diff --git a/src/agents/system-prompt.ts b/src/agents/system-prompt.ts
index 7e6150676..d3a0c4d15 100644
--- a/src/agents/system-prompt.ts
+++ b/src/agents/system-prompt.ts
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ export function buildAgentSystemPrompt(params: {
     browser: "Control web browser",
     canvas: "Present/eval/snapshot the Canvas",
     nodes: "List/describe/notify/camera/screen on paired nodes",
-    cron: "Manage cron jobs and wake events (use for reminders; when scheduling a reminder, write the systemEvent text as something that will read like a reminder when it fires, and mention that it is a reminder depending on the time gap between setting and firing; include recent context in reminder text if appropriate)",
+    cron: "Manage cron jobs and wake events (use for reminders; when scheduling a reminder, write the systemEvent text as something that will read like a reminder when it fires, and mention that it is a reminder depending on the time gap between setting and firing; include recent context in reminder text if appropriate; for simple text reminders that don't need AI processing, use sessionTarget=\"none\" with payload.kind=\"directMessage\" — zero token cost)",
     message: "Send messages and channel actions",
     gateway: "Restart, apply config, or run updates on the running OpenClaw process",
     agents_list: "List agent ids allowed for sessions_spawn",
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ export function buildAgentSystemPrompt(params: {
           "- browser: control openclaw's dedicated browser",
           "- canvas: present/eval/snapshot the Canvas",
           "- nodes: list/describe/notify/camera/screen on paired nodes",
-          "- cron: manage cron jobs and wake events (use for reminders; when scheduling a reminder, write the systemEvent text as something that will read like a reminder when it fires, and mention that it is a reminder depending on the time gap between setting and firing; include recent context in reminder text if appropriate)",
+          "- cron: manage cron jobs and wake events (use for reminders; when scheduling a reminder, write the systemEvent text as something that will read like a reminder when it fires, and mention that it is a reminder depending on the time gap between setting and firing; include recent context in reminder text if appropriate; for simple text reminders that don't need AI processing, use sessionTarget=\"none\" with payload.kind=\"directMessage\" — zero token cost)",
           "- sessions_list: list sessions",
           "- sessions_history: fetch session history",
           "- sessions_send: send to another session",
diff --git a/src/agents/tools/cron-tool.ts b/src/agents/tools/cron-tool.ts
index 739b3ada3..551fabb1a 100644
--- a/src/agents/tools/cron-tool.ts
+++ b/src/agents/tools/cron-tool.ts
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ JOB SCHEMA (for add action):
   "name": "string (optional)",
   "schedule": { ... },      // Required: when to run
   "payload": { ... },       // Required: what to execute
-  "sessionTarget": "main" | "isolated",  // Required
+  "sessionTarget": "main" | "isolated" | "none",  // Required
   "enabled": true | false   // Optional, default true
 }
 
@@ -167,10 +167,13 @@ PAYLOAD TYPES (payload.kind):
   { "kind": "systemEvent", "text": "<message>" }
 - "agentTurn": Runs agent with message (isolated sessions only)
   { "kind": "agentTurn", "message": "<prompt>", "model": "<optional>", "thinking": "<optional>", "timeoutSeconds": <optional>, "deliver": <optional-bool>, "channel": "<optional>", "to": "<optional>", "bestEffortDeliver": <optional-bool> }
+- "directMessage": Sends text directly to a channel WITHOUT AI — zero token cost. Best for simple text reminders.
+  { "kind": "directMessage", "text": "<message>", "channel": "<optional-channel-id>", "to": "<optional-target>" }
 
 CRITICAL CONSTRAINTS:
 - sessionTarget="main" REQUIRES payload.kind="systemEvent"
 - sessionTarget="isolated" REQUIRES payload.kind="agentTurn"
+- sessionTarget="none" REQUIRES payload.kind="directMessage"
 
 WAKE MODES (for wake action):
 - "next-heartbeat" (default): Wake on next heartbeat
diff --git a/src/cron/normalize.ts b/src/cron/normalize.ts
index 55e21684f..7c5446e72 100644
--- a/src/cron/normalize.ts
+++ b/src/cron/normalize.ts
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ export function normalizeCronJobInput(
       const kind = typeof next.payload.kind === "string" ? next.payload.kind : "";
       if (kind === "systemEvent") next.sessionTarget = "main";
       if (kind === "agentTurn") next.sessionTarget = "isolated";
+      if (kind === "directMessage") next.sessionTarget = "none";
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/cron/service/jobs.ts b/src/cron/service/jobs.ts
index 132156a0c..6d6a86411 100644
--- a/src/cron/service/jobs.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service/jobs.ts
@@ -131,6 +131,16 @@ function mergeCronPayload(existing: CronPayload, patch: CronPayloadPatch): CronP
     return { kind: "systemEvent", text };
   }
 
