diff --git a/docs/docs/waveai-modes.mdx b/docs/docs/waveai-modes.mdx
index 93403db800..cb7290877b 100644
--- a/docs/docs/waveai-modes.mdx
+++ b/docs/docs/waveai-modes.mdx
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ Wave AI now supports provider-based configuration which automatically applies se
 - **`openrouter`** - OpenRouter API (automatically configures endpoint and secret name) [[see example](#openrouter)]
 - **`nanogpt`** - NanoGPT API (automatically configures endpoint and secret name) [[see example](#nanogpt)]
 - **`groq`** - Groq API (automatically configures endpoint and secret name) [[see example](#groq)]
+- **`cheaperinference`** - Cheaper Inference API (automatically configures endpoint and secret name) [[see example](#cheaper-inference)]
 - **`google`** - Google AI (Gemini) [[see example](#google-ai-gemini)]
 - **`azure`** - Azure OpenAI Service (modern API) [[see example](#azure-openai-modern-api)]
 - **`azure-legacy`** - Azure OpenAI Service (legacy deployment API) [[see example](#azure-openai-legacy-deployment-api)]
@@ -319,6 +320,39 @@ The provider automatically sets:
 For Groq, you must manually specify `ai:capabilities` based on your model's features.
 :::
 
+### Cheaper Inference
+
+[Cheaper Inference](https://cheaperinference.com) is an OpenAI-compatible gateway with models from several labs. Using the `cheaperinference` provider simplifies configuration:
+
+```json
+{
+  "cheaperinference-gpt54mini": {
+    "display:name": "Cheaper Inference - GPT-5.4 mini",
+    "ai:provider": "cheaperinference",
+    "ai:model": "gpt-5.4-mini"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+The provider automatically sets:
+- `ai:endpoint` to `https://api.cheaperinference.com/v1/chat/completions`
+- `ai:apitype` to `openai-chat`
+- `ai:apitokensecretname` to `CHEAPER_INFERENCE_KEY` (store your Cheaper Inference API key with this name)
+
+:::note
+For Cheaper Inference, you must manually specify `ai:capabilities` based on your model's features. Model IDs have no provider prefix (for example `gpt-5.4-mini`, `claude-sonnet-5`, `deepseek-v4-flash`). Example for a vision-capable model with tool support:
+```json
+{
+  "cheaperinference-gpt54mini": {
+    "display:name": "Cheaper Inference - GPT-5.4 mini",
+    "ai:provider": "cheaperinference",
+    "ai:model": "gpt-5.4-mini",
+    "ai:capabilities": ["tools", "images"]
+  }
+}
+```
+:::
+
 ### Google AI (Gemini)
 
 [Google AI](https://ai.google.dev) provides the Gemini family of models. Using the `google` provider simplifies configuration:
@@ -532,7 +566,7 @@ If you get "model not found" errors:
 | `display:order` | No | Sort order in the selector (lower numbers first) |
 | `display:icon` | No | Icon identifier for the mode (can use any [FontAwesome icon](https://fontawesome.com/search), use the name without the "fa-" prefix).  Default is "sparkles" |
 | `display:description` | No | Full description of the mode |
-| `ai:provider` | No | Provider preset: `openai`, `openrouter`, `nanogpt`, `groq`, `google`, `azure`, `azure-legacy`, `custom` |
+| `ai:provider` | No | Provider preset: `openai`, `openrouter`, `nanogpt`, `groq`, `cheaperinference`, `google`, `azure`, `azure-legacy`, `custom` |
 | `ai:apitype` | No | API type: `openai-chat`, `openai-responses`, or `google-gemini` (defaults to `openai-chat` if not specified) |
 | `ai:model` | No | Model identifier (required for most providers) |
 | `ai:thinkinglevel` | No | Thinking level: `low`, `medium`, or `high` |
@@ -556,7 +590,7 @@ The `ai:capabilities` field specifies what features the AI mode supports:
 
 **Provider-specific behavior:**
 - **OpenAI and Google providers**: Capabilities are automatically configured based on the model. You don't need to specify them.
-- **OpenRouter, NanoGPT, Groq, Azure, Azure-Legacy, and Custom providers**: You must manually specify capabilities based on your model's features.
+- **OpenRouter, NanoGPT, Groq, Cheaper Inference, Azure, Azure-Legacy, and Custom providers**: You must manually specify capabilities based on your model's features.
 
