diff --git a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/components/layout/SpaceSwitcher.svelte b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/components/layout/SpaceSwitcher.svelte
index 28821a0cb..3e775f277 100644
--- a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/components/layout/SpaceSwitcher.svelte
+++ b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/components/layout/SpaceSwitcher.svelte
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 	import { getActiveSpace, loadActiveSpace, type ActiveSpace } from '$lib/data/scope';
 	import { SPACE_TYPE_LABELS } from '@mana/shared-branding';
-	import { isSpaceType } from '@mana/shared-types';
+	import { isSpaceType, isSpaceTier } from '@mana/shared-types';
 	import SpaceCreateDialog from './SpaceCreateDialog.svelte';
 
 	interface Props {
@@ -49,12 +49,14 @@
 				metadata?: unknown;
 			}>;
 			spaces = raw.map((o) => {
-				const meta = (o.metadata ?? {}) as { type?: unknown };
+				const meta = (o.metadata ?? {}) as { type?: unknown; tier?: unknown };
 				const type = isSpaceType(meta.type) ? meta.type : 'personal';
+				const tier = isSpaceTier(meta.tier) ? meta.tier : 'public';
 				return {
 					id: o.id,
 					slug: o.slug ?? '',
 					name: o.name,
+					tier,
 					type,
 					role: 'member', // real role comes via /get-active-member; not needed for display
 				};
diff --git a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/active-space.svelte.ts b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/active-space.svelte.ts
index 0e09a2f17..23f78527c 100644
--- a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/active-space.svelte.ts
+++ b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/active-space.svelte.ts
@@ -9,14 +9,15 @@
  * See docs/plans/spaces-foundation.md §5.
  */
 
-import type { SpaceType } from '@mana/shared-types';
-import { isSpaceType } from '@mana/shared-types';
+import type { SpaceType, SpaceTier } from '@mana/shared-types';
+import { isSpaceType, isSpaceTier } from '@mana/shared-types';
 
 export interface ActiveSpace {
 	id: string;
 	slug: string;
 	name: string;
 	type: SpaceType;
+	tier: SpaceTier;
 	role: string;
 }
 
@@ -48,6 +49,22 @@ export function setActiveSpace(space: ActiveSpace | null): void {
 	lastError = null;
 }
 
+/**
+ * The tier to use for app-access gating right now. Prefers the active
+ * Space's tier; falls back to the caller-supplied user tier for the
+ * bootstrap window where the active space isn't loaded yet.
+ *
+ * Callers pass their own user-tier fallback (usually `authStore.user?.tier`)
+ * rather than having this module reach into auth — keeps the scope
+ * layer free of UI-auth dependencies.
+ */
+export function getEffectiveTier(userFallback: SpaceTier | string | undefined): SpaceTier {
+	const space = active;
+	if (space?.tier && isSpaceTier(space.tier)) return space.tier;
+	if (typeof userFallback === 'string' && isSpaceTier(userFallback)) return userFallback;
+	return 'guest';
+}
+
 /**
  * Resolve the user's active space from Better Auth. Idempotent — safe to
  * call multiple times; successive calls short-circuit when `status === 'ready'`.
@@ -147,13 +164,15 @@ async function setActiveOnServer(organizationId: string): Promise<void> {
  * hooks landed, and 'personal' is the safest default.
  */
 function rawToActiveSpace(raw: RawOrg, role: string): ActiveSpace {
-	const meta = (raw.metadata ?? {}) as { type?: unknown };
+	const meta = (raw.metadata ?? {}) as { type?: unknown; tier?: unknown };
 	const type: SpaceType = isSpaceType(meta.type) ? meta.type : 'personal';
+	const tier: SpaceTier = isSpaceTier(meta.tier) ? meta.tier : 'public';
 	return {
 		id: raw.id,
 		slug: raw.slug ?? '',
 		name: raw.name,
 		type,
+		tier,
 		role,
 	};
 }
diff --git a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/index.ts b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/index.ts
index bbaaca81e..c85fdb066 100644
--- a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/index.ts
+++ b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/index.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export {
 	getActiveSpaceError,
 	setActiveSpace,
 	loadActiveSpace,
+	getEffectiveTier,
 	type ActiveSpace,
 	type ActiveSpaceStatus,
 } from './active-space.svelte';
diff --git a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/scope.test.ts b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/scope.test.ts
index 42a0a1c76..7e5d594ba 100644
--- a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/scope.test.ts
+++ b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/data/scope/scope.test.ts
@@ -68,20 +68,41 @@ describe('assertModuleAllowed', () => {
 	});
 
