How to Reduce Agent Token Costs from CLI (2026 Guide)

The article outlines practical ways to cut token costs for CLI coding agents by narrowing task scope and reducing repeated context.

It recommends keeping memory files short, using /compact or /clear when switching tasks, and enabling prompt caching.

For low-risk work, routing to cheaper models and trimming command output and logs can further lower spend.

It also stresses measuring token usage per run, since reading whole repos and resending long chat history are major cost drivers.