diff --git a/backend/alembic/versions/4f9ec96fc98e_add_unverified_tier.py b/backend/alembic/versions/4f9ec96fc98e_add_unverified_tier.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..316e4a59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/alembic/versions/4f9ec96fc98e_add_unverified_tier.py
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+"""Add unverified tier
+
+Revision ID: 4f9ec96fc98e
+Revises: 651ed2d244c5
+Create Date: 2024-10-31 14:30:56.099043
+
+"""
+
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+import sqlalchemy.orm as orm
+from alembic_postgresql_enum import TableReference
+from src.limits.models import Tier
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = "4f9ec96fc98e"
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = "651ed2d244c5"
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.sync_enum_values(
+        "public",
+        "tiernames",
+        ["FREE", "ADMIN", "PREMIUM", "UNVERIFIED"],
+        [
+            TableReference(
+                table_schema="public", table_name="tier", column_name="tier_name"
+            )
+        ],
+        enum_values_to_rename=[],
+    )
+    session = orm.Session(bind=op.get_bind())
+    session.add(Tier(tier_name="UNVERIFIED", label="Unverified", gp_question_limit=0))
+    session.commit()
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    session = orm.Session(bind=op.get_bind())
+    unverified = session.scalar(sa.select(Tier).where(Tier.label == "Unverified"))
+    session.delete(unverified)
+    session.commit()
+
+    op.sync_enum_values(
+        "public",
+        "tiernames",
+        ["FREE", "ADMIN", "PREMIUM"],
+        [
+            TableReference(
+                table_schema="public", table_name="tier", column_name="tier_name"
+            )
+        ],
+        enum_values_to_rename=[],
+    )
+
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/backend/src/auth/models.py b/backend/src/auth/models.py
index d2e6e7fd..9d831e14 100644
--- a/backend/src/auth/models.py
+++ b/backend/src/auth/models.py
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ class Role(str, Enum):
     ADMIN = "admin"
 
 
+# TODO: it's probably safer to check with the db but it'll do for now
+UNVERIFIED_TIER_ID = 4
+
+
 class User(Base):
     __tablename__ = "user"
 
diff --git a/backend/src/auth/router.py b/backend/src/auth/router.py
index fd68714b..a4e24d35 100644
--- a/backend/src/auth/router.py
+++ b/backend/src/auth/router.py
@@ -37,7 +37,13 @@
     get_password_hash,
     verify_password,
 )
-from .models import AccountType, EmailVerification, PasswordReset, User
+from .models import (
+    UNVERIFIED_TIER_ID,
+    AccountType,
+    EmailVerification,
+    PasswordReset,
+    User,
+)
 
 router = APIRouter(prefix="/auth", tags=["auth"])
 routerWithAuth = APIRouter(
@@ -67,6 +73,7 @@ def sign_up(
         hashed_password=get_password_hash(data.password),
         account_type=AccountType.NORMAL,
         verified=False,
+        tier_id=UNVERIFIED_TIER_ID,
     )
     session.add(new_user)
     session.commit()
diff --git a/backend/src/limits/models.py b/backend/src/limits/models.py
index fd99eb60..f9e2b8d2 100644
--- a/backend/src/limits/models.py
+++ b/backend/src/limits/models.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ class TierNames(str, Enum):
     FREE = "FREE"
     ADMIN = "ADMIN"
     PREMIUM = "PREMIUM"
+    UNVERIFIED = "UNVERIFIED"
 
 
 class Usage(Base):