+  if (patch.kind === "directMessage") {
+    if (existing.kind !== "directMessage") {
+      return buildPayloadFromPatch(patch);
+    }
+    const text = typeof patch.text === "string" ? patch.text : existing.text;
+    const channel = typeof patch.channel === "string" ? patch.channel : existing.channel;
+    const to = typeof patch.to === "string" ? patch.to : existing.to;
+    return { kind: "directMessage", text, channel, to };
+  }
+
   if (existing.kind !== "agentTurn") {
     return buildPayloadFromPatch(patch);
   }
@@ -157,6 +167,13 @@ function buildPayloadFromPatch(patch: CronPayloadPatch): CronPayload {
     return { kind: "systemEvent", text: patch.text };
   }
 
+  if (patch.kind === "directMessage") {
+    if (typeof patch.text !== "string" || patch.text.length === 0) {
+      throw new Error('cron.update payload.kind="directMessage" requires text');
+    }
+    return { kind: "directMessage", text: patch.text, channel: patch.channel, to: patch.to };
+  }
+
   if (typeof patch.message !== "string" || patch.message.length === 0) {
     throw new Error('cron.update payload.kind="agentTurn" requires message');
   }
diff --git a/src/cron/service/normalize.ts b/src/cron/service/normalize.ts
index 161b118fa..34ae5e9df 100644
--- a/src/cron/service/normalize.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service/normalize.ts
@@ -55,5 +55,6 @@ export function inferLegacyName(job: {
 
 export function normalizePayloadToSystemText(payload: CronPayload) {
   if (payload.kind === "systemEvent") return payload.text.trim();
+  if (payload.kind === "directMessage") return payload.text.trim();
   return payload.message.trim();
 }
diff --git a/src/cron/service/state.ts b/src/cron/service/state.ts
index ab094c20b..f8a98becd 100644
--- a/src/cron/service/state.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service/state.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ export type CronServiceDeps = {
     outputText?: string;
     error?: string;
   }>;
+  sendDirectMessage?: (params: { text: string; channel?: string; to?: string }) => Promise<{ ok: boolean; error?: string }>;
   onEvent?: (evt: CronEvent) => void;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/cron/service/timer.ts b/src/cron/service/timer.ts
index 370f5d116..b1b968608 100644
--- a/src/cron/service/timer.ts
+++ b/src/cron/service/timer.ts
@@ -137,6 +137,37 @@ export async function executeJob(
   };
 
   try {
+    if (job.sessionTarget === "none") {
+      if (job.payload.kind !== "directMessage") {
+        await finish("skipped", 'sessionTarget "none" requires payload.kind="directMessage"');
+        return;
+      }
+      const text = job.payload.text?.trim();
+      if (!text) {
+        await finish("skipped", "directMessage requires non-empty text");
+        return;
+      }
+      if (!state.deps.sendDirectMessage) {
+        await finish("error", "directMessage not supported (sendDirectMessage not wired)");
+        return;
+      }
+      try {
+        const res = await state.deps.sendDirectMessage({
+          text,
+          channel: job.payload.channel ?? undefined,
+          to: job.payload.to ?? undefined,
+        });
+        if (res.ok) {
+          await finish("ok", undefined, text);
+        } else {
+          await finish("error", res.error ?? "directMessage send failed");
+        }
+      } catch (sendErr) {
+        await finish("error", String(sendErr));
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (job.sessionTarget === "main") {
       const text = resolveJobPayloadTextForMain(job);
       if (!text) {
diff --git a/src/cron/types.ts b/src/cron/types.ts
index f3fd891d6..3f44e2aef 100644
--- a/src/cron/types.ts
+++ b/src/cron/types.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ export type CronSchedule =
   | { kind: "every"; everyMs: number; anchorMs?: number }
   | { kind: "cron"; expr: string; tz?: string };
 
-export type CronSessionTarget = "main" | "isolated";
+export type CronSessionTarget = "main" | "isolated" | "none";
 export type CronWakeMode = "next-heartbeat" | "now";
 
 export type CronMessageChannel = ChannelId | "last";
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ export type CronPayload =
       channel?: CronMessageChannel;
       to?: string;
       bestEffortDeliver?: boolean;
-    };
+    }
+  | { kind: "directMessage"; text: string; channel?: CronMessageChannel; to?: string };
 
 export type CronPayloadPatch =
   | { kind: "systemEvent"; text?: string }
@@ -39,7 +40,8 @@ export type CronPayloadPatch =
       channel?: CronMessageChannel;
       to?: string;
       bestEffortDeliver?: boolean;
-    };
+    }
+  | { kind: "directMessage"; text?: string; channel?: CronMessageChannel; to?: string };
 
