diff --git a/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/components/auth/auth-layout.tsx b/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/components/auth/auth-layout.tsx
index a1037b86d2..518093b067 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/components/auth/auth-layout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/components/auth/auth-layout.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,17 @@
-import { ReactNode } from "react";
-import { Outlet, useNavigate, Navigate } from "react-router-dom";
+import { ReactNode, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
+import {
+  Outlet,
+  useNavigate,
+  Navigate,
+  useSearchParams,
+} from "react-router-dom";
 import { faArrowLeft, faSpinnerThird } from "@fortawesome/pro-solid-svg-icons";
 import { FontAwesomeIcon } from "@fortawesome/react-fontawesome";
 import { TruchetPattern } from "@storyteller/ui-vfx";
+import {
+  checkoutIntentFromSearchParams,
+  redirectToCheckout,
+} from "@storyteller/ui-pricing-table";
 import { AuthShowcase } from "./auth-showcase";
 import { useMediaQuery } from "../ui/use-media-query";
 import { useSession } from "../../lib/session";
@@ -21,13 +30,34 @@ export const AuthLayout = () => {
   const showShowcase = useMediaQuery("(min-width: 1024px)");
   const navigate = useNavigate();
   const { loggedIn, authChecked } = useSession();
+  const [searchParams] = useSearchParams();
+  // Set when a pricing-page purchase click routed the user through auth. The
+  // layout owns the Stripe redirect: as soon as the session flips to logged
+  // in (post signup/login, or arriving already signed in), it swaps the form
+  // for a spinner and sends the user to checkout, instead of bouncing home
+  // while the checkout session is still being created.
+  const checkoutIntent = checkoutIntentFromSearchParams(searchParams);
+  const startedCheckoutRef = useRef(false);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!loggedIn || !checkoutIntent || startedCheckoutRef.current) {
+      return;
+    }
+    startedCheckoutRef.current = true;
+    redirectToCheckout(checkoutIntent).then((redirected) => {
+      if (!redirected) {
+        navigate("/", { replace: true });
+      }
+    });
+  }, [loggedIn, checkoutIntent, navigate]);
 
   const handleBack = () => {
     navigate("/");
   };
 
-  // Already signed in? Never show the auth form — go straight home.
-  if (loggedIn) {
+  // Already signed in? Never show the auth form — go straight home, unless a
+  // checkout redirect is pending (handled above).
+  if (loggedIn && !checkoutIntent) {
     return <Navigate to="/" replace />;
   }
 
@@ -74,7 +104,17 @@ export const AuthLayout = () => {
 
           <div className="flex flex-1 flex-col justify-center px-8 py-10 sm:px-10">
             <div className="mx-auto w-full max-w-sm">
-              {authChecked ? (
+              {loggedIn && checkoutIntent ? (
+                <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-4 py-12 text-white/60">
+                  <FontAwesomeIcon
+                    icon={faSpinnerThird}
+                    className="animate-spin text-2xl text-white/40"
+                  />
+                  <span className="text-sm">
+                    Taking you to secure checkout…
+                  </span>
+                </div>
+              ) : authChecked ? (
                 <Outlet />
               ) : (
                 <div className="flex justify-center py-12">
diff --git a/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/components/auth/signup-form.tsx b/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/components/auth/signup-form.tsx
index 9be41f5820..88f0e5da93 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/components/auth/signup-form.tsx
+++ b/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/components/auth/signup-form.tsx
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@ import { Input } from "@storyteller/ui-input";
 import { useState } from "react";
 import { useNavigate, useSearchParams } from "react-router-dom";
 import { UsersApi } from "@storyteller/api";
-import {
-  checkoutIntentFromSearchParams,
-  redirectToCheckout,
-} from "@storyteller/ui-pricing-table";
+import { checkoutIntentFromSearchParams } from "@storyteller/ui-pricing-table";
 import {
   getLandingUrl,
   getReferralCode,
@@ -100,10 +97,10 @@ export const SignupForm = ({
       hasActiveSubscription(),
     ]);
 
