diff --git a/app/pages/join.vue b/app/pages/join.vue
index 59d943a..24cad1a 100644
--- a/app/pages/join.vue
+++ b/app/pages/join.vue
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
           <DashedBox :hoverable="false">
             <div class="section-label">Contribution</div>
             <div class="info-value">
-              ${{ memberData?.contributionTier || "0" }} CAD/month
+              ${{ memberData?.contributionAmount ?? 0 }} CAD/month
             </div>
           </DashedBox>
         </div>
@@ -69,14 +69,14 @@
           <h2>Pay what you can</h2>
           <ul class="tier-list">
             <li><span class="tier-amt">$0</span> I need support right now</li>
-            <li><span class="tier-amt">{{ formatTierAmount('5') }}</span> I can contribute</li>
+            <li><span class="tier-amt">{{ formatContributionAmount(5) }}</span> I can contribute</li>
             <li>
-              <span class="tier-amt">{{ formatTierAmount('15') }}</span> I can sustain the community
+              <span class="tier-amt">{{ formatContributionAmount(15) }}</span> I can sustain the community
               (suggested)
             </li>
-            <li><span class="tier-amt">{{ formatTierAmount('30') }}</span> I can support others too</li>
+            <li><span class="tier-amt">{{ formatContributionAmount(30) }}</span> I can support others too</li>
             <li>
-              <span class="tier-amt">{{ formatTierAmount('50') }}</span> I want to sponsor multiple
+              <span class="tier-amt">{{ formatContributionAmount(50) }}</span> I want to sponsor multiple
               members
             </li>
           </ul>
@@ -207,27 +207,38 @@
                     >
                     <label for="cadence-annual">
                       <span class="circle-label-name">Annual</span>
-                      <span class="circle-label-desc">2 months free</span>
                     </label>
                   </div>
                 </div>
               </div>
               <div class="form-group">
-                <label class="form-label" for="join-contribution"
-                  >{{ cadence === 'annual' ? 'Annual' : 'Monthly' }} Contribution</label
-                >
-                <USelectMenu
-                  id="join-contribution"
-                  v-model="form.contributionTier"
-                  :items="contributionItems"
-                  value-key="value"
-                  :search-input="false"
-                  class="zine-select"
-                  :ui="{
-                    content: 'tz-content',
-                    item: 'tz-item',
-                  }"
-                />
+                <label class="form-label" for="join-contribution">
+                  {{ cadence === 'annual' ? 'Annual' : 'Monthly' }} Contribution
+                </label>
+                <div class="contribution-input-row">
+                  <span class="contribution-currency">$</span>
+                  <input
+                    id="join-contribution"
+                    v-model.number="form.contributionAmount"
+                    type="number"
+                    min="0"
+                    step="1"
+                    inputmode="numeric"
+                    class="contribution-input"
+                  >
+                </div>
+                <div class="contribution-presets" role="group" aria-label="Suggested amounts">
+                  <button
+                    v-for="preset in CONTRIBUTION_PRESETS"
+                    :key="preset.amount"
+                    type="button"
+                    class="contribution-preset-chip"
+                    @click="form.contributionAmount = preset.amount"
+                  >
+                    ${{ preset.amount }}
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+                <p v-if="guidanceLabel" class="contribution-guidance">{{ guidanceLabel }}</p>
               </div>
               <div class="form-group full-width">
                 <label class="checkbox-label">
@@ -371,7 +382,7 @@
                   <dt>Circle</dt><dd class="capitalize">{{ form.circle }}</dd>
                 </div>
                 <div class="details-row">
-                  <dt>Contribution</dt><dd>{{ selectedTier.label }}</dd>
+                  <dt>Contribution</dt><dd>{{ formatContributionAmount(form.contributionAmount) }}</dd>
                 </div>
               </dl>
             </DashedBox>
@@ -409,9 +420,8 @@ import { reactive, ref, computed, onMounted, onUnmounted } from "vue";
 import { getCircleOptions } from "~/config/circles";
 import {
   requiresPayment,
-  getContributionTierByValue,
-  getTierAmount,
-  CONTRIBUTION_TIERS,
+  CONTRIBUTION_PRESETS,
+  getGuidanceLabel,
 } from "~/config/contributions";
 
