Agent mode needs BYOK/provider parity with Chat mode.

Type: Feature Request

Agent mode needs BYOK/provider parity with Chat mode.
Right now Agent is much less usable for cost-sensitive workflows because only higher-cost model paths are available.
Request: allow BYOK/custom providers in Agent mode, with per-task model routing and budget controls (token/cost caps).
Why it matters: current token-value is too low vs alternatives, so Agent adoption is blocked by cost.

VS Code version: Code 1.130.0 (1b6a188127eeaf9194f945eb6eb89a657e93c54c, 2026-07-22T14:55:04Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.22631
Modes: Restricted

System Info

|Item|Value|
|---|---|
|CPUs|12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12650H (16 x 2688)|
|GPU Status|2d_canvas: enabled
GPU0: VENDOR= 0x10de, DEVICE=0x28a1 [NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU], DRIVER_VENDOR=NVIDIA, DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.15.9579 *ACTIVE*
GPU1: VENDOR= 0x8086, DEVICE=0x46a3 [Intel(R) UHD Graphics], DRIVER_VERSION=31.0.101.5592
GPU2: VENDOR= 0x1414, DEVICE=0x008c [Microsoft Basic Render Driver], DRIVER_VERSION=10.0.22621.5415
Machine model name:
Machine model version:
direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok
gpu_compositing: enabled
multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on
opengl: enabled_on
rasterization: enabled
raw_draw: disabled_off_ok
skia_graphite: disabled_off
trees_in_viz: disabled_off
video_decode: enabled
video_encode: enabled
webgl: enabled
webgpu: enabled
webnn: disabled_off|
|Load (avg)|undefined|
|Memory (System)|15.71GB (5.59GB free)|
|Process Argv|--crash-reporter-id d0941617-75f0-4097-9b10-a6cf44563e10|
|Screen Reader|no|
|VM|0%|
Extensions (10)

Name|Identifier|Author|Version
---|---|---|---
Godot Files|alfish.godot-files|alfish|0.1.9
Prettier - Code formatter|esbenp.prettier-vscode|esbenp|12.4.0
C# Dev Kit|ms-dotnettools.csdevkit|ms-dotnettools|3.20.199
C#|ms-dotnettools.csharp|ms-dotnettools|2.140.9
.NET Install Tool|ms-dotnettools.vscode-dotnet-runtime|ms-dotnettools|3.1.0
Pylance|ms-python.vscode-pylance|ms-python|2026.3.1
Jupyter|ms-toolsai.jupyter|ms-toolsai|2025.9.1
Jupyter Keymap|ms-toolsai.jupyter-keymap|ms-toolsai|1.1.2
XML|redhat.vscode-xml|redhat|0.29.3
IntelliCode|visualstudioexptteam.vscodeintellicode|VisualStudioExptTeam|1.3.2

A/B Experiments

```
vsliv368cf:30146710
binariesv615:30325510
nativeloc1:31344060
dwcopilot:31170013
dwoutputs:31242946
copilot_t_ci:31333650
e5gg6876:31282496
pythonrdcb7:31342333
6518g693:31463988
aj953862:31281341
envsactivate1:31551504
cloudbuttont:31379625
3efgi100_wstrepl:31403338
ec5jj548:31422691
cp_cls_t_966_ss:31526232
4je02754:31466945
c3h7c220:31478652
ge8j1254_inline_auto_hint_haiku:31490510
cp_cls_c_1081:31454833
conptydll_true:31498968
e9c30283:31461165
test_treatment2:31471001
46204921:31447328
idci7584:31464702
e3e4d672:31494082
ei9d7968:31496641
chat:31457767
7e187181:31503455
ghj88844:31499326
ec1eg703:31520046
ddid_t:31478206
hmra_i5g22:31518061
7df3h592:31512476
cp_cls_t_1082:31535311
logging_enabled_new:31498466
db5d2638:31499441
jb_cp_cls_t_632:31543129
56dj4588:31512888
32d76977:31512328
ha629193:31508444
cdk-lw-on:31524445
f9bf7985:31543584
jh5f2457_c:31540921
hgf2d445:31529595
8hfba999:31537718
jbcp_cls_pctr_t:31531130
61138546:31518536
cp_intellij_t_nes:31548657
gf14b233:31526830
8hjh2968:31555644
h561g132:31533256
sessions_5:31532894
chatquotatrajectorynudge-enabled:31548767
ihg5j128:31534457
f412h606:31551416
7g2b5551:31542111
5fe6f778:31554331
allow-none:31555437
fd5dc207:31551400
0dg73464:31554319
d4c76da2:31554780
treatment-23-1:31555779
unuse_dynamic_mcp:31555281

```