diff --git a/agent/billing_links.py b/agent/billing_links.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..1e9320ebb45a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/agent/billing_links.py
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+"""Provider-agnostic billing/credit recovery links.
+
+Maps a billing-classified failure onto a recovery link + label. *Detection*
+is not done here — that is :mod:`agent.error_classifier`
+(``FailoverReason.billing``), the single source of truth for "credit wall vs.
+rate limit / auth / transport". The resulting :class:`BillingBlock` rides the
+turn result and the gateway ``message.complete`` event so every surface (CLI,
+TUI, desktop) renders one structured signal instead of re-parsing error text.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import asdict, dataclass
+from typing import Optional
+
+from utils import base_url_host_matches
+
+
+@dataclass
+class BillingBlock:
+    """Structured billing-wall descriptor shared across every surface.
+
+    ``is_nous`` is the routing bit: Nous has a first-class in-app billing surface
+    (desktop Settings → Billing, TUI/CLI ``/topup``), so surfaces prefer that over
+    ``billing_url``; third-party providers have no in-app flow, so ``billing_url``
+    is the deep link the user actually needs.
+    """
+
+    provider: str
+    provider_label: str
+    model: str
+    billing_url: Optional[str]
+    is_nous: bool
+    message: str
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> dict:
+        return asdict(self)
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class _Provider:
+    label: str
+    url: str
+    slugs: tuple[str, ...]
+    hosts: tuple[str, ...] = ()
+
+
+# Single source of truth: internal slug(s) + base_url host(s) → billing page.
+# Curated "add credits / manage billing" landing pages, not marketing homes.
+# Hosts back the OpenAI-compatible fallback where the slug is a generic bucket
+# (e.g. "openai_compatible") but base_url reveals the real upstream. An unknown
+# provider degrades to a readable label with no invented URL.
+_PROVIDERS: tuple[_Provider, ...] = (
+    _Provider("OpenAI", "https://platform.openai.com/settings/organization/billing", ("openai",), ("api.openai.com",)),
+    _Provider("Anthropic", "https://console.anthropic.com/settings/billing", ("anthropic",), ("api.anthropic.com",)),
+    _Provider("OpenRouter", "https://openrouter.ai/settings/credits", ("openrouter",), ("openrouter.ai",)),
+    _Provider("xAI", "https://console.x.ai/team/default/billing", ("xai", "xai-oauth"), ("api.x.ai",)),
+    _Provider("DeepSeek", "https://platform.deepseek.com/top_up", ("deepseek",), ("api.deepseek.com",)),
+    _Provider("Groq", "https://console.groq.com/settings/billing", ("groq",), ("api.groq.com",)),
+    _Provider("Mistral", "https://console.mistral.ai/billing", ("mistral",), ("api.mistral.ai",)),
+    _Provider("Together AI", "https://api.together.ai/settings/billing", ("together",), ("api.together.ai", "api.together.xyz")),
+    _Provider("Fireworks AI", "https://fireworks.ai/account/billing", ("fireworks",), ("fireworks.ai",)),
+    _Provider("Perplexity", "https://www.perplexity.ai/settings/api", ("perplexity",), ("perplexity.ai",)),
+    _Provider("Google AI", "https://aistudio.google.com/app/billing", ("google", "gemini"), ("generativelanguage.googleapis.com",)),
+    _Provider("Cohere", "https://dashboard.cohere.com/billing", ("cohere",)),
+    _Provider("Moonshot AI", "https://platform.moonshot.ai/console/pay", ("moonshot",)),
+    _Provider("NVIDIA", "https://build.nvidia.com/settings/billing", ("nvidia",)),
+)
+
+_BY_SLUG: dict[str, _Provider] = {slug: p for p in _PROVIDERS for slug in p.slugs}
+
+
+def is_nous_inference_route(provider: str, base_url: str) -> bool:
+    """True when the failing route is the Nous-managed inference gateway."""
+    if (provider or "").strip().lower() == "nous":
+        return True
+    return base_url_host_matches(str(base_url or ""), "inference-api.nousresearch.com")
+
+
+def _nous_billing_url() -> Optional[str]:
+    """Best-effort Nous portal billing URL (text-surface fallback; Nous prefers the in-app flow)."""
+    try:
+        from hermes_cli.nous_account import nous_portal_billing_url
+
+        return nous_portal_billing_url(None)
+    except Exception:
+        return "https://portal.nousresearch.com/billing"
+
+
+def _resolve_provider_link(slug: str, base_url: str) -> tuple[str, Optional[str]]:
+    """Resolve ``(label, url)``: exact slug → base_url host → readable-label fallback."""
+    hit = _BY_SLUG.get(slug)
+    if hit:
+        return hit.label, hit.url
+
+    base = str(base_url or "")
+    for p in _PROVIDERS:
+        if any(base_url_host_matches(base, host) for host in p.hosts):
+            return p.label, p.url
+
+    return slug.replace("_", " ").replace("-", " ").strip().title() or "your provider", None
+
+
+def build_billing_block(
+    *,
+    provider: str,
+    base_url: str,
+    model: str,
+    message: str = "",
+) -> BillingBlock:
+    """Build the billing descriptor for a billing-classified failure.
+
+    ``message`` is the guidance already assembled by the agent loop
+    (:func:`agent.conversation_loop._billing_or_entitlement_message`), carried
+    through unchanged so every surface shows identical copy.
+    """
+    slug = (provider or "").strip().lower()
+    model = (model or "").strip()
+
+    if is_nous_inference_route(slug, base_url):
+        return BillingBlock(slug or "nous", "Nous Portal", model, _nous_billing_url(), True, message or "")
+
+    label, url = _resolve_provider_link(slug, base_url)
+    return BillingBlock(slug, label, model, url, False, message or "")
diff --git a/agent/conversation_loop.py b/agent/conversation_loop.py
index f31d3c54a333..e8034d32652b 100644
--- a/agent/conversation_loop.py
+++ b/agent/conversation_loop.py
@@ -307,6 +307,19 @@ def _billing_or_entitlement_message(
         ]
         return "\n".join(lines)
 
