diff --git a/satellite/console/config.go b/satellite/console/config.go
index 976d97567..e0b1625dd 100644
--- a/satellite/console/config.go
+++ b/satellite/console/config.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	FailedLoginPenalty              float64                   `help:"incremental duration of penalty for failed login attempts in minutes" default:"2.0"`
 	ProjectInvitationExpiration     time.Duration             `help:"duration that project member invitations are valid for" default:"168h"`
 	UnregisteredInviteEmailsEnabled bool                      `help:"indicates whether invitation emails can be sent to unregistered email addresses" default:"false"`
+	FreeTierInvitesEnabled          bool                      `help:"indicates whether free tier users can send project invitations" default:"false"`
 	UserBalanceForUpgrade           int64                     `help:"amount of base units of US micro dollars needed to upgrade user's tier status" default:"10000000"`
 	PlacementEdgeURLOverrides       PlacementEdgeURLOverrides `help:"placement-specific edge service URL overrides in the format {\"placementID\": {\"authService\": \"...\", \"publicLinksharing\": \"...\", \"internalLinksharing\": \"...\"}, \"placementID2\": ...}"`
 	BlockExplorerURL                string                    `help:"url of the transaction block explorer" default:"https://etherscan.io/"`
diff --git a/satellite/console/consoleweb/config.go b/satellite/console/consoleweb/config.go
index 76e92cb52..6a75ccf17 100644
--- a/satellite/console/consoleweb/config.go
+++ b/satellite/console/consoleweb/config.go
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ type FrontendConfig struct {
 	ObjectBrowserPaginationEnabled  bool                  `json:"objectBrowserPaginationEnabled"`
 	BillingFeaturesEnabled          bool                  `json:"billingFeaturesEnabled"`
 	UnregisteredInviteEmailsEnabled bool                  `json:"unregisteredInviteEmailsEnabled"`
+	FreeTierInvitesEnabled          bool                  `json:"freeTierInvitesEnabled"`
 }
 
 // Satellites is a configuration value that contains a list of satellite names and addresses.
diff --git a/satellite/console/consoleweb/server.go b/satellite/console/consoleweb/server.go
index c5d3fe3a3..bd7b31476 100644
--- a/satellite/console/consoleweb/server.go
+++ b/satellite/console/consoleweb/server.go
@@ -753,6 +753,7 @@ func (server *Server) frontendConfigHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Reque
 		ObjectBrowserPaginationEnabled:  server.config.ObjectBrowserPaginationEnabled,
 		BillingFeaturesEnabled:          server.config.BillingFeaturesEnabled,
 		UnregisteredInviteEmailsEnabled: server.config.UnregisteredInviteEmailsEnabled,
+		FreeTierInvitesEnabled:          server.config.FreeTierInvitesEnabled,
 	}
 
 	err := json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(&cfg)
diff --git a/satellite/console/service.go b/satellite/console/service.go
index 4677c8c5f..22281543e 100644
--- a/satellite/console/service.go
+++ b/satellite/console/service.go
@@ -3775,7 +3775,7 @@ func (s *Service) inviteProjectMembers(ctx context.Context, sender *User, projec
 	}
 	projectID = isMember.project.ID
 
-	if !sender.PaidTier {
+	if !(s.config.FreeTierInvitesEnabled || sender.PaidTier) {
 		return nil, ErrNotPaidTier.New(paidTierInviteErrMsg)
 	}
 
diff --git a/scripts/testdata/satellite-config.yaml.lock b/scripts/testdata/satellite-config.yaml.lock
index 695a5be78..4fedc7e35 100755
--- a/scripts/testdata/satellite-config.yaml.lock
+++ b/scripts/testdata/satellite-config.yaml.lock
@@ -280,6 +280,9 @@ compensation.withheld-percents: 75,75,75,50,50,50,25,25,25,0,0,0,0,0,0
 # allow domains to embed the satellite in a frame, space separated
 # console.frame-ancestors: tardigrade.io storj.io
 
