diff --git a/pkg/server/handlers/v3_books.go b/pkg/server/handlers/v3_books.go
index 84d5dd76..45c89298 100644
--- a/pkg/server/handlers/v3_books.go
+++ b/pkg/server/handlers/v3_books.go
@@ -70,6 +70,21 @@ func (a *App) CreateBook(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	// check for the plan allowance
+	if !user.Cloud {
+		var bookCount int
+		if err := a.DB.Model(database.Book{}).Where("user_id = ? AND NOT deleted", user.ID).Count(&bookCount).Error; err != nil {
+			HandleError(w, "checking plan threshold", err, http.StatusInternalServerError)
+			return
+		}
+
+		if bookCount >= 5 {
+			msg := fmt.Sprintf("Your plan has reached the limit for the total number of books. Please upgrade at %s", a.WebURL)
+			http.Error(w, msg, http.StatusForbidden)
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
 	var book database.Book
 	conn := a.DB.Model(database.Book{}).Where("user_id = ? AND label = ?", user.ID, params.Name).First(&book)
 
diff --git a/pkg/server/handlers/v3_books_test.go b/pkg/server/handlers/v3_books_test.go
index 4c12cfa3..1f2f23aa 100644
--- a/pkg/server/handlers/v3_books_test.go
+++ b/pkg/server/handlers/v3_books_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestGetBooks(t *testing.T) {
-
 	defer testutils.ClearData()
 
 	// Setup
@@ -112,7 +111,6 @@ func TestGetBooks(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestGetBooksByName(t *testing.T) {
-
 	defer testutils.ClearData()
 
 	// Setup
@@ -508,6 +506,56 @@ func TestCreateBookIdempotent(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, userRecord.MaxUSN, 101, "user max_usn mismatch")
 }
 
+func TestCreateBookPlanAllowance(t *testing.T) {
+	// Setup
+	server := MustNewServer(t, &App{
+		Clock: clock.NewMock(),
+	})
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	createBook := func(t *testing.T, u database.User, name string, expectedStatusCode int) {
+		req := testutils.MakeReq(server, "POST", "/v3/books", fmt.Sprintf(`{"name": "%s"}`, name))
+		res := testutils.HTTPAuthDo(t, req, u)
+		assert.StatusCodeEquals(t, res, expectedStatusCode, "")
+	}
+
+	t.Run("pro plan", func(t *testing.T) {
+		defer testutils.ClearData()
+
+		user := testutils.SetupUserData()
+		testutils.MustExec(t, testutils.DB.Model(&user).Update("cloud", true), "preparing user")
+
+		createBook(t, user, "js1", http.StatusCreated)
+		createBook(t, user, "js2", http.StatusCreated)
+		createBook(t, user, "js3", http.StatusCreated)
+		createBook(t, user, "js4", http.StatusCreated)
+		createBook(t, user, "js5", http.StatusCreated)
+		createBook(t, user, "js6", http.StatusCreated)
+
+		var bookCount int
+		testutils.MustExec(t, testutils.DB.Model(&database.Book{}).Count(&bookCount), "counting books")
+		assert.Equal(t, bookCount, 6, "book count mismatch")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("core plan", func(t *testing.T) {
+		defer testutils.ClearData()
+
+		user := testutils.SetupUserData()
+		testutils.MustExec(t, testutils.DB.Model(&user).Update("cloud", false), "preparing user")
+
+		createBook(t, user, "js1", http.StatusCreated)
+		createBook(t, user, "js2", http.StatusCreated)
+		createBook(t, user, "js3", http.StatusCreated)
+		createBook(t, user, "js4", http.StatusCreated)
+		createBook(t, user, "js5", http.StatusCreated)
+		createBook(t, user, "js6", http.StatusForbidden)
+
+		var bookCount int
+		testutils.MustExec(t, testutils.DB.Model(&database.Book{}).Count(&bookCount), "counting books")
+		assert.Equal(t, bookCount, 5, "book count mismatch")
+	})
+}
+
 func TestUpdateBook(t *testing.T) {
 	updatedLabel := "updated-label"