 	it('allows any module in a personal space', () => {
-		setActiveSpace({ id: 'x', slug: '@me', name: 'Me', type: 'personal', role: 'owner' });
+		setActiveSpace({
+			id: 'x',
+			slug: '@me',
+			name: 'Me',
+			type: 'personal',
+			tier: 'founder',
+			role: 'owner',
+		});
 		expect(() => assertModuleAllowed('todo')).not.toThrow();
 		expect(() => assertModuleAllowed('mood')).not.toThrow();
 		expect(() => assertModuleAllowed('club-finance')).not.toThrow();
 	});
 
 	it('rejects personal-only modules in a brand space', () => {
-		setActiveSpace({ id: 'y', slug: '@e', name: 'E', type: 'brand', role: 'owner' });
+		setActiveSpace({
+			id: 'y',
+			slug: '@e',
+			name: 'E',
+			type: 'brand',
+			tier: 'public',
+			role: 'owner',
+		});
 		// mood is not in the brand allowlist
 		expect(() => assertModuleAllowed('mood')).toThrow(ModuleNotInSpaceError);
 	});
 
 	it('allows whitelisted modules in a brand space', () => {
-		setActiveSpace({ id: 'y', slug: '@e', name: 'E', type: 'brand', role: 'owner' });
+		setActiveSpace({
+			id: 'y',
+			slug: '@e',
+			name: 'E',
+			type: 'brand',
+			tier: 'public',
+			role: 'owner',
+		});
 		expect(() => assertModuleAllowed('social-relay')).not.toThrow();
 		expect(() => assertModuleAllowed('mail')).not.toThrow();
 	});
diff --git a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte
index 6a89ee5b3..c3069f3f5 100644
--- a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte
+++ b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/routes/(app)/+layout.svelte
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
 	import { useSyncStatusItems } from '$lib/components/layout/use-sync-status-items.svelte';
 	import RouteTierGate from '$lib/components/layout/RouteTierGate.svelte';
 	import SpaceSwitcher from '$lib/components/layout/SpaceSwitcher.svelte';
+	import { getEffectiveTier } from '$lib/data/scope';
 	import { useLocalStt } from '$lib/components/voice/use-local-stt.svelte';
 	import { Microphone, Stop } from '@mana/shared-icons';
 	import {
@@ -108,7 +109,10 @@
 	}
 
 	// ── App switcher ────────────────────────────────────────
-	let appItems = $derived(getPillAppItems('mana', undefined, undefined, authStore.user?.tier));
+	// Prefer the active Space's tier for gating — falls back to the user
+	// tier only during the bootstrap window where no space has loaded.
+	let effectiveTier = $derived(getEffectiveTier(authStore.user?.tier));
+	let appItems = $derived(getPillAppItems('mana', undefined, undefined, effectiveTier));
 
