# Factory Droid: what it is, how to install it, and which models it runs

> Droid is Factory AI's coding agent. How to install the Droid CLI, the built-in and custom droids, droid exec, which models it runs, and how it's billed.

- Tools: Factory
- Author: [Ipseeta Priyadarshini](https://buildful.ai/authors/ipseeta)
- Published: 2026-10-26
- Sources:
  - https://docs.factory.com/droid-cli/overview
  - https://docs.factory.com/harness/subagents
  - https://docs.factory.com/droid-cli/quickstart
  - https://docs.factory.com/autonomy-and-safety/auto-run
  - https://docs.factory.com/droid-exec/overview
  - https://docs.factory.com/models
  - https://docs.factory.com/model-independence/factory-router
  - https://docs.factory.com/model-independence/byok
  - https://docs.factory.com/ide-integrations
  - https://docs.factory.com/droid-computers/overview

---

Droid is Factory AI's coding agent, and you install its CLI with one command: `curl -fsSL https://app.factory.ai/cli | sh` on macOS or Linux. Then you run `droid` in a project. It reads your code, plans, edits and runs tests, asking for approval based on the autonomy level you set, on Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok or open-weight models.

## What is a Factory Droid?

A Droid is Factory's AI agent for software work. The same agent runs in the Factory App, the terminal, your editor, Slack and Linear, and Factory's [CLI docs](https://docs.factory.com/droid-cli/overview) say it plans, implements, tests and reviews changes while approval steps keep you in control. "Droid" is the product's name for the agent itself. Factory is the company, and [What is Factory AI?](https://buildful.ai/knowledge-base/what-is-factory-ai) covers the company, its plans and its customers.

## What kinds of Droids does Factory have?

Factory has one main agent, and you shape it into different kinds of droids depending on where and how it runs. These are the ones its docs describe:

| Droid | What it does |
|---|---|
| Droid in the App or CLI | The main agent, working with you in one session in the Factory App or the `droid` terminal UI |
| `worker` | A built-in subagent with all tools, for multi-step tasks that edit files and run commands |
| `explorer` | A built-in read-only subagent for fast searches and questions about the codebase |
| Custom droids | Subagents you define in Markdown, each with its own system prompt, model and tool policy |
| Droid Exec | A headless, one-shot run for scripts, scheduled jobs and CI pipelines |
| Missions | An orchestrator that plans a large project, then hands features to worker and validator droids |
| Delegations | Work you assign by mentioning `@Factory` in Slack or Microsoft Teams, or from a Linear or Jira issue |

[Custom droids](https://docs.factory.com/harness/subagents) are the kind you build yourself, and each one is a `.md` file. Project droids live in `.factory/droids/` in your repo and are shared with your team. Personal droids live in `~/.factory/droids/` and follow you between projects. You create one with the `/droids` command, and the main agent hands it a task, such as a code review or a security sweep, in a fresh context window. A subagent can't ask you questions or start its own subagents. It reports back to the main agent instead.

## How do you install the Factory Droid CLI?

You install the Droid CLI with one command for your system. These are the commands from Factory's [CLI quickstart](https://docs.factory.com/droid-cli/quickstart):

```bash
# macOS or Linux
curl -fsSL https://app.factory.ai/cli | sh

# Homebrew
brew install --cask droid

# Windows (PowerShell)
irm https://app.factory.ai/cli/windows | iex

# npm
npm install -g droid
```

On Linux, the quickstart says to install `xdg-utils` as well (`sudo apt-get install xdg-utils`). Then go to your project and start it:

```bash
cd /path/to/your/project
droid
```

The first time, Droid may ask you to sign in through your browser to connect it to your Factory account.

## How do you use Droid?

You type a task, and Droid inspects the code, proposes a plan when the task needs one, shows you the diff, and waits for approval before it edits. Factory's quickstart suggests starting with a question like "analyze this codebase and explain the overall architecture" before you ask for a change.

A few slash commands do most of the work:

| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
| `/model` | Switches the model in the middle of a session |
| `/droids` | Creates and manages custom droids |
| `/missions` | Starts a Mission for a large, multi-feature project |
| `/review` | Starts a code review of your changes |
| `/mcp` | Manages MCP servers that give Droid extra tools |
| `/limits` | Shows your usage and turns on Droid Core or Extra Usage |

How much Droid does without asking depends on its [autonomy level](https://docs.factory.com/autonomy-and-safety/auto-run). At Off, it runs only read tools on its own. Low lets it edit files and run low-risk commands. Medium adds reversible steps such as `npm install` and `git commit`. High lets it run high-risk actions like migrations or `git push`, unless a safety check stops it.

