# The five modes and what each one can do

> Ask, Plan, Agent, Drawings and Debug. Which modes can modify the open document, which are read-only, and what unlocks each one.

URL: https://cadabrai.com/docs/modes/all-modes/
Updated: 2026-08-15

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- [Getting started](https://cadabrai.com/docs/getting-started/) [Install](https://cadabrai.com/docs/getting-started/install/)
- [Your First Prompt](https://cadabrai.com/docs/getting-started/first-prompt/)
- [How It Works](https://cadabrai.com/docs/getting-started/how-it-works/)

- [All Five Modes](https://cadabrai.com/docs/modes/all-modes/)
- [Agent Mode](https://cadabrai.com/docs/modes/agent-mode/)
- [Ask Mode](https://cadabrai.com/docs/modes/ask-mode/)
- [Drawings Mode](https://cadabrai.com/docs/modes/drawings-mode/)

- [Writing Prompts](https://cadabrai.com/docs/prompts/writing-prompts/)
- [Prompt Library](https://cadabrai.com/docs/prompts/prompt-library/)

- [Drawing Standards](https://cadabrai.com/docs/standards/drawing-standards/)
- [Components and Fasteners](https://cadabrai.com/docs/standards/libraries-and-plm/)

- [Plans and Limits](https://cadabrai.com/docs/account/plans-and-limits/)
- [Preferences](https://cadabrai.com/docs/account/preferences/)
- [Billing](https://cadabrai.com/docs/account/billing/)

- [Data Handling](https://cadabrai.com/docs/security/data-handling/)

- [CADABRA Issues](https://cadabrai.com/docs/troubleshooting/cadabra-issues/)
- [SOLIDWORKS Errors](https://cadabrai.com/docs/troubleshooting/solidworks-errors/)

# The five modes

The mode you are in is the safety boundary. Two modes can change your model. Three cannot.

## The five modes

| Mode | Changes your model | What it is for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ask | No | Questions about the open model, plus live web search. Available on every plan. |
| Plan | No | Drafts a step-by-step build plan for a change without performing any of it. |
| Agent | Yes | Performs the change as native SOLIDWORKS feature operations. |
| Drawings | Yes | Produces drawings from a part or assembly on your configured standard. |
| Debug | No | Diagnoses rebuild errors, bad sketches and failed features. |

## What unlocks each mode

Ask is the only mode on Free. Plan, Agent and Debug need any paid plan, so four of the five modes are locked on Free.

Drawings is separate again: it is on for Enterprise, and off by default elsewhere. If you are on a paid plan and Drawings is not selectable, that is why. [Plans and limits](https://cadabrai.com/docs/account/plans-and-limits/) covers which plan carries which.

## Why this is a mode rather than a setting

A read-only mode cannot modify your document at all, not even if you ask it to.

Ask, Plan and Debug can therefore run against a released part or a file checked out by someone else.

On this page

- [The five modes](#modes)
- [What unlocks each mode](#entitlements)
- [Why this is a mode rather than a setting](#why-modes)