 :::warning
 If you don't include `"tools"` in the `ai:capabilities` array, the AI model will not be able to interact with your Wave terminal widgets, read/write files, or execute commands. Most AI modes should include `"tools"` for the best Wave experience.
diff --git a/pkg/aiusechat/uctypes/uctypes.go b/pkg/aiusechat/uctypes/uctypes.go
index a222eb5c9c..e0cb9e71b8 100644
--- a/pkg/aiusechat/uctypes/uctypes.go
+++ b/pkg/aiusechat/uctypes/uctypes.go
@@ -24,15 +24,16 @@ const (
 )
 
 const (
-	AIProvider_Wave        = "wave"
-	AIProvider_Google      = "google"
-	AIProvider_Groq        = "groq"
-	AIProvider_OpenRouter  = "openrouter"
-	AIProvider_NanoGPT     = "nanogpt"
-	AIProvider_OpenAI      = "openai"
-	AIProvider_Azure       = "azure"
-	AIProvider_AzureLegacy = "azure-legacy"
-	AIProvider_Custom      = "custom"
+	AIProvider_Wave             = "wave"
+	AIProvider_Google           = "google"
+	AIProvider_Groq             = "groq"
+	AIProvider_CheaperInference = "cheaperinference"
+	AIProvider_OpenRouter       = "openrouter"
+	AIProvider_NanoGPT          = "nanogpt"
+	AIProvider_OpenAI           = "openai"
+	AIProvider_Azure            = "azure"
+	AIProvider_AzureLegacy      = "azure-legacy"
+	AIProvider_Custom           = "custom"
 )
 
 type UseChatRequest struct {
diff --git a/pkg/aiusechat/usechat-mode.go b/pkg/aiusechat/usechat-mode.go
index 94fe20ef9d..001819f37d 100644
--- a/pkg/aiusechat/usechat-mode.go
+++ b/pkg/aiusechat/usechat-mode.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ const (
 	OpenRouterChatEndpoint         = "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions"
 	NanoGPTChatEndpoint            = "https://nano-gpt.com/api/v1/chat/completions"
 	GroqChatEndpoint               = "https://api.groq.com/openai/v1/chat/completions"
+	CheaperInferenceChatEndpoint   = "https://api.cheaperinference.com/v1/chat/completions"
 	AzureLegacyEndpointTemplate    = "https://%s.openai.azure.com/openai/deployments/%s/chat/completions?api-version=%s"
 	AzureResponsesEndpointTemplate = "https://%s.openai.azure.com/openai/v1/responses"
 	AzureChatEndpointTemplate      = "https://%s.openai.azure.com/openai/v1/chat/completions"
@@ -30,12 +31,13 @@ const (
 
 	AzureLegacyDefaultAPIVersion = "2025-04-01-preview"
 
-	OpenAIAPITokenSecretName      = "OPENAI_KEY"
-	OpenRouterAPITokenSecretName  = "OPENROUTER_KEY"
-	NanoGPTAPITokenSecretName     = "NANOGPT_KEY"
-	GroqAPITokenSecretName        = "GROQ_KEY"
-	AzureOpenAIAPITokenSecretName = "AZURE_OPENAI_KEY"
-	GoogleAIAPITokenSecretName    = "GOOGLE_AI_KEY"
+	OpenAIAPITokenSecretName           = "OPENAI_KEY"
+	OpenRouterAPITokenSecretName       = "OPENROUTER_KEY"
+	NanoGPTAPITokenSecretName          = "NANOGPT_KEY"
+	GroqAPITokenSecretName             = "GROQ_KEY"
+	CheaperInferenceAPITokenSecretName = "CHEAPER_INFERENCE_KEY"
+	AzureOpenAIAPITokenSecretName      = "AZURE_OPENAI_KEY"
+	GoogleAIAPITokenSecretName         = "GOOGLE_AI_KEY"
 )
 
