: Optimizes token spend.
- Balance: The default mode for new users. Aims for strong results while controlling cost across the model pool.
- Intelligence: Routes to more capable models. Recommended for complex, multi-step work. Delivers about 20 to 30% higher quality by picking among first-party models in the pool.
Team admins can limit which modes members see and set the team default. See manage your team for admin controls.
Can I use Cursor Router from the SDK?
Yes. In the TypeScript SDK and Python SDK, Router is model id auto-smart with parameter optimize_for set to cost, balanced, or intelligence. Call Cursor.models.list() first to confirm Router is available for the API key's team.