Frugal routes Claude Code tasks to the cheapest model that can handle them
StolenDrinks · reddit · 2026-07-22
Frugal is a Claude Code plugin that routes sub-tasks to the cheapest model or even to shell tools when possible. It escalates only after real checks fail, logs local cost reports, and keeps all telemetry on-device, aiming to cut agent spend without reducing reliability.
How it works
- Uses shell tools like grep, jq, or git before calling a model when that is sufficient
- Assigns locate/extract work to Haiku, mechanical edits to Sonnet, and reserves the main model for design, debugging, and review
- Escalates based on failed tests, compiler errors, or schema checks rather than self-reported uncertainty
- Includes guardrails that count search calls and can hard-block expensive tiers, while failing open
- Produces local reports on tier mix, escalation rate, and estimated savings
Related event: Frugal Plugin Enables Cost-Aware Routing for Claude Code(2 posts)→
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