diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index a229f8c..bbe88cd 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ async function main() {
     const heartbeatConfig = agentConfig.features?.heartbeat;
     const heartbeatService = new HeartbeatService(bot, {
       enabled: heartbeatConfig?.enabled ?? false,
-      intervalMinutes: heartbeatConfig?.intervalMin ?? 30,
+      intervalMinutes: heartbeatConfig?.intervalMin ?? 240,
       skipRecentUserMinutes: heartbeatConfig?.skipRecentUserMin ?? globalConfig.heartbeatSkipRecentUserMin,
       agentKey: agentConfig.name,
       prompt: heartbeatConfig?.prompt || process.env.HEARTBEAT_PROMPT,
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ async function main() {
       channels: status.channels,
       features: {
         cron: cfg?.features?.cron ?? globalConfig.cronEnabled,
-        heartbeatIntervalMin: hbCfg?.enabled ? (hbCfg.intervalMin ?? 30) : undefined,
+        heartbeatIntervalMin: hbCfg?.enabled ? (hbCfg.intervalMin ?? 240) : undefined,
       },
     };
   });
diff --git a/src/onboard.ts b/src/onboard.ts
index 504a074..2b4aede 100644
--- a/src/onboard.ts
+++ b/src/onboard.ts
@@ -814,12 +814,18 @@ async function stepFeatures(config: OnboardConfig): Promise<void> {
   config.heartbeat.enabled = setupHeartbeat;
   
   if (setupHeartbeat) {
+    p.log.warn(
+      'Each heartbeat triggers a full agent invocation — real API cost, billed by your model.\n' +
+      'A 30-minute interval runs 48 invocations/day. A 4-hour interval runs 6.\n' +
+      'Most heartbeats are no-ops, but you pay for each one regardless.\n' +
+      'Set a longer interval if you\'re watching your spend.'
+    );
     const interval = await p.text({
       message: 'Interval (minutes)',
-      placeholder: '30',
-      initialValue: config.heartbeat.interval || '30',
+      placeholder: '240',
+      initialValue: config.heartbeat.interval || '240',
     });
-    if (!p.isCancel(interval)) config.heartbeat.interval = interval || '30';
+    if (!p.isCancel(interval)) config.heartbeat.interval = interval || '240';
   }
   
   // Cron