+    # Provider-agnostic billing URL derivation (OpenAI, DeepSeek, xAI, Groq,
+    # OpenRouter, …) so every text surface — CLI, gateway messaging, TUI
+    # transcript — shows the same actionable link, not just OpenRouter.
+    try:
+        from agent.billing_links import build_billing_block
+
+        _link = build_billing_block(provider=provider, base_url=base_url, model=model)
+        if _link.provider_label:
+            provider_label = _link.provider_label
+        billing_url = _link.billing_url
+    except Exception:
+        billing_url = None
+
     lines = [
         (
             f"{provider_label} reported that billing, credits, or account "
@@ -314,12 +327,24 @@ def _billing_or_entitlement_message(
         ),
         "Add credits or update billing with that provider, then retry.",
     ]
-    if base_url_host_matches(str(base_url or ""), "openrouter.ai"):
-        lines.append("OpenRouter credits: https://openrouter.ai/settings/credits")
+    if billing_url:
+        lines.append(f"{provider_label} billing: {billing_url}")
     lines.append("You can switch providers temporarily with /model <model> --provider <provider>.")
     return "\n".join(lines)
 
 
+def _billing_block_dict(provider, base_url, model, message="") -> Optional[dict]:
+    """Best-effort structured billing descriptor (None if billing_links is unavailable)."""
+    try:
+        from agent.billing_links import build_billing_block
+
+        return build_billing_block(
+            provider=provider, base_url=str(base_url), model=model, message=message
+        ).to_dict()
+    except Exception:
+        return None
+
+
 def _print_billing_or_entitlement_guidance(
     agent,
     *,
@@ -4284,6 +4309,31 @@ def run_conversation(
                             final_response=_policy_response,
                             error_detail=_nonretryable_summary,
                         )
+                    # Billing walls are the common non-retryable abort: enrich
+                    # the result with the same structured recovery descriptor as
+                    # the max-retries path so every surface (CLI, TUI, desktop)
+                    # renders one consistent billing signal.
+                    if classified.reason == FailoverReason.billing:
+                        _ce_guidance = _billing_or_entitlement_message(
+                            capability="model access",
+                            provider=_provider,
+                            base_url=str(_base),
+                            model=_model,
+                        )
+                        _ce_final = f"Billing or credits exhausted: {_nonretryable_summary}"
+                        if _ce_guidance:
+                            _ce_final += f"\n\n{_ce_guidance}"
+                        _ce_block = _billing_block_dict(_provider, _base, _model, _ce_guidance)
+                        return {
+                            "final_response": _ce_final,
+                            "messages": messages,
+                            "api_calls": api_call_count,
+                            "completed": False,
+                            "failed": True,
+                            "error": _nonretryable_summary,
+                            "failure_reason": classified.reason.value,
+                            "billing_block": _ce_block,
+                        }
                     return {
                         "final_response": _nonretryable_summary,
                         "messages": messages,
@@ -4444,10 +4494,14 @@ def run_conversation(
                             api_kwargs, reason="max_retries_exhausted", error=api_error,
                         )
                     agent._persist_session(messages, conversation_history)
+                    _billing_block = None
                     if classified.reason == FailoverReason.billing:
                         _final_response = f"Billing or credits exhausted: {_final_summary}"
                         if _billing_guidance:
                             _final_response += f"\n\n{_billing_guidance}"
+                        # Structured recovery descriptor so every surface renders
+                        # the same link + label from one signal (see helper).
+                        _billing_block = _billing_block_dict(_provider, _base, _model, _billing_guidance)
                     else:
                         _final_response = f"API call failed after {max_retries} retries: {_final_summary}"
                     if _is_thinking_timeout:
@@ -4487,6 +4541,9 @@ def run_conversation(
                         # different exit code. ``rate_limit`` / ``billing`` here
                         # mean "quota wall, not a task error".
                         "failure_reason": classified.reason.value,
+                        # Present only for billing walls: structured recovery
+                        # descriptor (provider, billing_url, is_nous, message).
+                        "billing_block": _billing_block,
                     }
 
                 # For rate limits, respect the Retry-After header if present
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/status-stack/index.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/status-stack/index.tsx
index e8107764d881..739080be8b85 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/status-stack/index.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/status-stack/index.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom'
 
 import { blurComposerInput } from '@/app/chat/composer/focus'
 import { AGENTS_ROUTE } from '@/app/routes'
+import { BillingBanner } from '@/components/billing-banner'
 import { composerDockCard } from '@/components/chat/composer-dock'
 import { StatusSection } from '@/components/chat/status-section'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
 import { Tip, TipKeybindLabel } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { type Translations, useI18n } from '@/i18n'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+import { $billingBlock } from '@/store/billing-block'
 import {
   $statusItemsBySession,
   type ComposerStatusItem,
@@ -70,6 +72,7 @@ export function ComposerStatusStack({ queue, sessionId }: ComposerStatusStackPro
   const itemsBySession = useStore($statusItemsBySession)
   const previewsBySession = useStore($previewStatusBySession)
   const scrolledUp = useStore($threadScrolledUp)
+  const billing = useStore($billingBlock)
 
   const groups = useMemo(
     () => groupStatusItems(sessionId ? (itemsBySession[sessionId] ?? []) : []),
@@ -123,6 +126,13 @@ export function ComposerStatusStack({ queue, sessionId }: ComposerStatusStackPro
 
   const sections: { key: string; node: ReactNode }[] = []
 