+# indicates whether free tier users can send project invitations
+# console.free-tier-invites-enabled: false
+
 # server address of the front-end app
 # console.frontend-address: :10200
 
diff --git a/web/satellite/src/components/modals/AddTeamMemberModal.vue b/web/satellite/src/components/modals/AddTeamMemberModal.vue
index 6517167e9..0cdd36c92 100644
--- a/web/satellite/src/components/modals/AddTeamMemberModal.vue
+++ b/web/satellite/src/components/modals/AddTeamMemberModal.vue
@@ -8,21 +8,21 @@
                 <div class="modal__header">
                     <TeamMembersIcon />
                     <h1 class="modal__header__title">
-                        {{ isPaidTier ? 'Invite team member' : 'Upgrade to Pro' }}
+                        {{ needsUpgrade ? 'Upgrade to Pro' : 'Invite team member' }}
                     </h1>
                 </div>
 
                 <p class="modal__info">
-                    <template v-if="isPaidTier">
-                        Add a team member to contribute to this project.
+                    <template v-if="needsUpgrade">
+                        Upgrade now to unlock collaboration and bring your team together in this project.
                     </template>
                     <template v-else>
-                        Upgrade now to unlock collaboration and bring your team together in this project.
+                        Add a team member to contribute to this project.
                     </template>
                 </p>
 
                 <VInput
-                    v-if="isPaidTier"
+                    v-if="!needsUpgrade"
                     class="modal__input"
                     label="Email"
                     height="38px"
@@ -43,14 +43,14 @@
                         :on-press="closeModal"
                     />
                     <VButton
-                        :label="isPaidTier ? 'Invite' : 'Upgrade'"
+                        :label="needsUpgrade ? 'Upgrade' : 'Invite'"
                         height="48px"
                         font-size="14px"
                         border-radius="10px"
                         :on-press="onPrimaryClick"
                         :is-disabled="!!formError || isLoading"
                     >
-                        <template v-if="!isPaidTier" #icon-right>
+                        <template v-if="needsUpgrade" #icon-right>
                             <ArrowIcon />
                         </template>
                     </VButton>
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ const email = ref<string>('');
  * or a message describing the validation error.
  */
 const formError = computed<string | boolean>(() => {
-    if (!isPaidTier.value) return false;
+    if (needsUpgrade.value) return false;
     if (!email.value) return true;
     if (email.value.toLocaleLowerCase() === usersStore.state.user.email.toLowerCase()) {
         return `You can't add yourself to the project.`;
@@ -113,17 +113,17 @@ const formError = computed<string | boolean>(() => {
 });
 
 /**
- * Returns user's paid tier status from store.
+ * Returns whether the user should upgrade to pro tier before inviting.
  */
-const isPaidTier = computed<boolean>(() => {
-    return usersStore.state.user.paidTier;
+const needsUpgrade = computed<boolean>(() => {
+    return !(usersStore.state.user.paidTier || configStore.state.config.freeTierInvitesEnabled);
 });
 
 /**
  * Handles primary button click.
  */
 async function onPrimaryClick(): Promise<void> {
-    if (!isPaidTier.value) {
+    if (needsUpgrade.value) {
         appStore.updateActiveModal(MODALS.upgradeAccount);
         return;
     }
diff --git a/web/satellite/src/types/config.gen.ts b/web/satellite/src/types/config.gen.ts
index eb08bba71..d2906ff53 100644
--- a/web/satellite/src/types/config.gen.ts
+++ b/web/satellite/src/types/config.gen.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export class FrontendConfig {
     objectBrowserPaginationEnabled: boolean;
     billingFeaturesEnabled: boolean;
     unregisteredInviteEmailsEnabled: boolean;
+    freeTierInvitesEnabled: boolean;
 }
 
 export class MultiCaptchaConfig {
diff --git a/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/components/dialogs/AddTeamMemberDialog.vue b/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/components/dialogs/AddTeamMemberDialog.vue
index 7d958b559..a731c3278 100644
--- a/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/components/dialogs/AddTeamMemberDialog.vue
+++ b/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/components/dialogs/AddTeamMemberDialog.vue
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 // See LICENSE for copying information.
 
