diff --git a/src/app/api/storage-usage/route.ts b/src/app/api/storage-usage/route.ts
index 56f0bcb..7a1e52b 100644
--- a/src/app/api/storage-usage/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/storage-usage/route.ts
@@ -11,12 +11,13 @@ export async function GET() {
   const familyId = auth.session!.familyId!;
   const info = await getStorageInfo(familyId);
 
+  // Both tiers now have a real cap (free 1 GB / premium 50 GB) — show actuals.
   return NextResponse.json({
     usedBytes: info.usedBytes,
-    limitBytes: info.isPaid ? null : info.limitBytes,
+    limitBytes: info.limitBytes,
     usedFormatted: formatBytes(info.usedBytes),
-    limitFormatted: info.isPaid ? "Unlimited" : formatBytes(info.limitBytes),
-    fraction: info.isPaid ? 0 : info.fraction,
+    limitFormatted: formatBytes(info.limitBytes),
+    fraction: info.fraction,
     approaching: info.approaching,
     exceeded: info.exceeded,
     isPaid: info.isPaid,
diff --git a/src/components/StorageMeter.tsx b/src/components/StorageMeter.tsx
index 84933a0..0a9e2f2 100644
--- a/src/components/StorageMeter.tsx
+++ b/src/components/StorageMeter.tsx
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ export function StorageMeter({ info: propInfo, className = "", compact = false }
     );
   }
 
-  if (!info || info.isPaid) return null;
+  // Show the meter for both free and premium — both now have a real cap.
+  if (!info) return null;
   if (compact && !info.approaching && !info.exceeded) return null;
 
   const pct = Math.min(info.fraction * 100, 100);
@@ -84,7 +85,13 @@ export function StorageMeter({ info: propInfo, className = "", compact = false }
       {info.exceeded && (
         <p className="text-xs text-red-600 dark:text-red-400">
           New uploads are paused. Your existing memories are safe.{" "}
-          <a href="/settings#upgrade" className="underline font-medium">Upgrade</a> or delete some memories to continue.
+          {info.isPaid ? (
+            <>Delete some memories to free up space.</>
+          ) : (
+            <>
+              <a href="/settings#upgrade" className="underline font-medium">Upgrade</a> or delete some memories to continue.
+            </>
+          )}
         </p>
       )}
       {info.approaching && !info.exceeded && (
diff --git a/src/lib/quota.ts b/src/lib/quota.ts
index 0f6399d..3548df7 100644
--- a/src/lib/quota.ts
+++ b/src/lib/quota.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ export { formatBytes } from "@/lib/format-bytes";
 export const FREE_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES = 1_073_741_824; // 1 GiB
 export const FREE_MEMBER_LIMIT = 2;
 
+// Paid (premium) storage cap. Matches the seeded plan's storage grant (50 GiB).
+// Kept here (not Infinity) so premium also has a ceiling and the meter shows X/50GB.
+export const PAID_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES = 50 * 1_073_741_824; // 50 GiB
+
 // Storage threshold at which we show a "approaching limit" nudge (80 %).
 export const STORAGE_WARN_THRESHOLD = 0.8;
 
@@ -129,15 +133,15 @@ export async function getStorageInfo(familyId: string): Promise<StorageUsageInfo
   `;
   const paid = isPaidFamily(familyRow?.tier);
   const usedBytes = await getFamilyStorageUsage(familyId);
-  const limitBytes = paid ? Infinity : FREE_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES;
-  const fraction = paid ? 0 : usedBytes / FREE_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES;
+  const limitBytes = paid ? PAID_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES : FREE_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES;
+  const fraction = limitBytes > 0 ? usedBytes / limitBytes : 0;
 
   return {
     usedBytes,
     limitBytes,
     fraction,
-    approaching: !paid && fraction >= STORAGE_WARN_THRESHOLD && fraction < 1,
-    exceeded: !paid && fraction >= 1,
+    approaching: fraction >= STORAGE_WARN_THRESHOLD && fraction < 1,
+    exceeded: fraction >= 1,
     isPaid: paid,
   };
 }
@@ -155,12 +159,8 @@ export async function checkStorageQuota(
     SELECT tier FROM families WHERE id = ${familyId} LIMIT 1
   `;
 
-  if (isPaidFamily(familyRow?.tier)) {
-    const usedBytes = await getFamilyStorageUsage(familyId);
-    return { allowed: true, usedBytes, limitBytes: Infinity };
-  }
-
-  const limitBytes = FREE_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES;
+  const paid = isPaidFamily(familyRow?.tier);
+  const limitBytes = paid ? PAID_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES : FREE_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES;
   const usedBytes = await getFamilyStorageUsage(familyId);
 
   if (wouldExceedQuota(usedBytes, declaredBytes, limitBytes)) {
@@ -169,7 +169,9 @@ export async function checkStorageQuota(
       reason: "storage_quota_exceeded",
       usedBytes,
       limitBytes,
-      message: `Storage quota exceeded. You have used ${formatBytes(usedBytes)} of your ${formatBytes(limitBytes)} limit. Delete some memories or upgrade to continue uploading.`,
+      message: paid
+        ? `Storage limit reached. You have used ${formatBytes(usedBytes)} of your ${formatBytes(limitBytes)} premium storage.`
+        : `Storage quota exceeded. You have used ${formatBytes(usedBytes)} of your ${formatBytes(limitBytes)} limit. Delete some memories or upgrade to continue uploading.`,
     };
   }
 
@@ -194,14 +196,16 @@ export async function reconcileActualSize(
     UPDATE memories SET size_bytes = ${actualBytes} WHERE id = ${memoryId} AND family_id = ${familyId}
   `;
 
-  if (isPaidFamily(familyRow?.tier)) return { keep: true };
+  const limitBytes = isPaidFamily(familyRow?.tier)
+    ? PAID_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES
+    : FREE_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES;
 
   // Re-derive usage with the updated size
   const usedBytes = await getFamilyStorageUsage(familyId);
-  if (usedBytes > FREE_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES) {
+  if (usedBytes > limitBytes) {
     return {
       keep: false,
-      reason: `Actual file size (${formatBytes(actualBytes)}) pushed family over the ${formatBytes(FREE_STORAGE_LIMIT_BYTES)} quota.`,
+      reason: `Actual file size (${formatBytes(actualBytes)}) pushed family over the ${formatBytes(limitBytes)} quota.`,
     };
   }