diff --git a/.github/workflows/beta.yml b/.github/workflows/beta.yml
index 22cbc30..75f3c5a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/beta.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/beta.yml
@@ -1,18 +1,22 @@
-name: Beta Prerelease
+name: Alpha/Beta Prerelease
 
 on:
   push:
     branches:
-      - 'story/**'
       - 'feature/**'
-      - 'release/**'
+      - 'beta/**'
+  pull_request:
+    types: [closed]
+    branches:
+      - 'beta/**'
+      - 'main'
 
 jobs:
-  beta:
-    if: github.event_name == 'push'
+  prerelease:
+    if: github.event_name == 'push' || (github.event_name == 'pull_request' && github.event.pull_request.merged == true)
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     permissions:
-      contents: read
+      contents: write
       id-token: write
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -29,14 +33,73 @@ jobs:
           NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NODE_AUTH_TOKEN }}
         run: npm whoami || true
       - run: npm run build --if-present
-      - name: Bump prerelease version (beta) without tagging
+
+      - name: Determine release type
+        id: release-type
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          if [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "push" && "${{ github.ref }}" == refs/heads/feature/* ]]; then
+            echo "type=alpha" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "preid=alpha" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "tag=alpha" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "Release type: ALPHA (experimental features)"
+          elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "push" && "${{ github.ref }}" == refs/heads/beta/* ]]; then
+            echo "type=beta" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "preid=beta" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "tag=beta" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "Release type: BETA (testing phase - direct push)"
+          elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request" && "${{ github.base_ref }}" == "beta" ]]; then
+            echo "type=beta" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "preid=beta" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "tag=beta" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "Release type: BETA (testing phase - PR merge)"
+          elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request" && "${{ github.base_ref }}" == "main" ]]; then
+            echo "type=stable" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "preid=" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "tag=latest" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "Release type: STABLE (production ready)"
+          else
+            echo "type=unknown" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "Unknown trigger pattern, skipping release"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+      - name: Bump prerelease version
         shell: bash
         run: |
           CURRENT=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
           echo "Current version: $CURRENT"
-          npm version prerelease --preid=beta --no-git-tag-version
-          NEW=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
-          echo "New version: $NEW"
+
+          # Get the latest alpha version from NPM
+          PKG=$(node -p "require('./package.json').name")
+          PREID="${{ steps.release-type.outputs.preid }}"
+
+          # Get the latest alpha version (only 0.x.x versions)
+          LATEST_ALPHA=$(npm view "$PKG" versions --json | jq -r ".[] | select(startswith(\"0.\") and contains(\"-$PREID.\"))" | tail -1) || echo ""
+
+          if [ -n "$LATEST_ALPHA" ]; then
+            echo "Latest alpha version: $LATEST_ALPHA"
+            # Extract the prerelease number and increment it
+            PRERELEASE_NUM=$(echo "$LATEST_ALPHA" | sed "s/.*-$PREID\.//")
+            NEW_PRERELEASE_NUM=$((PRERELEASE_NUM + 1))
+            # Extract base version (e.g., 0.1.1 from 0.1.1-alpha.1)
+            BASE_VERSION=$(echo "$LATEST_ALPHA" | sed "s/-$PREID\..*//")
+            NEW_VERSION="$BASE_VERSION-$PREID.$NEW_PRERELEASE_NUM"
+          else
+            # No alpha version exists, create first one
+            npm version patch --no-git-tag-version
+            PATCH_VERSION=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+            npm version prerelease --preid=$PREID --no-git-tag-version
+            NEW=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+            echo "Created first alpha version: $NEW"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          echo "Setting version to: $NEW_VERSION"
+          npm version "$NEW_VERSION" --no-git-tag-version
+          VERIFIED=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+          echo "Verified version: $VERIFIED"
+
       - name: Skip if version already exists
         id: exists
         shell: bash
@@ -49,9 +112,27 @@ jobs:
           else
             echo "exists=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           fi
-      - name: Publish to npm (beta tag)
+
+      - name: Publish to npm
         if: steps.exists.outputs.exists == 'false'
         env:
           NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NODE_AUTH_TOKEN }}
           NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NODE_AUTH_TOKEN }}
-        run: npm publish --tag beta --provenance --access public
+        run: npm publish --tag ${{ steps.release-type.outputs.tag }} --provenance --access public
+
+      - name: Create GitHub Release
+        if: steps.exists.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          PKG=$(node -p "require('./package.json').name")
+          VER=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+          TAG="v$VER"
+          TYPE="${{ steps.release-type.outputs.type }}"
+          TYPE_UPPER=$(echo "$TYPE" | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]')
+
+          # Create GitHub release
+          gh release create "$TAG" \
+            --title "$TAG" \
+            --notes "**${TYPE_UPPER} Release** - ${TYPE_UPPER} version $VER" \
+            --prerelease
diff --git a/.releaserc.json b/.releaserc.json
index 29a946b..3bdd97d 100644
--- a/.releaserc.json
+++ b/.releaserc.json
@@ -1,10 +1,45 @@
 {
-  "branches": ["main"],
+  "branches": [
+    "main",
+    {
+      "name": "beta",
+      "prerelease": true
+    }
+  ],
   "plugins": [
-    ["@semantic-release/commit-analyzer", { "preset": "conventionalcommits" }],
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer",
+      {
+        "preset": "conventionalcommits",
+        "releaseRules": [
+          { "type": "feat", "release": "minor" },
+          { "type": "fix", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "perf", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "revert", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "docs", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "style", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "chore", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "refactor", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "test", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "build", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "ci", "release": "patch" }
+        ]
+      }
+    ],
     ["@semantic-release/release-notes-generator", { "preset": "conventionalcommits" }],
     ["@semantic-release/changelog", { "changelogFile": "CHANGELOG.md" }],
-    "@semantic-release/npm",
-    ["@semantic-release/github", { "assets": [] }]
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/npm",
+      {
+        "npmPublish": true,
+        "tarballDir": "dist"
+      }
+    ],
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/github",
+      {
+        "assets": ["dist/*.tgz"]
+      }
+    ]
   ]
 }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6a235b0..7ea5926 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,9 +9,23 @@ You can change your model any time. In a terminal, run `openrouter models` to br
 