+  // Billing wall sits at the very top of the stack — it's the most important
+  // thing above the composer when the account is out of credits. Rendered here
+  // (not as a composer-disable) so slash commands stay usable.
+  if (billing && sessionId && billing.sessionId === sessionId) {
+    sections.push({ key: 'billing', node: <BillingBanner sessionId={sessionId} /> })
+  }
+
   for (const group of groups) {
     sections.push({
       key: group.type,
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/contrib/wiring.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/contrib/wiring.tsx
index dae9c2f0d791..21e866c3f4d3 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/contrib/wiring.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/contrib/wiring.tsx
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import { type ChatMessage, chatMessageText, preserveLocalAssistantErrors, toChat
 import { sessionMessagesSignature } from '@/lib/session-signatures'
 import { isMessagingSource } from '@/lib/session-source'
 import { latestSessionTodos } from '@/lib/todos'
+import { $billingSettingsRequest } from '@/store/billing-block'
 import { setCronFocusJobId } from '@/store/cron'
 import { $pinnedSessionIds, pinSession, restoreWorktree, unpinSession } from '@/store/layout'
 import { $filePreviewTarget, $previewTarget } from '@/store/preview'
@@ -125,6 +126,10 @@ export function ContribWiring({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
 
   const busyRef = useRef(false)
   const creatingSessionRef = useRef(false)
+  // Billing recovery routes to Settings → Billing from surfaces without router
+  // context (the sticky toast). The shell owns `navigate`, so it consumes the
+  // intent counter here; the ref skips the initial mount value.
+  const billingSettingsSeenRef = useRef(0)
   const messagingTranscriptSignatureRef = useRef(new Map<string, string>())
   // Stable identity for the whole callback surface (see WiringActions). Mutated
   // in place each render so memoized surfaces never re-render on churn.
@@ -132,7 +137,20 @@ export function ContribWiring({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
 
   const gatewayState = useStore($gatewayState)
   const activeSessionId = useStore($activeSessionId)
+  const billingSettingsRequest = useStore($billingSettingsRequest)
   const currentCwd = useStore($currentCwd)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (billingSettingsRequest === billingSettingsSeenRef.current) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    billingSettingsSeenRef.current = billingSettingsRequest
+
+    if (billingSettingsRequest > 0) {
+      navigate(`${SETTINGS_ROUTE}?tab=billing`)
+    }
+  }, [billingSettingsRequest, navigate])
   const freshDraftReady = useStore($freshDraftReady)
   const resumeFailedSessionId = useStore($resumeFailedSessionId)
   const resumeExhaustedSessionId = useStore($resumeExhaustedSessionId)
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-message-stream/gateway-event.ts b/apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-message-stream/gateway-event.ts
index 173e356958de..950cccf60a7b 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-message-stream/gateway-event.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-message-stream/gateway-event.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import type { BillingBlock } from '@hermes/shared'
 import type { HermesSkin } from '@hermes/shared/skin'
 import type { QueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import { type MutableRefObject, useCallback, useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
 import { modelOptionsQueryKey } from '@/lib/model-options'
 import { isProviderSetupErrorMessage } from '@/lib/provider-setup-errors'
 import { reconcileApprovalModeForProfile } from '@/store/approval-mode'
+import { billingCtaLabel, clearBillingBlock, runBillingRecovery, setBillingBlock } from '@/store/billing-block'
 import { clearClarifyRequest, setClarifyRequest } from '@/store/clarify'
 import { setSessionCompacting } from '@/store/compaction'
 import { refreshBackgroundProcesses } from '@/store/composer-status'
@@ -57,6 +59,50 @@ import type { ClientSessionState } from '../../../types'
 
 import { hasSessionInfoStatePatch, sessionInfoStatePatch, SUBAGENT_EVENT_TYPES, toTodoPayload } from './utils'
 
+function firstBillingLine(text: string): string {
+  return (text || '').split('\n')[0]?.trim() ?? ''
+}
+
+/**
+ * A turn failed on a billing wall (out of credits / payment required). The
+ * gateway forwards the structured descriptor built by `agent/billing_links.py`;
+ * we cache it per-session (drives the in-chat banner) AND raise one sticky,
+ * billing-specific toast — never the generic "Hermes error" — with a smart CTA
+ * (Nous → in-app Settings → Billing, other providers → their billing page).
+ */
+function surfaceBillingBlock(sessionId: string, raw: unknown): void {
+  if (!raw || typeof raw !== 'object') {
+    return
+  }
+
+  const block = raw as BillingBlock
+
+  if (typeof block.provider !== 'string') {
+    return
+  }
+
+  setBillingBlock(sessionId, block)
+
+  const ctaCopy = {
+    addCredits: translateNow('billingBlock.addCredits'),
+    openBilling: translateNow('billingBlock.openBilling')
+  }
+
+  notify({
+    // Collapse repeat walls from the same provider into one toast.
+    id: `billing-block:${block.provider}`,
+    kind: 'warning',
+    icon: 'credit-card',
+    title: block.is_nous
+      ? translateNow('billingBlock.titleNous')
+      : translateNow('billingBlock.titleProvider', block.provider_label),
+    message: firstBillingLine(block.message) || translateNow('billingBlock.fallbackMessage'),
+    // Sticky: a credit wall blocks every turn until resolved.
+    durationMs: 0,
+    action: { label: billingCtaLabel(block, ctaCopy), onClick: () => runBillingRecovery(block) }
+  })
+}
+
 const COMPACTION_RESUME_EVENT_TYPES = new Set([
   'message.delta',
   'message.interim',
@@ -390,6 +436,9 @@ export function useGatewayEventHandler(deps: GatewayEventDeps) {
         setSessionCompacting(sessionId, false)
         compactedTurnRef.current.delete(sessionId)
         nativeSubagentSessionsRef.current.delete(sessionId)
+        // A fresh turn on this session optimistically clears its billing wall;
+        // if credits are still exhausted the next failure re-raises it.
+        clearBillingBlock(sessionId)
 
         if (isActiveEvent) {
           triggerHaptic('streamStart')
@@ -513,6 +562,12 @@ export function useGatewayEventHandler(deps: GatewayEventDeps) {
         const finalText = coerceGatewayText(payload?.text) || coerceGatewayText(payload?.rendered)
         completeAssistantMessage(sessionId, finalText, payload?.response_previewed)
 
