diff --git a/backend/apps/workflows/default_model.py b/backend/apps/workflows/default_model.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8be7f88e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/apps/workflows/default_model.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+"""Which model a workflow runs on when nobody picked one.
+
+`DEFAULT_MODEL` is `opus-5`, and that is Anthropic's API-KEY lane: the Claude subscription lane is a
+separate id (`opus-5-cc`). Defaulting every workflow to the literal therefore billed an API key a
+subscriber may not even have, and named a model a Codex or Gemini subscriber cannot run at all.
+Lives in its own module because both the routes and the executor need it, and importing one from the
+other is a cycle.
+"""
+
+import logging
+from typing import Optional
+
+from typeguard import typechecked
+
+from backend.apps.settings.models import DEFAULT_MODEL
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+@typechecked
+def user_default_model() -> str:
+    """The model this user actually configured, never a vendor literal."""
+    try:
+        from backend.apps.settings.settings import load_settings
+        chosen = (getattr(load_settings(), "default_model", "") or "").strip()
+        return chosen or DEFAULT_MODEL
+    except Exception:
+        logger.debug("could not read the user's default model", exc_info=True)
+        return DEFAULT_MODEL
+
+
+@typechecked
+def provider_for_model(model: Optional[str]) -> str:
+    """Derive the provider from the model instead of assuming Anthropic."""
+    if not model:
+        return "anthropic"
+    try:
+        from backend.apps.agents.providers.registry import get_api_type
+        return get_api_type(model) or "anthropic"
+    except Exception:
+        logger.debug("could not derive a provider for %s", model, exc_info=True)
+        return "anthropic"
diff --git a/backend/apps/workflows/executor.py b/backend/apps/workflows/executor.py
index a5229e1a..4efa0aa9 100644
--- a/backend/apps/workflows/executor.py
+++ b/backend/apps/workflows/executor.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from typing import Optional
 from backend.apps.agents.core.models import AgentConfig
 from backend.apps.workflows.models import Workflow, WorkflowRun
 from backend.apps.workflows import storage
-from backend.apps.settings.models import DEFAULT_MODEL
+from backend.apps.workflows.default_model import provider_for_model, user_default_model
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -302,9 +302,9 @@ async def execute(
         resolved_allowed_tools = _resolve_allowed_tools(wf)
         config = AgentConfig(
             name=wf.title or "Workflow",
-            model=wf.model or DEFAULT_MODEL,
+            model=wf.model or user_default_model(),
             mode=wf.mode or "agent",
-            provider=wf.provider or "anthropic",
+            provider=wf.provider or provider_for_model(wf.model or user_default_model()),
             system_prompt=_resolve_system_prompt(wf),
             # None when the user has not frozen the Actions set, which means the workflow runs with the mode's full surface exactly like a chat does.
             allowed_tools=resolved_allowed_tools,
diff --git a/backend/apps/workflows/workflows.py b/backend/apps/workflows/workflows.py
index 03592cdf..d3349fed 100644
--- a/backend/apps/workflows/workflows.py
+++ b/backend/apps/workflows/workflows.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from backend.apps.workflows.models import (
 from backend.apps.workflows import storage, scheduler, executor, audit, escalation
 from backend.apps.workflows.cloud.handover import release_before_removing
 from backend.apps.settings.models import DEFAULT_MODEL
+from backend.apps.workflows.default_model import provider_for_model, user_default_model
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -292,9 +293,9 @@ async def create_workflow(body: WorkflowCreate):
         permissions=body.permissions or [],
         source_session_id=body.source_session_id,
         dashboard_id=body.dashboard_id,
-        model=body.model or DEFAULT_MODEL,
+        model=body.model or user_default_model(),
         mode=body.mode or "agent",
-        provider=body.provider or "anthropic",
+        provider=body.provider or provider_for_model(body.model or user_default_model()),
         cost_cap_usd_monthly=body.cost_cap_usd_monthly,
         auto_named=body.auto_named,
         unsaved=body.unsaved,