 // Auth state
@@ -427,7 +437,7 @@ const form = reactive({
   email: "",
   name: "",
   circle: "community",
-  contributionTier: "15",
+  contributionAmount: 15,
   agreedToGuidelines: false,
   billingAddress: {
     street: "",
@@ -461,29 +471,11 @@ const paymentToken = ref(null);
 // Circle options from central config
 const circleOptions = getCircleOptions();
 
-// Minimal labels for the dropdown — reactive to cadence.
-// In annual mode, show both monthly and annual price so $50/yr (the $5 tier annual)
-// is visually distinct from $500/yr (the $50 tier annual).
-const contributionItems = computed(() => {
-  return Object.values(CONTRIBUTION_TIERS).map((tier) => {
-    const base = tier.amount;
-    if (base === 0) return { value: tier.value, label: "$0" };
-    const monthlyLabel = `$${base}/mo`;
-    const priceLabel =
-      cadence.value === "annual"
-        ? `${monthlyLabel} → $${getTierAmount(tier, "annual")}/yr`
-        : monthlyLabel;
-    const hint = tier.value === "15" ? " (suggested)" : "";
-    return { value: tier.value, label: `${priceLabel}${hint}` };
-  });
-});
-
-const formatTierAmount = (value) => {
-  const tier = getContributionTierByValue(value);
-  if (!tier || tier.amount === 0) return "$0";
-  const amt = getTierAmount(tier, cadence.value);
+const formatContributionAmount = (amount) => {
+  if (!amount || amount === 0) return "$0";
+  const display = cadence.value === "annual" ? amount * 12 : amount;
   const suffix = cadence.value === "annual" ? "/yr" : "/mo";
-  return `$${amt}${suffix}`;
+  return `$${display}${suffix}`;
 };
 
 // Initialize composables
@@ -499,20 +491,17 @@ const isFormValid = computed(() => {
     form.name &&
     form.email &&
     form.circle &&
-    form.contributionTier &&
+    Number.isInteger(form.contributionAmount) && form.contributionAmount >= 0 &&
     form.agreedToGuidelines
   );
 });
 
 // Check if payment is required
 const needsPayment = computed(() => {
-  return requiresPayment(form.contributionTier);
+  return requiresPayment(form.contributionAmount);
 });
 
-// Get selected tier info
-const selectedTier = computed(() => {
-  return getContributionTierByValue(form.contributionTier);
-});
+const guidanceLabel = computed(() => getGuidanceLabel(form.contributionAmount));
 
 const flowStepLabel = computed(() => {
   switch (flowState.value) {
@@ -546,7 +535,7 @@ const handleSubmit = async () => {
         name: form.name,
         email: form.email,
         circle: form.circle,
-        contributionTier: form.contributionTier,
+        contributionAmount: form.contributionAmount,
         agreedToGuidelines: form.agreedToGuidelines,
         billingAddress: form.billingAddress,
       },
@@ -617,7 +606,7 @@ const createSubscription = async (cardToken = null) => {
       body: {
         customerId: customerId.value,
         customerCode: customerCode.value,
-        contributionTier: form.contributionTier,
+        contributionAmount: form.contributionAmount,
         cadence: cadence.value,
         cardToken: cardToken,
       },
@@ -883,6 +872,52 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
   gap: 10px;
 }
 
+/* ---- CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT INPUT + CHIPS ---- */
+.contribution-input-row {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.25rem;
+}
+.contribution-currency {
+  font-weight: 600;
+}
+.contribution-input {
+  flex: 1;
+  padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem;
+  background: var(--input-bg);
+  border: 1px solid var(--parch);
+  font-family: 'Commit Mono', monospace;
+  font-size: 1rem;
+}
+.contribution-input:focus {
+  outline: none;
+  border-color: var(--candle);
+}
+.contribution-presets {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  margin-top: 0.5rem;
+}
+.contribution-preset-chip {
+  padding: 0.25rem 0.75rem;
+  background: transparent;
+  border: 1px dashed var(--parch);
+  font-family: 'Commit Mono', monospace;
+  font-size: 0.875rem;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+.contribution-preset-chip:hover {
+  border-style: solid;
+  border-color: var(--candle);
+}
+.contribution-guidance {
+  margin-top: 0.5rem;
+  font-size: 0.875rem;
+  font-style: italic;
+  color: var(--ink-soft, currentColor);
+}
+
 /* ---- CIRCLE RADIOS ---- */
 .circle-radios {
   display: grid;