How to use InterviewChamp in your browser during a live interview (full walkthrough)
Video · 2:44 · 8 chapters
In /interview, open Settings (gear icon) in the top bar: AI model shows the current model and the others you can pick. In the video: . Eight models, split into free and Pro tiers.
Free tier (2 models)
| Model | Label in the picker | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | Fastest | The default. Smart enough for most behavioral + light-technical questions |
| GPT-5.4 Mini | Fastest | A different "voice" than Claude, useful for variety |
Both free models handle: behavioral STAR answers, "tell me about yourself," resume-grounded responses, basic system design verbal walkthroughs.
Pro tier (6 models) — Pro / Pro+ / Lifetime only
| Model | Label in the picker | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Sonnet 5 | Accurate | Best balance of accuracy + speed |
| Claude Opus 5 | Most Precise | The hardest rounds: FAANG / quant / hard system design |
| Claude Fable 5.1 | Deep Thinking, Slower | Claude's newest model. Thinks before it answers, so it starts in about 2-4 seconds |
| GPT-5.4 | Fast | The default for paid plans: the fastest Pro model |
| GPT-6 Astra | Precise | OpenAI's newest model, for a non-Claude voice |
| GPT-6 Sol | Fast | OpenAI's newest fast model. Starts answering in about 1 second |
How to pick
Default rule of thumb:
- Free tier, want fastest → Claude Haiku 4.5
- Free tier, want a non-Claude voice → GPT-5.4 Mini
- Paid, want default → GPT-5.4 (the fastest; paid plans start on it)
- Paid, want the best balance of accuracy + speed → Claude Sonnet 5
- Paid, hardest question of the round → Claude Opus 5
Pro models auto-downgrade for free users
If you're on free tier and the dropdown shows a Pro model (e.g., Sonnet) — that's a stale selection. The system silently falls back to your tier's free default (Claude Haiku 4.5) before sending the request. No error, no broken session, just quieter quality. Upgrade to unlock the actual pick.
Pro+ exclusive: "Always Pro" guarantee
On Pro+, the model you pick is the model you get, even at the busiest times. When the AI services are overloaded, other plans can be moved to a faster model for a moment; Pro+ is never moved: "your model never auto-downgrades when it matters most".
Switching mid-session
Yes — switch any time. The next AI answer uses the new model. Already-streamed answers don't change. There's no penalty.
Why only Claude and GPT models
Since 2026-08-31 the picker shows only Anthropic (Claude) and OpenAI (GPT) models. Fewer providers = fewer 5xx modes, fewer "which one is down?" support tickets. Claude comes first: it's our primary provider.
Still stuck?
Help & how-tos → Contact us with category "How do I…?" if a model selection isn't behaving as expected.
Still stuck?
Sign in and message the founder directly from the Help & how-tos tab. Every reply comes from a real person, usually within a few hours.
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