diff --git a/GraphcodeKit/Sources/Domain/NodSettings.swift b/GraphcodeKit/Sources/Domain/NodSettings.swift
index 5757eeb1..7cc445b4 100644
--- a/GraphcodeKit/Sources/Domain/NodSettings.swift
+++ b/GraphcodeKit/Sources/Domain/NodSettings.swift
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ public struct NodSettings: Codable, Equatable, Sendable {
   public var messagesOtherLoops: MessagePolicy
   /// Shell patterns that run without asking, e.g. `swift test *`.
   public var shellAllowlist: [String]
-  /// Per-run cap for unattended loops (timed and composite children), in dollars; 0 is no
-  /// cap. Copilot reports premium requests instead and is capped by its plan.
+  /// Per-run cap for unattended loops (timed and composite children), in dollars; 0, the
+  /// default, is no cap. Copilot reports premium requests instead and is capped by its plan.
   public var spendCapUSD: Double
   /// MCP servers from the project's `.mcp.json` switched off for Nod, by name. The
   /// built-in graphcode server is always on and never listed here.
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public struct NodSettings: Codable, Equatable, Sendable {
     editsOutsideWorktree: Ask = .never,
     messagesOtherLoops: MessagePolicy = .draftForMe,
     shellAllowlist: [String] = [],
-    spendCapUSD: Double = 2,
+    spendCapUSD: Double = 0,
     disabledMCPServers: [String] = []
   ) {
     self.engine = engine
diff --git a/NodRuntime/src/settings.ts b/NodRuntime/src/settings.ts
index 62cc504b..76d39c79 100644
--- a/NodRuntime/src/settings.ts
+++ b/NodRuntime/src/settings.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export const defaultSettings: NodSettings = {
   editsOutsideWorktree: "never",
   messagesOtherLoops: "draftForMe",
   shellAllowlist: [],
-  spendCapUSD: 2,
+  spendCapUSD: 0,
   disabledMCPServers: [],
 };
 
diff --git a/NodRuntime/test/defaults.test.ts b/NodRuntime/test/defaults.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..edbae451
--- /dev/null
+++ b/NodRuntime/test/defaults.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import { expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { defaultSettings } from "../src/settings";
+
+test("Nod runs uncapped unless a person sets a spend cap", () => {
+  expect(defaultSettings.spendCapUSD).toBe(0);
+});
diff --git a/graphcode/Tests/NodBackendTests.swift b/graphcode/Tests/NodBackendTests.swift
index 9bc000af..fca52a09 100644
--- a/graphcode/Tests/NodBackendTests.swift
+++ b/graphcode/Tests/NodBackendTests.swift
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@ struct NodSettingsTests {
 
     #expect(settings.nod == NodSettings())
     #expect(settings.nod.editsInWorktree == .auto)
+    #expect(settings.nod.spendCapUSD == 0)
     #expect(settings.nod.editsOutsideWorktree == .never)
     #expect(settings.nod.messagesOtherLoops == .draftForMe)
   }