 ## Install
 
+### Stable Release (Recommended)
+
 - Global: `npm i -g @letuscode/openrouter-cli`
 - One‑off: `npx @letuscode/openrouter-cli --help`
 
+### Beta Release (Testing)
+
+- Global: `npm i -g @letuscode/openrouter-cli@beta`
+- One‑off: `npx @letuscode/openrouter-cli@beta --help`
+
+### Alpha Release (Experimental)
+
+- Global: `npm i -g @letuscode/openrouter-cli@alpha`
+- One‑off: `npx @letuscode/openrouter-cli@alpha --help`
+
+> **Note**: This project is in MVP development. Alpha releases are experimental, beta releases are for testing, and stable releases are for general use. See [Release Strategy](docs/RELEASE_STRATEGY.md) for details.
+
 Tip: Running `openrouter` with no args starts the setup wizard and then opens the REPL (in a terminal).
 
 ### Requirements
@@ -97,3 +111,13 @@ Pick 1-10 or type a model id:
 ## License
 
 - MIT
+
+# Test alpha release
+
+# Testing GitHub release creation
+
+# Final test of alpha workflow
+
+# Testing improved version bumping
+
+# Testing version increment
diff --git a/docs/RELEASE_STRATEGY.md b/docs/RELEASE_STRATEGY.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ca6e26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/RELEASE_STRATEGY.md
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+# Release Strategy
+
+This document outlines our release strategy for the OpenRouter CLI project during its MVP development phase.
+
+## Branch Strategy
+
+### Feature Branches (`feature/*`)
+
+- **Purpose**: Experimental features and new functionality
+- **Release Type**: Alpha releases
+- **NPM Tag**: `alpha`
+- **Version Pattern**: `0.1.0-alpha.1`, `0.1.0-alpha.2`, etc.
+- **When to use**: When developing new features that may have breaking changes
+
+### Beta Branches (`beta/*`)
+
+- **Purpose**: Feature-complete functionality ready for testing
+- **Release Type**: Beta releases
+- **NPM Tag**: `beta`
+- **Version Pattern**: `0.1.0-beta.1`, `0.1.0-beta.2`, etc.
+- **When to use**: When features are complete and ready for broader testing
+
+### Main Branch (`main`)
+
+- **Purpose**: Stable, production-ready releases
+- **Release Type**: Stable releases
+- **NPM Tag**: `latest`
+- **Version Pattern**: `0.1.0`, `0.1.1`, `0.2.0`, etc.
+- **When to use**: When features are thoroughly tested and stable
+
+## Development Workflow
+
+1. **Create feature branch**: `feature/your-feature-name`
+2. **Develop feature**: Push commits → Automatic alpha releases
+3. **Merge to beta**: `beta/your-feature-name`
+4. **Test thoroughly**: Push commits → Automatic beta releases
+5. **Merge to main**: When ready → Automatic stable release
+
+## Quality Gates
+
+### Alpha Releases
+
+- ✅ Feature implemented
+- ⚠️ May have breaking changes
+- ⚠️ May have bugs
+- 🎯 Target: Early adopters and internal testing
+
+### Beta Releases
+
+- ✅ Feature complete
+- ✅ Basic testing done
+- ⚠️ May have minor bugs
+- 🎯 Target: Broader testing community
+
+### Stable Releases
+
+- ✅ Feature complete
+- ✅ Thoroughly tested
+- ✅ No known critical bugs
+- ✅ Documentation updated
+- 🎯 Target: General users
+
+## Version Constraints
+
+- **No 1.x.x releases** until truly production-ready
+- **Stays in 0.x.x range** during MVP development
+- **Semantic versioning** within 0.x.x range
+
+## NPM Installation
+
+```bash
+# Install latest stable release
+npm install @letuscode/openrouter-cli
+
+# Install latest beta release
+npm install @letuscode/openrouter-cli@beta
+
+# Install latest alpha release
+npm install @letuscode/openrouter-cli@alpha
+
+# Install specific version
+npm install @letuscode/openrouter-cli@0.1.0-beta.1
+```
+
+## GitHub Releases
+
+- **Alpha/Beta**: Created automatically on feature/beta branches
+- **Stable**: Created automatically on main branch
+- **Tags**: Follow semantic versioning (v0.1.0, v0.1.0-alpha.1, etc.)
+
+## When to Release to Main
+
+A feature is ready for main when:
+
+- [ ] Feature is complete and tested
+- [ ] No breaking changes (or breaking changes are documented)
+- [ ] All tests pass
+- [ ] Documentation is updated
+- [ ] Beta testing shows no critical issues
+- [ ] Performance is acceptable
+- [ ] Security review completed (if applicable)
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f3433e3..5d0a043 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@letuscode/openrouter-cli",
-  "version": "1.0.0-beta.1",
+  "version": "0.1.0",
   "description": "CLI tool for OpenRouter (OpenAI-compatible)",
   "bin": {
     "openrouter": "bin/openrouter"