 	// ── Per-route tier gate ─────────────────────────────────
 	// AuthGate (the wrapping component) only checks tiers onMount and only
@@ -130,15 +134,14 @@
 	});
 	let routeBlocked = $derived.by(() => {
 		if (!routeAppId) return false;
-		const tier = authStore.user?.tier ?? 'guest';
-		return !hasAppAccess(tier, routeAppId.requiredTier);
+		return !hasAppAccess(effectiveTier, routeAppId.requiredTier);
 	});
 	let routeTierLabels = $derived.by(() => {
 		const labels = ACCESS_TIER_LABELS[($locale || 'de') === 'de' ? 'de' : 'en'];
-		const userTier = (authStore.user?.tier ?? 'guest') as AccessTier;
+		const tier = effectiveTier as AccessTier;
 		const required = routeAppId?.requiredTier ?? ('public' as AccessTier);
 		return {
-			user: labels[userTier] ?? userTier,
+			user: labels[tier] ?? tier,
 			required: labels[required] ?? required,
 		};
 	});
diff --git a/packages/shared-types/src/spaces.ts b/packages/shared-types/src/spaces.ts
index 9402c764f..e8b2af831 100644
--- a/packages/shared-types/src/spaces.ts
+++ b/packages/shared-types/src/spaces.ts
@@ -203,8 +203,55 @@ export function isModuleAllowedInSpace(moduleId: SpaceModuleId, spaceType: Space
  * for our Space extension. `type` is required; other fields accumulate as
  * features land (voiceDoc, legalEntity, uid, aiPersonaId, …).
  */
+/**
+ * The access tiers a Space can have. Gates module access via
+ * `requiredTier` on each ManaApp.
+ *
+ * Ordered from least to most access. A higher tier implies access to
+ * everything a lower tier can reach.
+ */
+export type SpaceTier = 'guest' | 'public' | 'beta' | 'alpha' | 'founder';
+
+export const SPACE_TIERS: readonly SpaceTier[] = [
+	'guest',
+	'public',
+	'beta',
+	'alpha',
+	'founder',
+] as const;
+
+const TIER_LEVEL: Record<SpaceTier, number> = {
+	guest: 0,
+	public: 1,
+	beta: 2,
+	alpha: 3,
+	founder: 4,
+};
+
+export function isSpaceTier(value: unknown): value is SpaceTier {
+	return typeof value === 'string' && (SPACE_TIERS as readonly string[]).includes(value);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Check whether a Space's tier is high enough to meet a required tier.
+ * Both undefined/invalid tiers are treated as 'guest' (least access).
+ */
+export function spaceTierMeets(actual: SpaceTier | undefined, required: SpaceTier): boolean {
+	const a = actual && isSpaceTier(actual) ? TIER_LEVEL[actual] : 0;
+	const r = TIER_LEVEL[required];
+	return a >= r;
+}
+
 export interface SpaceMetadata {
 	type: SpaceType;
+	/**
+	 * Access tier for this Space. Gates which modules / features the
+	 * Space can use via ManaApp.requiredTier. Defaults to 'public'.
+	 * The signup hook stamps the user's prior user-level tier onto the
+	 * personal Space so no one loses access during the user→space tier
+	 * migration.
+	 */
+	tier?: SpaceTier;
 	voiceDoc?: string;
 	legalEntity?: string;
 	uid?: string;
diff --git a/services/mana-auth/src/auth/better-auth.config.ts b/services/mana-auth/src/auth/better-auth.config.ts
index 010e6e3b3..81f54a43d 100644
--- a/services/mana-auth/src/auth/better-auth.config.ts
+++ b/services/mana-auth/src/auth/better-auth.config.ts
@@ -226,6 +226,7 @@ export function createBetterAuth(databaseUrl: string) {
 							id: user.id,
 							email: user.email,
 							name: user.name,
+							accessTier: (user as { accessTier?: string | null }).accessTier,
 						});
 					},
 				},
diff --git a/services/mana-auth/src/spaces/personal-space.ts b/services/mana-auth/src/spaces/personal-space.ts
index d8d3a7d01..08f23b618 100644
--- a/services/mana-auth/src/spaces/personal-space.ts
+++ b/services/mana-auth/src/spaces/personal-space.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 import { and, eq } from 'drizzle-orm';
 import { nanoid } from 'nanoid';
+import { isSpaceTier, type SpaceTier } from '@mana/shared-types';
 import { organizations, members } from '../db/schema/organizations';
 import type { Database } from '../db/connection';
 import { buildSpaceMetadata } from './metadata';
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ export function dbSlugTaken(db: Database): SlugTakenLookup {
  */
 export async function createPersonalSpaceFor(
 	db: Database,
-	user: { id: string; email: string; name?: string | null }
+	user: { id: string; email: string; name?: string | null; accessTier?: string | null }
 ): Promise<{ organizationId: string; slug: string; created: boolean }> {
 	// Idempotency guard — check for existing personal space via member join.
 	const existing = await db
@@ -133,12 +134,19 @@ export async function createPersonalSpaceFor(
 	const memberId = nanoid();
 	const displayName = user.name?.trim() || user.email.split('@', 1)[0] || 'Personal';
 
+	// Carry the user's existing access tier onto the personal Space so
+	// the user→space tier migration doesn't downgrade anyone. A founder
+	// account setting up their first space stays at founder in that
+	// space. Invalid or missing values default to 'public' — matches the
+	// Better Auth user.accessTier default.
+	const inheritedTier: SpaceTier = isSpaceTier(user.accessTier) ? user.accessTier : 'public';
+
 	await db.transaction(async (tx) => {
 		await tx.insert(organizations).values({
 			id: orgId,
 			name: displayName,
 			slug,
-			metadata: buildSpaceMetadata('personal'),
+			metadata: buildSpaceMetadata('personal', { tier: inheritedTier }),
 			logo: null,
 		});
 		await tx.insert(members).values({