diff --git a/core/lib/canary/interface/controller.ex b/core/lib/canary/interface/controller.ex
index 4ed5e781..7481e06c 100644
--- a/core/lib/canary/interface/controller.ex
+++ b/core/lib/canary/interface/controller.ex
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@ defmodule CanaryWeb.Interface.Controller do
 
   @canary_id_header "x-canary-operation-id"
 
+  plug :rate_limit when action in [:search, :ask]
   plug :set_operation_id when action in [:search, :ask]
   plug :find_project when action in [:search, :ask]
-  plug :rate_limit when action in [:search, :ask]
+  plug :prevent_free_plan when action in [:ask]
 
   defp set_operation_id(conn, _opts) do
     conn |> put_resp_header(@canary_id_header, Ecto.UUID.generate())
@@ -26,12 +27,15 @@ defmodule CanaryWeb.Interface.Controller do
   end
 
   defp find_project(conn, _opts) do
-    err_msg = "no client found with the given key"
+    action = Phoenix.Controller.action_name(conn)
+
+    err_msg = "no project found with the given key"
 
     with {:ok, token} <- get_token_from_header(conn),
          {:ok, project} <-
            Canary.Accounts.Project
            |> Ash.Query.filter(public_key == ^token)
+           |> wrap_project_query(action)
            |> Ash.read_one(not_found_error?: true) do
       conn |> assign(:project, project)
     else
@@ -39,6 +43,43 @@ defmodule CanaryWeb.Interface.Controller do
     end
   end
 
+  defp prevent_free_plan(conn, _opts) do
+    err_msg = "can not access this with free plan"
+
+    cond do
+      Application.get_env(:canary, :env) != :prod ->
+        conn
+
+      conn.host == "cloud.getcanary.dev" ->
+        conn
+
+      not Canary.Membership.can_use_ask?(conn.assigns.project.account) ->
+        conn |> send_resp(403, err_msg) |> halt()
+
+      true ->
+        conn |> send_resp(403, err_msg) |> halt()
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp wrap_project_query(query, action) do
+    if action == :search do
+      query
+    else
+      billing_query =
+        Canary.Accounts.Billing
+        |> Ash.Query.select([:id])
+        |> Ash.Query.load(:membership)
+
+      account_query =
+        Canary.Accounts.Account
+        |> Ash.Query.select([:id])
+        |> Ash.Query.load(billing: billing_query)
+
+      query
+      |> Ash.Query.load(account: account_query)
+    end
+  end
+
   defp get_token_from_header(conn) do
     case get_req_header(conn, "authorization") do
       ["Bearer " <> token] -> {:ok, token}
diff --git a/core/lib/canary/membership.ex b/core/lib/canary/membership.ex
index 56909593..4ab6538e 100644
--- a/core/lib/canary/membership.ex
+++ b/core/lib/canary/membership.ex
@@ -10,6 +10,17 @@ defmodule Canary.Membership do
     end
   end
 
+  def can_use_ask?(%Canary.Accounts.Account{} = account) do
+    account = ensure_membership(account)
+
+    case account.billing.membership.tier do
+      :free -> false
+      :starter -> true
+      :admin -> true
+      _ -> false
+    end
+  end
+
   def max_sources(%Canary.Accounts.Account{} = account) do
     account = ensure_membership(account)
 
diff --git a/core/lib/canary_web/live/example_live/example.ex b/core/lib/canary_web/live/example_live/example.ex
index e91c58a3..7ae122cd 100644
--- a/core/lib/canary_web/live/example_live/example.ex
+++ b/core/lib/canary_web/live/example_live/example.ex
@@ -6,7 +6,14 @@ defmodule CanaryWeb.ExampleLive.Example do
     ~H"""
     <div class="border border-gray-200 py-4 px-6 rounded-md">
       <h2><%= @example.name %></h2>
-      <p :if={@example[:description]} class="italic mb-4"><%= @example.description %></p>
+
+      <div class="flex flex-col mb-4 italic">
+        <p :if={@example[:description]} class="italic"><%= @example.description %></p>
+
+        <span :if={@example[:paid]} class="text-red-700">
+          This is not available in the free plan.
+        </span>
+      </div>
 
       <div class="flex flex-col gap-0 mt-2">
         <div class="text-md mb-2">
diff --git a/core/lib/canary_web/live/example_live/examples.ex b/core/lib/canary_web/live/example_live/examples.ex
index 0788f297..2b198f19 100644
--- a/core/lib/canary_web/live/example_live/examples.ex
+++ b/core/lib/canary_web/live/example_live/examples.ex
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ defmodule CanaryWeb.ExampleLive.Examples do
           has_webpage and has_github and tags != "" ->
             %{
               name: "Search with Ask AI",
+              paid: true,
               description: "Type longer question, and press tab to run 'Ask AI'.",
               code: """
               <canary-root query="why use #{assigns.current_project.name}?">
@@ -164,6 +165,7 @@ defmodule CanaryWeb.ExampleLive.Examples do
           has_webpage and has_github and tags == "" ->
             %{
               name: "Search with Ask AI",
+              paid: true,
               description: "Type longer question, and press tab to run 'Ask AI'.",
               code: """
               <canary-root query="why use #{assigns.current_project.name}?">
@@ -189,6 +191,7 @@ defmodule CanaryWeb.ExampleLive.Examples do
           true ->
             %{
               name: "Search with Ask AI",
+              paid: true,
               description: "Type longer question, and press tab to run 'Ask AI'.",
               code: """
               <canary-root query="why use #{assigns.current_project.name}?">