For automation, [Droid Exec](https://docs.factory.com/droid-exec/overview) runs a single task and exits. It's read-only by default, and the `--auto` flag lets it make changes:

```bash
droid exec "analyze code quality"
droid exec --auto low "add JSDoc comments to all exported functions"
droid exec --auto medium "install deps, run tests, and fix failing checks"
```

## Which models can Factory Droid use?

Droid can use models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and xAI, plus Factory's own pool of open-weight models, called Droid Core. Each model on Factory's [models page](https://docs.factory.com/models) has a multiplier that sets how fast it uses your plan's limits:

| Provider | Examples, with multipliers |
|---|---|
| Anthropic | Claude Fable 5.1 (4×), Claude Opus 5.5 (1.6×), Claude Sonnet 5.5 (0.8×), Claude Haiku 5.5 (0.04×) |
| OpenAI | GPT-6 Astra (4×), GPT-6.1 Sol (0.8×), GPT-6 Luna (0.04×) |
| Google | Gemini 3.1 Pro (0.8×), Gemini 3.8 Flash (0.3×) |
| xAI | Grok 4.7 (0.8×) |
| Droid Core | Kimi K3 (1.2×), Qwen3.8 Max (0.8×), GLM-5.3 (0.56×), DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (0.12×), MiniMax M3.1 Flash (0.06×) |

You don't have to pick. [Factory Router](https://docs.factory.com/model-independence/factory-router), which some screens call Auto Model, chooses a model for each task, and Factory says it routes per task with both session-level and per-request decisions. You can also bring your own keys, open-weight models from other hosts, or a local model through [Custom Models](https://docs.factory.com/model-independence/byok). In Droid Exec, the `--model` flag takes any model ID from the list.

## Where else does Droid run?

Droid isn't only a terminal tool. Factory's [IDE docs](https://docs.factory.com/ide-integrations) list an extension for VS Code, Cursor and Windsurf, plus integrations for JetBrains IDEs and Zed, and any other editor can run `droid` in its terminal. The Factory App runs the same agent on Mac and Windows, and [Droid Computers](https://docs.factory.com/droid-computers/overview) are cloud machines Factory hosts, which keep their files and installed packages between sessions.

## How is Factory Droid billed?

Droid comes with every Factory plan, from Pro at $20 a month up to Enterprise. On the individual plans and Teams, what it uses counts against rolling 5-hour, 7-day and 30-day limits, and the model's multiplier sets how fast. When you run out on an individual plan, you can switch to Droid Core, which has its own limits, or buy Extra Usage from $10. [Factory pricing](https://buildful.ai/knowledge-base/factory-pricing) has every plan and how the limits work.

## Where Buildful fits

Droid is built to work beside you: in your terminal or editor, asking for approval as it goes, with cloud machines when you want them. Buildful is a [background coding agent](https://buildful.ai/background-coding-agent) that only runs in the cloud. You describe a task in the browser, Slack or Linear, like a new feature or a bug fix, and Buildful works in a private sandbox, runs your checks, tests UI changes in a real browser, and opens a pull request on your GitHub repo for you to review.

Buildful Pro is [$10 a month for 1,000 tasks](https://buildful.ai/pricing), or ₹750 in India, and Team is $40 a month for 3,000 tasks shared by unlimited members (₹3,500 in India). Smart Mode picks the right open-weight model for each task, and on Pro and Team you can pick a frontier model like Claude or GPT yourself, with prepaid credit or your own API key.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Factory Droid free?

Factory's pricing page doesn't list a free plan. Its plans start with Pro at $20 a month, and every plan includes all of Factory's products, including the CLI and the IDE integrations.

### How do I install Factory Droid on Windows?

Run `irm https://app.factory.ai/cli/windows | iex` in PowerShell, or install it with `npm install -g droid`. Then run `droid` in your project folder and sign in through your browser.

### What are custom droids in Factory?

Custom droids are subagents you define in a Markdown file, each with its own system prompt, model and tool policy. Droid hands them focused tasks, like a code review, in a fresh context window. You create them with the `/droids` command.

### Can Factory Droid run in CI?

Yes. `droid exec` runs a single task without the interactive interface and exits, so it works in CI pipelines and shell scripts. It's read-only unless you pass `--auto low`, `medium` or `high`.

### Does Factory Droid work in VS Code?

Yes. Run `droid` in VS Code's terminal and it can install the Factory extension for you, which shares your open files, selection and diagnostics with Droid. The same extension works in Cursor and Windsurf.

### Can I use my own API key with Droid?

Yes. Factory supports bring-your-own-key models, including other providers and local models. Factory's pricing page says individual plans include an allowance of free BYOK usage, and past it, usage is charged according to your plan.

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Source: https://buildful.ai/knowledge-base/factory-droid