We construct nonlinear coherent states or f-deformed coherent states for a nonpolynomial nonlinear oscillator which can be considered as placed in the middle between the harmonic oscillator and the isotonic oscillator (Cariñena et al 2008 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 41 085301). The deformed annihilation and creation operators which are required to construct the nonlinear coherent states in the number basis are obtained from the solution of the Schrödinger equation. Using these operators, we construct generalized intelligent states, nonlinear coherent states, Gazeau–Klauder coherent states and the even and odd nonlinear coherent states for this newly solvable system. We also report certain nonclassical properties exhibited by these nonlinear coherent states. In addition to the above, we consider the position-dependent mass Schrödinger equation associated with this solvable nonlinear oscillator and construct nonlinear coherent states, Gazeau–Klauder coherent states and the even and odd nonlinear coherent states for it. We also give explicit expressions of all these nonlinear coherent states by considering a mass profile which is often used for studying transport properties in semiconductors.