+        // Structured billing wall forwarded by the gateway (out of credits /
+        // payment required) — cache it + raise a billing-specific toast.
+        if (payload?.billing) {
+          surfaceBillingBlock(sessionId, payload.billing)
+        }
+
         if (isActiveEvent) {
           setTurnStartedAt(null)
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/billing-banner.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/billing-banner.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..73f7107decbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/billing-banner.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
+
+import { StatusRow } from '@/components/chat/status-row'
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
+import { useI18n } from '@/i18n'
+import { $billingBlock, billingCtaLabel, clearBillingBlock, runBillingRecovery } from '@/store/billing-block'
+
+function firstLine(text: string): string {
+  return (text || '').split('\n')[0]?.trim() ?? ''
+}
+
+/**
+ * Persistent, in-stack billing wall for THIS session. Rendered as a shared
+ * {@link StatusRow} — same chrome as its status-stack siblings, so it reads as
+ * one piece with the composer card (no bordered alert-in-a-card). It never
+ * disables the composer — slash commands (`/topup`, `/model`, `/login`) stay
+ * usable — it only offers recovery: Nous opens Settings → Billing in-app, other
+ * providers deep-link out. The sticky toast is the loud surface; this is the calm
+ * reminder that outlives it.
+ */
+export function BillingBanner({ sessionId }: { sessionId: null | string }) {
+  const active = useStore($billingBlock)
+  const { t } = useI18n()
+
+  if (!active || !sessionId || active.sessionId !== sessionId) {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  const { block } = active
+  const copy = t.billingBlock
+  const title = block.is_nous ? copy.titleNous : copy.titleProvider(block.provider_label)
+  const message = firstLine(block.message) || copy.fallbackMessage
+
+  return (
+    <StatusRow
+      leading={<Codicon aria-hidden className="text-destructive/85" name="credit-card" size="0.8rem" />}
+      trailing={
+        <>
+          <Button
+            className="text-foreground/90 hover:text-foreground"
+            onClick={() => runBillingRecovery(block)}
+            size="micro"
+            type="button"
+            variant="text"
+          >
+            {billingCtaLabel(block, copy)}
+          </Button>
+          <Tip label={copy.dismiss}>
+            <Button
+              aria-label={copy.dismiss}
+              className="size-4 rounded-md text-muted-foreground/60 hover:text-foreground/90"
+              onClick={() => clearBillingBlock(sessionId)}
+              size="icon-xs"
+              type="button"
+              variant="ghost"
+            >
+              <Codicon name="close" size="0.75rem" />
+            </Button>
+          </Tip>
+        </>
+      }
+      trailingVisible
+    >
+      <span className="min-w-0 truncate text-[0.73rem] leading-4 text-foreground/92">
+        <span className="font-medium">{title}</span>
+        {message && <span className="text-muted-foreground/80"> · {message}</span>}
+      </span>
+    </StatusRow>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts
index 79351a815174..53802fcd8cdb 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts
@@ -177,6 +177,15 @@ export const en: Translations = {
       `Software rendering active — remote display detected (${reason}). GPU acceleration is disabled to prevent flickering.`
   },
 
+  billingBlock: {
+    titleNous: 'Out of Nous credits',
+    titleProvider: provider => `Out of credits — ${provider}`,
+    fallbackMessage: 'Your account is out of credits. Add credits to keep going.',
+    openBilling: 'Open billing',
+    addCredits: 'Add credits',
+    dismiss: 'Dismiss'
+  },
+
   titlebar: {
     hideSidebar: 'Hide sidebar',
     showSidebar: 'Show sidebar',
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/ja.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/ja.ts
index afa02b44bf8b..c712198e6132 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/ja.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/ja.ts
@@ -178,6 +178,15 @@ export const ja = defineLocale({
       `ソフトウェアレンダリングが有効です — リモートディスプレイを検出しました（${reason}）。ちらつきを防ぐため GPU アクセラレーションは無効化されています。`
   },
 
+  billingBlock: {
+    titleNous: 'Nous クレジットが不足しています',
+    titleProvider: provider => `クレジット不足 — ${provider}`,
+    fallbackMessage: 'アカウントのクレジットが不足しています。続行するにはクレジットを追加してください。',
+    openBilling: '請求を開く',
+    addCredits: 'クレジットを追加',
+    dismiss: '閉じる'
+  },
+
   titlebar: {
     hideSidebar: 'サイドバーを非表示',
     showSidebar: 'サイドバーを表示',
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts
index 4ba7fc84c38c..18f96afb90d1 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts
@@ -218,6 +218,15 @@ export interface Translations {
     message: (reason: string) => string
   }
 
+  billingBlock: {
+    titleNous: string
+    titleProvider: (provider: string) => string
+    fallbackMessage: string
+    openBilling: string
+    addCredits: string
+    dismiss: string
+  }
+
   titlebar: {
     hideSidebar: string
     showSidebar: string
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts
index e3c382a8ef59..c19c10bb4769 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts
@@ -172,6 +172,15 @@ export const zhHant = defineLocale({
     message: reason => `軟體繪圖已啟用 — 偵測到遠端顯示（${reason}）。為防止畫面閃爍，已停用 GPU 加速。`
   },
 
+  billingBlock: {
+    titleNous: 'Nous 額度已用盡',
+    titleProvider: provider => `額度已用盡 — ${provider}`,
+    fallbackMessage: '您的帳戶額度已用盡。請儲值以繼續使用。',
+    openBilling: '開啟帳單',
+    addCredits: '新增額度',
+    dismiss: '忽略'
+  },
+
   titlebar: {
     hideSidebar: '隱藏側邊欄',
     showSidebar: '顯示側邊欄',
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts
index 578a6faa7409..8515ec15f429 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts
@@ -172,6 +172,15 @@ export const zh: Translations = {
     message: reason => `软件渲染已启用 — 检测到远程显示（${reason}）。为防止画面闪烁，已禁用 GPU 加速。`
   },
 
