diff --git a/app/collectors/__init__.py b/app/collectors/__init__.py
index 87fcd69..39cbcfd 100644
--- a/app/collectors/__init__.py
+++ b/app/collectors/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 from app.collectors.packetstream import PacketStreamCollector
 from app.collectors.proxyrack import ProxyRackCollector
 from app.collectors.repocket import RepocketCollector
+from app.collectors.salad import SaladCollector
 from app.collectors.storj import StorjCollector
 from app.collectors.traffmonetizer import TraffmonetizerCollector
 
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@
     "packetstream": PacketStreamCollector,
     "grass": GrassCollector,
     "bytelixir": BytelixirCollector,
+    "salad": SaladCollector,
 }
 
 # Map of slug -> list of config keys needed to instantiate the collector
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@
     "packetstream": ["auth_token"],
     "grass": ["access_token"],
     "bytelixir": ["session_cookie", "?remember_web", "?xsrf_token"],
+    "salad": ["auth_cookie"],
 }
 
 
diff --git a/app/collectors/salad.py b/app/collectors/salad.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f22143c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/collectors/salad.py
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+"""Salad earnings collector.
+
+Authenticates via the ``auth`` cookie and fetches the current balance
+from the Salad API at app-api.salad.com.
+
+Salad uses ASP.NET Core anti-forgery: the ``auth`` cookie value must
+also be sent as the ``X-XSRF-TOKEN`` header (double-submit pattern).
+
+To get the token: open salad.com in your browser, log in, press F12,
+go to Application > Cookies > .salad.com, and copy the ``auth`` cookie.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+
+import httpx
+
+from app.collectors.base import BaseCollector, EarningsResult
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+API_BASE = "https://app-api.salad.com/api/v1"
+
+
+class SaladCollector(BaseCollector):
+    """Collect earnings from Salad's API using the auth cookie."""
+
+    platform = "salad"
+
+    def __init__(self, auth_cookie: str) -> None:
+        self.auth_cookie = auth_cookie
+
+    async def collect(self) -> EarningsResult:
+        """Fetch current Salad balance."""
+        try:
+            cookies = {"auth": self.auth_cookie}
+            headers = {"X-XSRF-TOKEN": self.auth_cookie}
+
+            async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=30) as client:
+                resp = await client.get(
+                    f"{API_BASE}/profile/balance",
+                    cookies=cookies,
+                    headers=headers,
+                )
+
+                if resp.status_code in (401, 403):
+                    return EarningsResult(
+                        platform=self.platform,
+                        balance=0.0,
+                        error="Auth cookie expired — get a new 'auth' cookie from salad.com",
+                    )
+
+                resp.raise_for_status()
+                data = resp.json()
+
+                balance = float(data.get("currentBalance", 0))
+
+                return EarningsResult(
+                    platform=self.platform,
+                    balance=round(balance, 4),
+                    currency="USD",
+                )
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logger.error("Salad collection failed: %s", exc)
+            return EarningsResult(
+                platform=self.platform,
+                balance=0.0,
+                error=str(exc),
+            )
diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
index 65181d7..72b4a17 100644
--- a/app/main.py
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -1271,6 +1271,7 @@ async def api_collectors_meta(request: Request) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
         "access_token",
         "api_key",
         "session_cookie",
+        "auth_cookie",
         "oauth_token",
         "brd_sess_id",
     }
@@ -1318,6 +1319,30 @@ class ConfigUpdate(BaseModel):
 async def api_set_config(request: Request, body: ConfigUpdate) -> dict[str, str]:
     _require_owner(request)
     await database.set_config_bulk(body.data)
+
+    # Auto-create "external" deployment records for manual-only services
+    # whose collector credentials were just saved.  Without a deployment
+    # row, _run_collection() will never instantiate the collector.
+    from app.collectors import _COLLECTOR_ARGS
+
+    for slug, arg_keys in _COLLECTOR_ARGS.items():
+        required_keys = [f"{slug}_{a.lstrip('?')}" for a in arg_keys if not a.startswith("?")]
+        if not required_keys:
+            continue
+        if not all(body.data.get(k) for k in required_keys):
+            continue
+        svc = catalog.get_service(slug)
+        if not svc:
+            continue
+        docker_conf = svc.get("docker", {})
+        has_image = bool(docker_conf and docker_conf.get("image"))
+        if has_image:
+            continue  # Docker services get deployed normally
+        existing = await database.get_deployment(slug)
+        if not existing:
+            await database.save_deployment(slug=slug, container_id="", status="external")
+            logger.info("Auto-created external deployment for %s", slug)
+
     return {"status": "saved"}
 
 
diff --git a/docs/guides/salad.md b/docs/guides/salad.md
index 5a193e0..a333201 100644
--- a/docs/guides/salad.md
+++ b/docs/guides/salad.md
@@ -33,20 +33,27 @@ Salad.io lets you share your GPU for distributed AI workloads and earn Salad bal
 
 ### 1. Create an account
 
-Sign up at [Salad](https://salad.io).
+Sign up at [Salad](https://salad.io) and install the desktop application on your Windows machine.
 
-### 2. Get your credentials
+### 2. Get your auth cookie
 
-After signing up, locate the credentials needed for Docker deployment. These are typically your email/password or an API token found in the dashboard.
+Salad runs as a native Windows app — there is no Docker image. To let CashPilot track your earnings:
 
-### 3. Deploy with CashPilot
+1. Open [salad.com](https://salad.com) in your browser and log in.
+2. Press **F12** to open DevTools.
+3. Go to **Application > Cookies > salad.com**.
+4. Copy the value of the `auth` cookie (starts with `CfDJ8...`).
 
-In the CashPilot web UI, find **Salad** in the service catalog and click **Deploy**. Enter the required credentials and CashPilot will handle the rest.
+### 3. Configure CashPilot
 
-## Docker Configuration
+Add the cookie to your CashPilot configuration:
+
+```
+salad_auth_cookie=<your auth cookie value>
+```
 
-- **Image:** ``
+CashPilot will poll `app-api.salad.com/api/v1/profile/balance` to fetch your current and lifetime balance.
 
-### Environment Variables
+## Docker Configuration
 
-No environment variables required.
+Salad is a native Windows desktop application — no Docker image is available. CashPilot monitors earnings via the Salad API only.
diff --git a/services/compute/salad.yml b/services/compute/salad.yml
index 5491480..4dd39e4 100644
--- a/services/compute/salad.yml
+++ b/services/compute/salad.yml
@@ -53,4 +53,4 @@ platforms: [windows]
 
 collector:
   type: api
-  notes: "API at app.salad.io. Auth via session token. Earnings and machine status endpoints available."
+  notes: "API at app-api.salad.com/api/v1/profile/balance. Auth via 'auth' cookie + X-XSRF-TOKEN header (double-submit). Returns currentBalance (USD) and lifetimeBalance."