diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index add66f844..ace347b4a 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -140,6 +140,9 @@ func (c *Config) Options() *Options {
 func (c *Config) Propagate() {
 	log.SetLevel(c.LogLevel())
 
+	// Update options.
+	c.Options().Sponsor = c.Hub().Plus() || c.Options().Sponsor
+
 	// Set thumbnail generation parameters.
 	thumb.StandardRGB = c.ThumbSRGB()
 	thumb.SizePrecached = c.ThumbSizePrecached()
@@ -176,12 +179,6 @@ func (c *Config) Init() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Show funding info?
-	if !c.Sponsor() {
-		log.Info(MsgSponsor)
-		log.Info(MsgSignUp)
-	}
-
 	if insensitive, err := c.CaseInsensitive(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	} else if insensitive {
@@ -223,13 +220,16 @@ func (c *Config) Init() error {
 
 	c.Propagate()
 
-	err := c.connectDb()
-
-	if err == nil {
-		log.Debugf("config: successfully initialized [%s]", time.Since(start))
+	if err := c.connectDb(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	} else if !c.Sponsor() {
+		log.Info(MsgSponsor)
+		log.Info(MsgSignUp)
 	}
 
-	return err
+	log.Debugf("config: successfully initialized [%s]", time.Since(start))
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 // readSerial reads and returns the current storage serial.
@@ -471,12 +471,12 @@ func (c *Config) Demo() bool {
 	return c.options.Demo
 }
 
-// Sponsor reports if you support our mission, see https://photoprism.app/membership.
+// Sponsor reports if you have chosen to support our mission.
 func (c *Config) Sponsor() bool {
 	return Sponsor || c.options.Sponsor
 }
 
-// NoSponsor reports if the instance is not operated by a sponsor.
+// NoSponsor reports if you prefer not to support our mission.
 func (c *Config) NoSponsor() bool {
 	return !c.Sponsor() && !c.Demo()
 }
diff --git a/internal/hub/config.go b/internal/hub/config.go
index 60d015831..0cca1a138 100644
--- a/internal/hub/config.go
+++ b/internal/hub/config.go
@@ -23,6 +23,16 @@ import (
 	"github.com/photoprism/photoprism/pkg/fs"
 )
 
+const (
+	StatusUnknown   = ""
+	StatusNew       = "unregistered"
+	StatusCommunity = "ce"
+	StatusPlus      = "plus"
+	StatusDev       = "dev"
+	StatusInt       = "int"
+	StatusTest      = "test"
+)
+
 // Config represents backend api credentials for maps & geodata.
 type Config struct {
 	Version   string `json:"version" yaml:"Version"`
@@ -68,6 +78,18 @@ func (c *Config) Propagate() {
 	places.Secret = c.Secret
 }
 
+// Plus reports if you have a community membership.
+func (c *Config) Plus() bool {
+	switch c.Status {
+	case StatusUnknown, StatusNew, StatusCommunity:
+		return false
+	case StatusPlus, StatusDev, StatusInt, StatusTest:
+		return len(c.Session) > 0
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
 // Sanitize verifies and sanitizes backend api credentials.
 func (c *Config) Sanitize() {
 	c.Key = strings.ToLower(c.Key)
diff --git a/internal/hub/config_test.go b/internal/hub/config_test.go
index e87d1f8d1..269321b91 100644
--- a/internal/hub/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/hub/config_test.go
@@ -12,3 +12,17 @@ func TestConfig_MapKey(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, "", c.MapKey())
 	})
 }
+
+func TestConfig_Plus(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("Status", func(t *testing.T) {
+		c := NewConfig("0.0.0", "testdata/new.yml", "zqkunt22r0bewti9", "test", "PhotoPrism/Test", "test")
+		assert.False(t, c.Plus())
+		c.Status = StatusPlus
+		assert.False(t, c.Plus())
+		c.Session = "bde6d0cf514e5456591de5ae09d981056eb88dccf71ba268974bf2cc7b028545e7641c1dfbaa716e4d13f8b0e0d1863e64c16e1f0ac551fc85e1171a87cbda6608cbe330de9e0d5f5b0e14ff61f2ff08fee369"
+		assert.True(t, c.Plus())
+		c.Status = ""
+		assert.False(t, c.Plus())
+		c.Session = ""
+	})
+}