+  billingBlock: {
+    titleNous: 'Nous 额度已用尽',
+    titleProvider: provider => `额度已用尽 — ${provider}`,
+    fallbackMessage: '您的账户额度已用尽。请充值以继续使用。',
+    openBilling: '打开账单',
+    addCredits: '添加额度',
+    dismiss: '忽略'
+  },
+
   titlebar: {
     hideSidebar: '隐藏侧边栏',
     showSidebar: '显示侧边栏',
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/chat-messages.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/chat-messages.ts
index 74beafcffd60..828021b21eaa 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/lib/chat-messages.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/chat-messages.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { ThreadMessageLike } from '@assistant-ui/react'
+import type { BillingBlock } from '@hermes/shared'
 
 import { dedupeGeneratedImageEchoesInParts } from '@/lib/generated-images'
 import { mediaDisplayLabel, mediaMarkdownHref } from '@/lib/media'
@@ -96,6 +97,10 @@ export type GatewayEventPayload = {
   // message.complete — signals the final text was already previewed via
   // interim_assistant_callback, so the UI can settle instead of duplicating.
   response_previewed?: boolean
+  // Structured billing wall forwarded on message.complete when a turn fails
+  // with FailoverReason.billing (shape mirrors @hermes/shared BillingBlock).
+  billing?: BillingBlock
+  failure_reason?: string
 }
 
 export function textPart(text: string): ChatMessagePart {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/billing-block.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/billing-block.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..24d2f97402f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/billing-block.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+import type { BillingBlock } from '@hermes/shared'
+import { beforeEach, expect, test, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/external-link', () => ({ openExternalLink: vi.fn() }))
+
+import { openExternalLink } from '@/lib/external-link'
+
+import {
+  $billingBlock,
+  $billingSettingsRequest,
+  billingCtaLabel,
+  clearBillingBlock,
+  requestBillingSettings,
+  runBillingRecovery,
+  setBillingBlock
+} from './billing-block'
+
+function makeBlock(overrides: Partial<BillingBlock> = {}): BillingBlock {
+  return {
+    billing_url: 'https://platform.openai.com/settings/organization/billing',
+    is_nous: false,
+    message: 'You are out of credits.',
+    model: 'gpt-5',
+    provider: 'openai',
+    provider_label: 'OpenAI',
+    ...overrides
+  }
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  $billingBlock.set(null)
+  $billingSettingsRequest.set(0)
+  vi.clearAllMocks()
+})
+
+test('setBillingBlock stores the block against its session', () => {
+  setBillingBlock('s1', makeBlock())
+  expect($billingBlock.get()?.sessionId).toBe('s1')
+  expect($billingBlock.get()?.block.provider).toBe('openai')
+})
+
+test('clearBillingBlock scoped to a session leaves a different session block intact', () => {
+  setBillingBlock('s1', makeBlock())
+  clearBillingBlock('s2')
+  expect($billingBlock.get()).not.toBeNull()
+
+  clearBillingBlock('s1')
+  expect($billingBlock.get()).toBeNull()
+})
+
+test('clearBillingBlock with no arg clears any active block', () => {
+  setBillingBlock('s1', makeBlock())
+  clearBillingBlock()
+  expect($billingBlock.get()).toBeNull()
+})
+
+test('runBillingRecovery routes Nous to in-app Settings, never an external link', () => {
+  runBillingRecovery(makeBlock({ is_nous: true, provider: 'nous', provider_label: 'Nous Portal' }))
+  expect($billingSettingsRequest.get()).toBe(1)
+  expect(openExternalLink).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+})
+
+test('runBillingRecovery deep-links a third-party provider to its billing page', () => {
+  const block = makeBlock({ billing_url: 'https://openrouter.ai/settings/credits', provider: 'openrouter' })
+  runBillingRecovery(block)
+  expect(openExternalLink).toHaveBeenCalledWith('https://openrouter.ai/settings/credits')
+  expect($billingSettingsRequest.get()).toBe(0)
+})
+
+test('runBillingRecovery falls back to in-app settings when a provider has no URL', () => {
+  runBillingRecovery(makeBlock({ billing_url: null, provider: 'custom' }))
+  expect(openExternalLink).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  expect($billingSettingsRequest.get()).toBe(1)
+})
+
+test('requestBillingSettings increments the intent counter', () => {
+  requestBillingSettings()
+  requestBillingSettings()
+  expect($billingSettingsRequest.get()).toBe(2)
+})
+
+test('billingCtaLabel picks the right verb per route', () => {
+  const copy = { addCredits: 'Add credits', openBilling: 'Open billing' }
+  expect(billingCtaLabel(makeBlock({ is_nous: true }), copy)).toBe('Open billing')
+  expect(billingCtaLabel(makeBlock({ is_nous: false }), copy)).toBe('Add credits')
+})
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/billing-block.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/billing-block.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4d640302b637
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/billing-block.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+import type { BillingBlock } from '@hermes/shared'
+import { atom } from 'nanostores'
+
+import { openExternalLink } from '@/lib/external-link'
+
+/**
+ * The active inference billing wall, if any. Set from the gateway
+ * `message.complete` / `error` event when a turn fails with
+ * `FailoverReason.billing` (see `agent/billing_links.py`). One global slot: a
+ * credit wall on the active session's provider is the whole app's problem, and
+ * the newest block wins. Cleared when a new turn starts or the user dismisses.
+ */
+export interface ActiveBillingBlock {
+  block: BillingBlock
+  sessionId: string
+  at: number
+}
+
+export const $billingBlock = atom<ActiveBillingBlock | null>(null)
+
+/**
+ * Navigation intent counter. A toast fired outside React (or any surface
+ * without router context) bumps this to ask the shell — which owns
+ * `useNavigate` — to open Settings → Billing in-app. See `contrib/wiring.tsx`.
+ */
+export const $billingSettingsRequest = atom(0)
+
+export function setBillingBlock(sessionId: string, block: BillingBlock): void {
+  $billingBlock.set({ at: Date.now(), block, sessionId })
+}
+
+export function clearBillingBlock(sessionId?: string): void {
+  const current = $billingBlock.get()
+
+  if (!current) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  // A scoped clear (new turn on session X) must not wipe a block raised by a
+  // different session's provider.
+  if (sessionId && current.sessionId !== sessionId) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  $billingBlock.set(null)
+}
+
+export function requestBillingSettings(): void {
+  $billingSettingsRequest.set($billingSettingsRequest.get() + 1)
+}
+
+/**
+ * The single recovery action for a billing wall, shared by the toast and the
+ * in-chat banner so both behave identically: Nous routes to the in-app
+ * Settings → Billing surface; a third-party provider deep-links to its own
+ * billing page (falling back to the in-app surface only if we have no URL).
+ */
+export function runBillingRecovery(block: BillingBlock): void {
+  if (block.is_nous) {
+    requestBillingSettings()
+
+    return
+  }
+
+  if (block.billing_url) {
+    openExternalLink(block.billing_url)
+
+    return
+  }
+
+  requestBillingSettings()
+}
+
+export function billingCtaLabel(
+  block: BillingBlock,
+  copy: { addCredits: string; openBilling: string }
+): string {
+  return block.is_nous ? copy.openBilling : copy.addCredits
+}
diff --git a/apps/shared/src/billing-types.ts b/apps/shared/src/billing-types.ts
index d8d7415c7bb3..9a7801c22334 100644
--- a/apps/shared/src/billing-types.ts
+++ b/apps/shared/src/billing-types.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,29 @@
  * gateway event union out of this runtime-free module.
  */
 
