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You start Navin on Free: free models, no credit card, yet chat returns "model is busy", a 429, or stays quiet for a long time. On Flash or Plus, the same kind of task succeeds. This is usually not an IDE defect: Free and managed plans use different quotas.

Three paths, three limits

Free unlocks the full IDE and a guided path to free models. It does not turn those models into unlimited capacity: the provider still owns the queues. Offer overview: Navin free, no card.

Why Free can fail while Flash works

Common Free symptoms:

• busy or rate limited messages;
• HTTP 429 responses;
• recovery only after a long wait;
• switching free models without lasting progress.

On Flash or Plus, the active key is not your saturated Free key. It is a managed key and budget. The same model family in the UI does not mean the same provider queue.

Practical result: Free can be unavailable while the subscription gauge still shows comfortable headroom. That gauge measures plan budget spend, not Free request volume.

Why an agent saturates Free faster than a short chat

An agent request carries more than your sentence:

• instructions and tools;
• history;
• shell command outputs.

Free quotas are often expressed as requests per window, not "user sentences". An agent chaining file reads and exec burns that window quickly. Compacting shell output and cutting useless turns with Plan / Mission help Free last longer.

What the usage percentage measures

On managed plans, the percentage usually tracks model-budget consumption. It is neither a Free request counter nor a single token total across all providers.

On Free, check your provider dashboard (usage and rate limits), then in Navin Settings → Providers and Settings → Models to confirm the active key and model. If Free is saturated: switch free model, wait for the window, or move to BYOK / a managed plan.

Which key is active?

1. Open Settings → Providers.
2. Check the provider and the model selected in chat.
3. On Free, the key should be the one created by guided connect (your account).
4. On Flash or Plus, the managed key for the subscribed account is distinct from personal Free.

If several installs coexist (desktop app, system package, development environment), each may read a different local config. If reconnect loops appear, confirm the OAuth callback reaches the instance you are using.

Choosing Free, BYOK, or a plan

Free fits discovery, short sessions, and usage that can wait at peak hours.

BYOK fits if you already have provider credits and want public pricing with no markup.

Flash / Plus fit multi-hour daily agent work, recurring Free 429s, or a need for a predictable budget. See pricing.

Lasting longer on Free

• Scope tasks instead of endless unplanned exploration.
• Use Plan / Mission to cut useless turns.
• Let output compaction shrink tool results.
• Keep two backup free models in Settings → Models.
• Avoid immediately retrying a limited session: wait for the window to reset.

Prompt caching mainly reduces cost when you pay; it does not cancel a Free rate limit.

FAQ

Is Free really free?

Yes for Navin (no card) and for free models on the Free path. Limits are provider quotas, not a hidden Navin invoice.

Why does Flash work and Free fail on the same machine?

Different keys and quotas. Flash does not use your saturated Free quota.

Does my remaining subscription percentage apply to Free?

No. It reflects the managed plan budget.

Can I combine Free and BYOK?

Yes. Free to start, BYOK for power, subscription when daily pace justifies it.

Where do I see 429 errors?

In Navin chat and on your provider dashboard. Exact wording depends on model and window.

Next steps

1. Download Navin and start Free to evaluate.
2. If saturated: switch model, wait, or connect BYOK.
3. For sustained daily use, compare Flash and Plus.

Download Navin · Pricing · Free, no card