diff --git a/app/config.py b/app/config.py
index 70c0f1c..d70e8a2 100644
--- a/app/config.py
+++ b/app/config.py
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     # by app.services.openrouter._resolve_tone.
     CASSANDRA_TONE: str = "INTERMEDIATE"      # NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE
     CASSANDRA_ANALYSIS: str = "SPECULATIVE"   # DRY | SPECULATIVE
+    BETA_MODE: bool = True  # Shows a "BETA" pill in the app header. Flip to False at GA.
 
     # Config file locations (overridable for tests)
     BASELINE_TOML: Path = Field(default_factory=lambda: CONFIG_DIR / "default.toml")
diff --git a/app/static/css/cassandra.css b/app/static/css/cassandra.css
index e5f1d79..d0681b3 100644
--- a/app/static/css/cassandra.css
+++ b/app/static/css/cassandra.css
@@ -1708,3 +1708,19 @@ a.btn-secondary:hover { color: var(--accent); border-color: var(--accent); }
 .tier-card li.tier-card__excluded { color: var(--muted); }
 .tier-card li.tier-card__excluded::before { content: "✕ "; color: var(--dim); }
 .tier-card__cta { margin-top: auto; }
+
+/* BETA indicator pill in the app header — see app/templates/base.html. */
+.beta-chip {
+  display: inline-block;
+  margin-left: 8px;
+  padding: 2px 7px;
+  font-size: 10px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  letter-spacing: 0.14em;
+  font-family: var(--font-mono);
+  color: var(--bg);
+  background: var(--accent);
+  border-radius: 2px;
+  vertical-align: middle;
+  user-select: none;
+}
diff --git a/app/templates/base.html b/app/templates/base.html
index fa05eb4..aec5c88 100644
--- a/app/templates/base.html
+++ b/app/templates/base.html
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@
 <div class="app">
   <header class="app-header">
     <a href="/" class="brand" aria-label="Dashboard">{{ BRAND_NAME }}</a>
+    {% if BETA_MODE %}<span class="beta-chip" title="Beta — feedback welcome at hello@read.markets">BETA</span>{% endif %}
     <nav>
       <a href="/"     class="{% if request.url.path == '/' %}active{% endif %}">Dashboard</a>
       <a href="/news" class="{% if request.url.path == '/news' %}active{% endif %}">News</a>
diff --git a/app/templates_env.py b/app/templates_env.py
index fc92112..22cfdf6 100644
--- a/app/templates_env.py
+++ b/app/templates_env.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from fastapi.templating import Jinja2Templates
 from markupsafe import Markup, escape
 
 from app import branding
+from app.config import get_settings
 from app.services.glossary import wrap_glossary
 
 
@@ -75,3 +76,4 @@ templates.env.globals["TAGLINE"] = branding.TAGLINE
 templates.env.globals["LEGAL_OPERATOR"] = branding.LEGAL_OPERATOR
 templates.env.globals["OPERATOR_EMAIL"] = branding.OPERATOR_EMAIL
 templates.env.globals["OPERATOR_JURISDICTION"] = branding.OPERATOR_JURISDICTION
+templates.env.globals["BETA_MODE"] = get_settings().BETA_MODE