 <template>
+    <v-overlay v-model="model" persistent />
+
     <v-dialog
         :model-value="model && !isUpgradeDialogShown"
         width="auto"
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@
                 </template>
 
                 <v-card-title class="font-weight-bold">
-                    {{ isPaidTier ? 'Add Member' : 'Upgrade to Pro' }}
+                    {{ needsUpgrade ? 'Upgrade to Pro' : 'Add Member' }}
                 </v-card-title>
 
                 <template #append>
@@ -37,7 +39,10 @@
 
             <v-form v-model="valid" class="pa-7 pb-4" @submit.prevent="onPrimaryClick">
                 <v-row>
-                    <template v-if="isPaidTier">
+                    <v-col v-if="needsUpgrade">
+                        Upgrade now to unlock collaboration and bring your team together in this project.
+                    </v-col>
+                    <template v-else>
                         <v-col cols="12">
                             <p class="mb-5">Invite a team member to join you in this project.</p>
                             <v-alert
@@ -63,9 +68,6 @@
                             />
                         </v-col>
                     </template>
-                    <v-col v-else>
-                        Upgrade now to unlock collaboration and bring your team together in this project.
-                    </v-col>
                 </v-row>
             </v-form>
 
@@ -82,10 +84,10 @@
                             variant="flat"
                             block
                             :loading="isLoading"
-                            :append-icon="!isPaidTier ? 'mdi-arrow-right' : undefined"
+                            :append-icon="needsUpgrade ? 'mdi-arrow-right' : undefined"
                             @click="onPrimaryClick"
                         >
-                            {{ isPaidTier ? 'Send Invite' : 'Upgrade' }}
+                            {{ needsUpgrade ? 'Upgrade' : 'Send Invite' }}
                         </v-btn>
                     </v-col>
                 </v-row>
@@ -98,12 +100,6 @@
         :model-value="model && isUpgradeDialogShown"
         @update:model-value="v => model = isUpgradeDialogShown = v"
     />
-
-    <teleport to="body">
-        <v-fade-transition>
-            <div v-show="model" class="v-overlay__scrim custom-scrim" />
-        </v-fade-transition>
-    </teleport>
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
@@ -121,7 +117,7 @@ import {
     VAlert,
     VTextField,
     VCardActions,
-    VFadeTransition,
+    VOverlay,
 } from 'vuetify/components';
 
 import { RequiredRule, ValidationRule } from '@poc/types/common';
@@ -167,17 +163,17 @@ const emailRules: ValidationRule<string>[] = [
 ];
 
 /**
- * Returns user's paid tier status from store.
+ * Returns whether the user should upgrade to pro tier before inviting.
  */
-const isPaidTier = computed<boolean>(() => {
-    return usersStore.state.user.paidTier;
+const needsUpgrade = computed<boolean>(() => {
+    return !(usersStore.state.user.paidTier || configStore.state.config.freeTierInvitesEnabled);
 });
 
 /**
  * Handles primary button click.
  */
 async function onPrimaryClick(): Promise<void> {
-    if (!isPaidTier.value) {
+    if (needsUpgrade.value) {
         isUpgradeDialogShown.value = true;
         return;
     }
diff --git a/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/components/dialogs/CreateProjectDialog.vue b/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/components/dialogs/CreateProjectDialog.vue
index df987a723..66e70f1e3 100644
--- a/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/components/dialogs/CreateProjectDialog.vue
+++ b/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/components/dialogs/CreateProjectDialog.vue
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 // See LICENSE for copying information.
 
 <template>
+    <v-overlay v-model="model" persistent />
+
     <v-dialog
         :model-value="model && !isUpgradeDialogShown"
         width="410px"
@@ -113,16 +115,10 @@
         :model-value="model && isUpgradeDialogShown"
         @update:model-value="v => model = isUpgradeDialogShown = v"
     />
-
-    <teleport to="body">
-        <v-fade-transition>
-            <div v-show="model" class="v-overlay__scrim custom-scrim" />
-        </v-fade-transition>
-    </teleport>
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { ref, computed, watch, Teleport } from 'vue';
+import { ref, computed, watch } from 'vue';
 import { useRouter } from 'vue-router';
 import {
     VDialog,
@@ -136,7 +132,7 @@ import {
     VRow,
     VCol,
     VTextField,
-    VFadeTransition,
+    VOverlay,
 } from 'vuetify/components';
 
 import { RequiredRule, ValidationRule } from '@poc/types/common';
diff --git a/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/styles/styles.scss b/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/styles/styles.scss
index 6e7516bc2..052345e14 100644
--- a/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/styles/styles.scss
+++ b/web/satellite/vuetify-poc/src/styles/styles.scss
@@ -122,10 +122,6 @@ html {
   opacity: 0.75;
 }
 
-.custom-scrim {
-  z-index: 2000;
-}
-
 // Align the checkboxes in the tables
 .v-selection-control {
   contain: inherit;