+// ── Billing wall (inference credit exhaustion) ───────────────────────
+
+/**
+ * Structured billing-wall descriptor emitted by the gateway on the
+ * `message.complete` event (`payload.billing`) when an inference call fails
+ * because the account is out of credits / payment is required — mirrors the
+ * Python `agent/billing_links.py::BillingBlock`.
+ *
+ * Detection is backend-only (`agent/error_classifier.py` →
+ * `FailoverReason.billing`), so every surface renders from this one signal and
+ * never re-classifies free-form error text. `is_nous` routes recovery: Nous is
+ * the managed route with in-app billing (desktop Settings → Billing, TUI
+ * `/topup`), while third-party providers deep-link to `billing_url`.
+ */
+export interface BillingBlock {
+  provider: string
+  provider_label: string
+  model: string
+  billing_url: string | null
+  is_nous: boolean
+  message: string
+}
+
 // ── Remote Spending (Phase 2b) ───────────────────────────────────────
 
 /** One serialized usage bar (mirrors server `_serialize_usage_bar`). */
diff --git a/apps/shared/src/index.ts b/apps/shared/src/index.ts
index b951bc4700e9..09e10e40052e 100644
--- a/apps/shared/src/index.ts
+++ b/apps/shared/src/index.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export {
 } from './billing-policy'
 export type {
   BillingAutoReload,
+  BillingBlock,
   BillingCardInfo,
   BillingChargeResponse,
   BillingChargeStatusResponse,
diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index 62bab605a24f..352e0217b2d7 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -12685,6 +12685,41 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin, CLIBillingMixin):
                         width=self._scrollback_box_width(),
                     ))
 
+                # Durable, provider-agnostic billing CTA below the response. The
+                # response panel carries the full guidance; this pins the single
+                # action to take (Nous → /topup, other providers → their billing
+                # page) so it stays visible instead of scrolling away as prose.
+                if result and result.get("failure_reason") == "billing":
+                    _bb = result.get("billing_block") or {}
+                    _prov_label = _bb.get("provider_label") or "your provider"
+                    if _bb.get("is_nous"):
+                        _cta_lines = [
+                            "Run [bold]/topup[/] to add credits, or "
+                            "[bold]/subscription[/] to change plan.",
+                        ]
+                    else:
+                        _url = _bb.get("billing_url")
+                        _cta_lines = [
+                            f"Add credits with {_prov_label}"
+                            + (f": [bold]{_url}[/]" if _url else ".")
+                        ]
+                    _cta_lines.append(
+                        "Or switch providers with "
+                        "[bold]/model <model> --provider <provider>[/]."
+                    )
+                    try:
+                        ChatConsole().print(Panel(
+                            "\n".join(_cta_lines),
+                            title="[#CD7F32 bold]⚡ Out of credits[/]",
+                            title_align="left",
+                            border_style="#CD7F32",
+                            box=rich_box.HORIZONTALS,
+                            padding=(1, 4),
+                            width=self._scrollback_box_width(),
+                        ))
+                    except Exception:
+                        pass
+
 
