diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index a458a24..ff32e76 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-9.7.0
+9.7.1
diff --git a/backend/app/config.py b/backend/app/config.py
index 9a26bc3..b4ddd50 100644
--- a/backend/app/config.py
+++ b/backend/app/config.py
@@ -135,9 +135,13 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     # Retention cleanup — delete config snapshots older than N days
     CONFIG_RETENTION_DAYS: int = 90
 
+    # Licensing — BSL 1.1 free tier allows up to 250 devices.
+    # Commercial license required above this limit. Set to 0 for unlimited.
+    LICENSE_DEVICES: int = 250
+
     # App settings
     APP_NAME: str = "TOD - The Other Dude"
-    APP_VERSION: str = "9.7.0"
+    APP_VERSION: str = "9.7.1"
     DEBUG: bool = False
 
     @field_validator("CREDENTIAL_ENCRYPTION_KEY")
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/settings.py b/backend/app/routers/settings.py
index 842c36c..9bab5a0 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/settings.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/settings.py
@@ -176,3 +176,24 @@ async def clear_winbox_sessions(user=Depends(require_role("super_admin"))):
         return {"status": "ok", "deleted": deleted}
     finally:
         await rd.aclose()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# License status (any authenticated user)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@router.get("/license", summary="Get license status")
+async def get_license_status():
+    """Return current license tier, device limit, and actual device count."""
+    async with AdminAsyncSessionLocal() as session:
+        result = await session.execute(text("SELECT count(*)::int FROM devices"))
+        device_count = result.scalar() or 0
+
+    limit = settings.LICENSE_DEVICES
+    return {
+        "licensed_devices": limit,
+        "actual_devices": device_count,
+        "over_limit": limit > 0 and device_count > limit,
+        "tier": "commercial" if limit > 250 else "free",
+    }
diff --git a/backend/pyproject.toml b/backend/pyproject.toml
index b3c9a55..2fea5e5 100644
--- a/backend/pyproject.toml
+++ b/backend/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "the-other-dude-backend"
-version = "9.7.0"
+version = "9.7.1"
 description = "MikroTik Fleet Management Portal - Backend API"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 dependencies = [
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index a44d25a..61701cb 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "frontend",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "9.7.0",
+  "version": "9.7.1",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/layout/ContextStrip.tsx b/frontend/src/components/layout/ContextStrip.tsx
index 212b846..3746dd5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/layout/ContextStrip.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/layout/ContextStrip.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
 import { useAuth, isSuperAdmin } from '@/lib/auth'
 import { useUIStore } from '@/lib/store'
 import { tenantsApi, metricsApi } from '@/lib/api'
+import { getLicenseStatus } from '@/lib/settingsApi'
 import { useEventStreamContext } from '@/contexts/EventStreamContext'
 import type { ConnectionState } from '@/hooks/useEventStream'
 import { NotificationBell } from '@/components/alerts/NotificationBell'
@@ -88,6 +89,14 @@ export function ContextStrip() {
   const offlineCount = fleet?.filter((d) => d.status === 'offline').length ?? 0
   const degradedCount = fleet?.filter((d) => d.status === 'degraded').length ?? 0
 
+  // License status (super_admin only)
+  const { data: license } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['license-status'],
+    queryFn: getLicenseStatus,
+    enabled: superAdmin,
+    refetchInterval: 60_000,
+  })
+
   const handleLogout = async () => {
     await logout()
     void navigate({ to: '/login' })
@@ -188,6 +197,11 @@ export function ContextStrip() {
         ) : (
           <span className="text-xs text-text-muted">Status loading...</span>
         )}
+        {license?.over_limit && (
+          <span className="text-xs font-mono text-error animate-pulse">
+            {license.actual_devices}/{license.licensed_devices} licensed
+          </span>
+        )}
       </div>
 
       {/* Right: Actions */}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/settingsApi.ts b/frontend/src/lib/settingsApi.ts
index 9dedc43..01ccec3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/settingsApi.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/settingsApi.ts
@@ -45,3 +45,15 @@ export async function testSMTPSettings(data: {
   const res = await api.post('/api/settings/smtp/test', data)
   return res.data
 }
+
+export interface LicenseStatus {
+  licensed_devices: number
+  actual_devices: number
+  over_limit: boolean
+  tier: 'free' | 'commercial'
+}
+
+export async function getLicenseStatus(): Promise<LicenseStatus> {
+  const res = await api.get('/api/settings/license')
+  return res.data
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/_authenticated/about.tsx b/frontend/src/routes/_authenticated/about.tsx
index 4fc995c..784f4e0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/_authenticated/about.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/_authenticated/about.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import { RugLogo } from '@/components/brand/RugLogo'
 import { APP_VERSION } from '@/lib/version'
 import { AnsiNfoModal } from '@/components/about/AnsiNfoModal'
+import { getLicenseStatus } from '@/lib/settingsApi'
 
 export const Route = createFileRoute('/_authenticated/about')({
   component: AboutPage,
@@ -483,6 +485,7 @@ function AboutPage() {
   const [copied, setCopied] = useState(false)
   const [showQR, setShowQR] = useState(false)
   const [showNfo, setShowNfo] = useState(false)
+  const { data: license } = useQuery({ queryKey: ['license-status'], queryFn: getLicenseStatus })
 
   const copyAddress = async () => {
     try {
@@ -516,6 +519,28 @@ function AboutPage() {
         </span>
       </div>
 
+      {/* License */}
+      {license && (
+        <div className="rounded-lg border border-border bg-surface p-5 space-y-2">
+          <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-text-primary uppercase tracking-wider">
+            License
+          </h2>
+          <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+            <span className="text-sm text-text-secondary">
+              {license.tier === 'commercial' ? 'Commercial License' : 'BSL 1.1 — Free Tier'}
+            </span>
+            <span className={`text-sm font-mono ${license.over_limit ? 'text-error' : 'text-text-secondary'}`}>
+              {license.actual_devices} / {license.licensed_devices === 0 ? 'Unlimited' : license.licensed_devices} devices
+            </span>
+          </div>
+          {license.over_limit && (
+            <p className="text-xs text-error">
+              Device count exceeds licensed limit. A commercial license is required.
+            </p>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      )}
+
       {/* Features summary */}
       <div className="rounded-lg border border-border bg-surface p-5 space-y-3">
         <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-text-primary uppercase tracking-wider">
diff --git a/infrastructure/helm/Chart.yaml b/infrastructure/helm/Chart.yaml
index f0b4b31..41a3cce 100644
--- a/infrastructure/helm/Chart.yaml
+++ b/infrastructure/helm/Chart.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ name: tod
 description: The Other Dude — MikroTik fleet management platform
 type: application
 version: 1.0.0
-appVersion: "9.7.0"
+appVersion: "9.7.1"
 kubeVersion: ">=1.28.0-0"
 keywords:
   - mikrotik