 export type CronIsolation = {
   postToMainPrefix?: string;
diff --git a/src/gateway/protocol/schema/cron.ts b/src/gateway/protocol/schema/cron.ts
index 63ed0c209..fdad619ae 100644
--- a/src/gateway/protocol/schema/cron.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/protocol/schema/cron.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,15 @@ export const CronPayloadSchema = Type.Union([
     },
     { additionalProperties: false },
   ),
+  Type.Object(
+    {
+      kind: Type.Literal("directMessage"),
+      text: NonEmptyString,
+      channel: Type.Optional(Type.Union([Type.Literal("last"), NonEmptyString])),
+      to: Type.Optional(Type.String()),
+    },
+    { additionalProperties: false },
+  ),
 ]);
 
 export const CronPayloadPatchSchema = Type.Union([
@@ -74,6 +83,15 @@ export const CronPayloadPatchSchema = Type.Union([
     },
     { additionalProperties: false },
   ),
+  Type.Object(
+    {
+      kind: Type.Literal("directMessage"),
+      text: Type.Optional(NonEmptyString),
+      channel: Type.Optional(Type.Union([Type.Literal("last"), NonEmptyString])),
+      to: Type.Optional(Type.String()),
+    },
+    { additionalProperties: false },
+  ),
 ]);
 
 export const CronIsolationSchema = Type.Object(
@@ -110,7 +128,7 @@ export const CronJobSchema = Type.Object(
     createdAtMs: Type.Integer({ minimum: 0 }),
     updatedAtMs: Type.Integer({ minimum: 0 }),
     schedule: CronScheduleSchema,
-    sessionTarget: Type.Union([Type.Literal("main"), Type.Literal("isolated")]),
+    sessionTarget: Type.Union([Type.Literal("main"), Type.Literal("isolated"), Type.Literal("none")]),
     wakeMode: Type.Union([Type.Literal("next-heartbeat"), Type.Literal("now")]),
     payload: CronPayloadSchema,
     isolation: Type.Optional(CronIsolationSchema),
@@ -136,7 +154,7 @@ export const CronAddParamsSchema = Type.Object(
     enabled: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean()),
     deleteAfterRun: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean()),
     schedule: CronScheduleSchema,
-    sessionTarget: Type.Union([Type.Literal("main"), Type.Literal("isolated")]),
+    sessionTarget: Type.Union([Type.Literal("main"), Type.Literal("isolated"), Type.Literal("none")]),
     wakeMode: Type.Union([Type.Literal("next-heartbeat"), Type.Literal("now")]),
     payload: CronPayloadSchema,
     isolation: Type.Optional(CronIsolationSchema),
@@ -152,7 +170,7 @@ export const CronJobPatchSchema = Type.Object(
     enabled: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean()),
     deleteAfterRun: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean()),
     schedule: Type.Optional(CronScheduleSchema),
-    sessionTarget: Type.Optional(Type.Union([Type.Literal("main"), Type.Literal("isolated")])),
+    sessionTarget: Type.Optional(Type.Union([Type.Literal("main"), Type.Literal("isolated"), Type.Literal("none")])),
     wakeMode: Type.Optional(Type.Union([Type.Literal("next-heartbeat"), Type.Literal("now")])),
     payload: Type.Optional(CronPayloadPatchSchema),
     isolation: Type.Optional(CronIsolationSchema),
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-cron.ts b/src/gateway/server-cron.ts
index 46d335c39..8d303ba7c 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-cron.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-cron.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { CronService } from "../cron/service.js";
 import { resolveCronStorePath } from "../cron/store.js";
 import { runHeartbeatOnce } from "../infra/heartbeat-runner.js";
 import { requestHeartbeatNow } from "../infra/heartbeat-wake.js";
+import { runMessageAction } from "../infra/outbound/message-action-runner.js";
 import { enqueueSystemEvent } from "../infra/system-events.js";
 import { getChildLogger } from "../logging.js";
 import { normalizeAgentId } from "../routing/session-key.js";
@@ -75,6 +76,27 @@ export function buildGatewayCronService(params: {
         lane: "cron",
       });
     },
+    sendDirectMessage: async ({ text, channel, to }) => {
+      const runtimeConfig = loadConfig();
+      try {
+        await runMessageAction({
+          cfg: runtimeConfig,
+          action: "send",
+          params: {
+            message: text,
+            ...(channel ? { channel } : {}),
+            ...(to ? { target: to } : {}),
+          },
+          gateway: {
+            clientName: "gateway-client",
+            mode: "backend",
+          },
+        });
+        return { ok: true };
+      } catch (err) {
+        return { ok: false, error: String(err) };
+      }
+    },
     log: getChildLogger({ module: "cron", storePath }),
     onEvent: (evt) => {
       params.broadcast("cron", evt, { dropIfSlow: true });