             # Play terminal bell when agent finishes (if enabled).
             # Works over SSH — the bell propagates to the user's terminal.
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_billing_links.py b/tests/agent/test_billing_links.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2c17853ea59c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/agent/test_billing_links.py
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+"""Tests for provider-agnostic billing recovery links (agent/billing_links.py).
+
+Behavior/invariant tests — no snapshotting of the exact URL strings beyond the
+few that are the whole point of the mapping (the host they must land on).
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from agent.billing_links import (
+    BillingBlock,
+    build_billing_block,
+    is_nous_inference_route,
+)
+
+
+def test_nous_route_by_provider_slug():
+    block = build_billing_block(provider="nous", base_url="", model="hermes-4")
+    assert block.is_nous is True
+    assert block.provider_label == "Nous Portal"
+    # Nous always resolves an in-app/portal billing URL as a fallback.
+    assert block.billing_url and "nousresearch.com" in block.billing_url
+
+
+def test_nous_route_by_base_url_host():
+    block = build_billing_block(
+        provider="openai_compatible",
+        base_url="https://inference-api.nousresearch.com/v1",
+        model="hermes-4",
+    )
+    assert block.is_nous is True
+
+
+def test_is_nous_inference_route_helper():
+    assert is_nous_inference_route("nous", "") is True
+    assert is_nous_inference_route("", "https://inference-api.nousresearch.com/v1") is True
+    assert is_nous_inference_route("openai", "https://api.openai.com/v1") is False
+
+
+def test_known_provider_by_slug_resolves_label_and_url():
+    block = build_billing_block(provider="openai", base_url="", model="gpt-5")
+    assert block.is_nous is False
+    assert block.provider_label == "OpenAI"
+    assert block.billing_url is not None
+    assert "openai.com" in block.billing_url
+
+
+def test_openrouter_resolves_credits_page():
+    block = build_billing_block(
+        provider="openrouter",
+        base_url="https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+        model="anthropic/claude",
+    )
+    assert block.is_nous is False
+    assert block.billing_url is not None
+    assert "openrouter.ai" in block.billing_url
+
+
+def test_unknown_provider_via_base_url_host_fallback():
+    # Provider slug is a generic bucket; the host reveals the real upstream.
+    block = build_billing_block(
+        provider="custom",
+        base_url="https://api.deepseek.com/v1",
+        model="deepseek-chat",
+    )
+    assert block.provider_label == "DeepSeek"
+    assert block.billing_url is not None
+    assert "deepseek.com" in block.billing_url
+
+
+def test_unknown_provider_degrades_without_url():
+    block = build_billing_block(
+        provider="my_local_llm",
+        base_url="http://localhost:1234/v1",
+        model="llama",
+    )
+    assert block.is_nous is False
+    # No invented URL for an unknown provider — but a readable label survives.
+    assert block.billing_url is None
+    assert block.provider_label  # non-empty, humanized
+
+
+def test_message_is_carried_through_unchanged():
+    block = build_billing_block(
+        provider="openai",
+        base_url="",
+        model="gpt-5",
+        message="You are out of credits.",
+    )
+    assert block.message == "You are out of credits."
+
+
+def test_to_dict_round_trips_all_fields():
+    block = build_billing_block(provider="openai", base_url="", model="gpt-5")
+    data = block.to_dict()
+    assert set(data) == {
+        "provider",
+        "provider_label",
+        "model",
+        "billing_url",
+        "is_nous",
+        "message",
+    }
+    assert isinstance(block, BillingBlock)
diff --git a/tui_gateway/server.py b/tui_gateway/server.py
index e2057ff5db3b..7adbd8ba8c46 100644
--- a/tui_gateway/server.py
+++ b/tui_gateway/server.py
@@ -10661,6 +10661,13 @@ def _run_prompt_submit(rid, sid: str, session: dict, text: Any) -> None:
                 payload["warning"] = status_note
             if result.get("response_previewed"):
                 payload["response_previewed"] = True
+            # Forward the structured billing-wall descriptor (provider,
+            # billing_url, is_nous, message) so the TUI/desktop render a
+            # billing-specific recovery surface instead of re-parsing text.
+            _billing_block = result.get("billing_block") if isinstance(result, dict) else None
+            if _billing_block:
+                payload["billing"] = _billing_block
+                payload["failure_reason"] = result.get("failure_reason")
             rendered = render_message(raw, cols)
             if rendered:
                 payload["rendered"] = rendered
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/__tests__/createGatewayEventHandler.test.ts b/ui-tui/src/__tests__/createGatewayEventHandler.test.ts
index fdd12d7b1528..42bf75e74d25 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/__tests__/createGatewayEventHandler.test.ts
+++ b/ui-tui/src/__tests__/createGatewayEventHandler.test.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,62 @@ describe('createGatewayEventHandler', () => {
     expect(getTurnState().todos).toEqual([])
   })
 
+  it('opens a billing confirm dialog routing Nous to /topup', () => {
+    const appended: Msg[] = []
+    const ctx = buildCtx(appended)
+    const onEvent = createGatewayEventHandler(ctx)
+
+    onEvent({
+      payload: {
+        billing: {
+          billing_url: null,
+          is_nous: true,
+          message: 'out of credits',
+          model: 'm',
+          provider: 'nous',
+          provider_label: 'Nous Portal'
+        },
+        text: 'Billing or credits exhausted: ...'
+      },
+      type: 'message.complete'
+    } as any)
+
+    const { confirm } = getOverlayState()
+    expect(confirm?.title).toContain('Nous')
+    expect(confirm?.confirmLabel).toBe('Top up')
+
+    confirm!.onConfirm()
+    expect(ctx.submission.submitRef.current).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/topup')
+  })
+
+  it('deep-links a third-party provider billing page from the confirm dialog', () => {
+    const appended: Msg[] = []
+    const ctx = buildCtx(appended)
+    const onEvent = createGatewayEventHandler(ctx)
+    openExternalUrlMock.mockClear()
+
+    onEvent({
+      payload: {
+        billing: {
+          billing_url: 'https://openrouter.ai/settings/credits',
+          is_nous: false,
+          message: 'out of credits',
+          model: 'm',
+          provider: 'openrouter',
+          provider_label: 'OpenRouter'
+        },
+        text: 'Billing or credits exhausted: ...'
+      },
+      type: 'message.complete'
+    } as any)
+
+    const { confirm } = getOverlayState()
+    expect(confirm?.confirmLabel).toBe('Open billing page')
+
+    confirm!.onConfirm()
+    expect(openExternalUrlMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('https://openrouter.ai/settings/credits')
+  })
+
   it('archives completed todos into transcript flow at end of turn', () => {
     const appended: Msg[] = []
     const todos = [{ content: 'Serve tiny latte', id: 'serve', status: 'completed' }]
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/app/createGatewayEventHandler.ts b/ui-tui/src/app/createGatewayEventHandler.ts
index fccb499b0e4e..8527e083a580 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/app/createGatewayEventHandler.ts
+++ b/ui-tui/src/app/createGatewayEventHandler.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import type {
   GatewaySkin,
   SessionMostRecentResponse
 } from '../gatewayTypes.js'
+import { billingDialogCopy } from '../lib/billingDialog.js'
 import { relativeLuminance } from '../lib/color.js'
 import { isTodoDone } from '../lib/liveProgress.js'
 import { openExternalUrl } from '../lib/openExternalUrl.js'
@@ -1278,6 +1279,35 @@ export function createGatewayEventHandler(ctx: GatewayEventHandlerContext): (ev:
           patchUiState(state => ({ ...state, usage: { ...state.usage, ...ev.payload!.usage } }))
         }
 