 func resolveAIMode(requestedMode string, premium bool) (string, *wconfig.AIModeConfigType, error) {
@@ -125,6 +127,17 @@ func applyProviderDefaults(config *wconfig.AIModeConfigType) {
 			config.APITokenSecretName = GroqAPITokenSecretName
 		}
 	}
+	if config.Provider == uctypes.AIProvider_CheaperInference {
+		if config.APIType == "" {
+			config.APIType = uctypes.APIType_OpenAIChat
+		}
+		if config.Endpoint == "" {
+			config.Endpoint = CheaperInferenceChatEndpoint
+		}
+		if config.APITokenSecretName == "" {
+			config.APITokenSecretName = CheaperInferenceAPITokenSecretName
+		}
+	}
 	if config.Provider == uctypes.AIProvider_AzureLegacy {
 		if config.AzureAPIVersion == "" {
 			config.AzureAPIVersion = AzureLegacyDefaultAPIVersion
diff --git a/pkg/aiusechat/usechat_mode_test.go b/pkg/aiusechat/usechat_mode_test.go
index 73959f9585..18b74a6b33 100644
--- a/pkg/aiusechat/usechat_mode_test.go
+++ b/pkg/aiusechat/usechat_mode_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,22 @@ func TestApplyProviderDefaultsGroq(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestApplyProviderDefaultsCheaperInference(t *testing.T) {
+	config := wconfig.AIModeConfigType{
+		Provider: uctypes.AIProvider_CheaperInference,
+	}
+	applyProviderDefaults(&config)
+	if config.APIType != uctypes.APIType_OpenAIChat {
+		t.Fatalf("expected API type %q, got %q", uctypes.APIType_OpenAIChat, config.APIType)
+	}
+	if config.Endpoint != CheaperInferenceChatEndpoint {
+		t.Fatalf("expected endpoint %q, got %q", CheaperInferenceChatEndpoint, config.Endpoint)
+	}
+	if config.APITokenSecretName != CheaperInferenceAPITokenSecretName {
+		t.Fatalf("expected API token secret name %q, got %q", CheaperInferenceAPITokenSecretName, config.APITokenSecretName)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestApplyProviderDefaultsKeepsProxyURL(t *testing.T) {
 	config := wconfig.AIModeConfigType{
 		Provider: uctypes.AIProvider_OpenAI,
diff --git a/pkg/wconfig/settingsconfig.go b/pkg/wconfig/settingsconfig.go
index 67118b1670..a9786763cb 100644
--- a/pkg/wconfig/settingsconfig.go
+++ b/pkg/wconfig/settingsconfig.go
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ type AIModeConfigType struct {
 	DisplayOrder       float64  `json:"display:order,omitempty"`
 	DisplayIcon        string   `json:"display:icon,omitempty"`
 	DisplayDescription string   `json:"display:description,omitempty"`
-	Provider           string   `json:"ai:provider,omitempty" jsonschema:"enum=wave,enum=google,enum=groq,enum=openrouter,enum=nanogpt,enum=openai,enum=azure,enum=azure-legacy,enum=custom"`
+	Provider           string   `json:"ai:provider,omitempty" jsonschema:"enum=wave,enum=google,enum=groq,enum=openrouter,enum=nanogpt,enum=cheaperinference,enum=openai,enum=azure,enum=azure-legacy,enum=custom"`
 	APIType            string   `json:"ai:apitype,omitempty" jsonschema:"enum=google-gemini,enum=openai-responses,enum=openai-chat"`
 	Model              string   `json:"ai:model,omitempty"`
 	ThinkingLevel      string   `json:"ai:thinkinglevel,omitempty" jsonschema:"enum=low,enum=medium,enum=high"`
diff --git a/schema/waveai.json b/schema/waveai.json
index 7279777a4c..e74d4809ab 100644
--- a/schema/waveai.json
+++ b/schema/waveai.json
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
             "groq",
             "openrouter",
             "nanogpt",
+            "cheaperinference",
             "openai",
             "azure",
             "azure-legacy",