+        // Billing wall (out of credits / payment required): open a proper
+        // confirm dialog with the one recovery action, not a truncating status
+        // notice. The transcript already carries the full provider guidance;
+        // this is the actionable layer. Set AFTER recordMessageComplete() so the
+        // turn-idle resetFlowOverlays() (which clears `confirm`) can't wipe it;
+        // the top-of-loop guard already scopes this to the active session.
+        if (ev.payload?.billing) {
+          const block = ev.payload.billing
+          const copy = billingDialogCopy(block)
+
+          patchOverlayState({
+            confirm: {
+              cancelLabel: copy.cancelLabel,
+              confirmLabel: copy.confirmLabel,
+              detail: copy.detail,
+              onConfirm: () => {
+                if (block.is_nous) {
+                  submitRef.current('/topup')
+                } else if (block.billing_url) {
+                  openExternalUrl(block.billing_url)
+                } else {
+                  submitRef.current('/model')
+                }
+              },
+              title: copy.title
+            }
+          })
+        }
+
         return
       }
 
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/gatewayTypes.ts b/ui-tui/src/gatewayTypes.ts
index 8ef5ba46fc89..b9cc8f999cb8 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/gatewayTypes.ts
+++ b/ui-tui/src/gatewayTypes.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import type { UsageModelData } from '@hermes/shared/billing'
+import type { BillingBlock, UsageModelData } from '@hermes/shared/billing'
 import type { HermesSkin } from '@hermes/shared/skin'
 
 import type { SessionInfo, SlashCategory, SubagentStatus, Usage } from './types.js'
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ export interface SlashExecResponse {
 // Wire shapes now live in @hermes/shared for reuse by TypeScript clients.
 export type {
   BillingAutoReload,
+  BillingBlock,
   BillingCardInfo,
   BillingChargeResponse,
   BillingChargeStatusResponse,
@@ -660,7 +661,15 @@ export type GatewayEvent =
       type: 'message.interim'
     }
   | {
-      payload?: { reasoning?: string; rendered?: string; response_previewed?: boolean; text?: string; usage?: Usage }
+      payload?: {
+        billing?: BillingBlock
+        failure_reason?: string
+        reasoning?: string
+        rendered?: string
+        response_previewed?: boolean
+        text?: string
+        usage?: Usage
+      }
       session_id?: string
       type: 'message.complete'
     }
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/lib/billingDialog.test.ts b/ui-tui/src/lib/billingDialog.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ae30b72b4bd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui-tui/src/lib/billingDialog.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import type { BillingBlock } from '@hermes/shared/billing'
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+
+import { billingDialogCopy } from './billingDialog.js'
+
+function makeBlock(overrides: Partial<BillingBlock> = {}): BillingBlock {
+  return {
+    billing_url: 'https://openrouter.ai/settings/credits',
+    is_nous: false,
+    message: 'out of credits',
+    model: 'x',
+    provider: 'openrouter',
+    provider_label: 'OpenRouter',
+    ...overrides
+  }
+}
+
+describe('billingDialogCopy', () => {
+  it('routes Nous to the /topup flow', () => {
+    const copy = billingDialogCopy(makeBlock({ is_nous: true, provider: 'nous', provider_label: 'Nous Portal' }))
+    expect(copy.title).toContain('Nous')
+    expect(copy.confirmLabel).toBe('Top up')
+    expect(copy.cancelLabel).toBe('Dismiss')
+  })
+
+  it('offers to open a third-party provider billing page', () => {
+    const copy = billingDialogCopy(makeBlock())
+    expect(copy.title).toContain('OpenRouter')
+    expect(copy.confirmLabel).toBe('Open billing page')
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to switching providers when there is no URL', () => {
+    const copy = billingDialogCopy(makeBlock({ billing_url: null, provider_label: 'DeepSeek' }))
+    expect(copy.title).toContain('DeepSeek')
+    expect(copy.confirmLabel).toBe('Switch provider')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/lib/billingDialog.ts b/ui-tui/src/lib/billingDialog.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9b7e7b8b4013
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui-tui/src/lib/billingDialog.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import type { BillingBlock } from '@hermes/shared/billing'
+
+export interface BillingDialogCopy {
+  cancelLabel: string
+  confirmLabel: string
+  detail: string
+  title: string
+}
+
+/**
+ * Copy for the out-of-credits confirm dialog (the TUI's billing wall). The
+ * dialog is the actionable layer — the full provider guidance already lands in
+ * the transcript — so `detail` stays to one concise, non-truncating line and the
+ * confirm button carries the recovery: Nous → `/topup`, other providers → their
+ * billing page (or `/model` to switch when we have no URL). Pure + exported so
+ * the wording is unit-tested without driving the gateway.
+ */
+export function billingDialogCopy(block: BillingBlock): BillingDialogCopy {
+  if (block.is_nous) {
+    return {
+      cancelLabel: 'Dismiss',
+      confirmLabel: 'Top up',
+      detail: 'Your Nous credit balance is exhausted — top up to keep going.',
+      title: 'Out of Nous credits'
+    }
+  }
+
+  const label = block.provider_label || 'your provider'
+
+  return {
+    cancelLabel: 'Dismiss',
+    confirmLabel: block.billing_url ? 'Open billing page' : 'Switch provider',
+    detail: `${label} reports your credits or billing are exhausted.`,
+    title: `Out of credits · ${label}`
+  }
+}