-    // A pricing-page purchase click brought the user here; resume Stripe
-    // checkout for the plan they picked.
-    const checkoutIntent = checkoutIntentFromSearchParams(searchParams);
-    if (checkoutIntent && (await redirectToCheckout(checkoutIntent))) {
+    // A pricing-page purchase click brought the user here; stay put. The
+    // session refresh above flipped loggedIn, so AuthLayout is already
+    // redirecting to Stripe checkout for the plan they picked.
+    if (checkoutIntentFromSearchParams(searchParams)) {
       return;
     }
 
@@ -185,7 +182,10 @@ export const SignupForm = ({
               disabled={isLoading}
             >
               {isLoading ? (
-                <FontAwesomeIcon icon={faSpinnerThird} className="animate-spin" />
+                <FontAwesomeIcon
+                  icon={faSpinnerThird}
+                  className="animate-spin"
+                />
               ) : (
                 "Create account"
               )}
diff --git a/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/pages/login/login.tsx b/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/pages/login/login.tsx
index fb70fb5c41..5d4a3492d2 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/pages/login/login.tsx
+++ b/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/pages/login/login.tsx
@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@ import { Input } from "@storyteller/ui-input";
 import { useState } from "react";
 import { Link, useNavigate, useSearchParams } from "react-router-dom";
 import { UsersApi } from "@storyteller/api";
+import { checkoutIntentFromSearchParams } from "@storyteller/ui-pricing-table";
 import {
-  checkoutIntentFromSearchParams,
-  redirectToCheckout,
-} from "@storyteller/ui-pricing-table";
-import { AuthHeader, AuthFooter, GoogleLoginButton } from "../../components/auth";
+  AuthHeader,
+  AuthFooter,
+  GoogleLoginButton,
+} from "../../components/auth";
 import Seo from "../../components/seo";
 import { Reveal, RevealGroup } from "../../components/motion/reveal";
 import { refreshSession } from "../../lib/session";
@@ -24,8 +25,9 @@ const Login = () => {
   const [searchParams] = useSearchParams();
   const fromParam = searchParams.get("from");
   const redirectTo = fromParam && fromParam.startsWith("/") ? fromParam : "/";
-  // Set when a pricing-page purchase click routed the user through auth;
-  // after login we resume Stripe checkout for that plan.
+  // Set when a pricing-page purchase click routed the user through auth.
+  // AuthLayout owns the Stripe redirect once loggedIn flips; this page just
+  // has to not navigate away in the meantime.
   const checkoutIntent = checkoutIntentFromSearchParams(searchParams);
   const [email, setEmail] = useState("");
   const [password, setPassword] = useState("");
@@ -51,7 +53,7 @@ const Login = () => {
       // navigating — otherwise RequireAuth on the destination sees loggedIn=false
       // and bounces straight back to /login?from=…
       await refreshSession(true);
-      if (checkoutIntent && (await redirectToCheckout(checkoutIntent))) {
+      if (checkoutIntent) {
         return;
       }
       navigate(redirectTo);
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ const Login = () => {
       refreshSession(true),
       hasActiveSubscription(),
     ]);
-    if (checkoutIntent && (await redirectToCheckout(checkoutIntent))) {
+    if (checkoutIntent) {
       return;
     }
     navigate(subscribed ? redirectTo : "/pricing");
@@ -159,7 +161,10 @@ const Login = () => {
               disabled={isLoading}
             >
               {isLoading ? (
-                <FontAwesomeIcon icon={faSpinnerThird} className="animate-spin" />
+                <FontAwesomeIcon
+                  icon={faSpinnerThird}
+                  className="animate-spin"
+                />
               ) : (
                 "Log in"
               )}
diff --git a/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/pages/signup/signup.tsx b/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/pages/signup/signup.tsx
index 9ee3689d61..b811619d71 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/pages/signup/signup.tsx
+++ b/frontend/apps/artcraft-webapp/src/pages/signup/signup.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 import { Link, useNavigate, useSearchParams } from "react-router-dom";
-import {
-  checkoutIntentFromSearchParams,
-  redirectToCheckout,
-} from "@storyteller/ui-pricing-table";
+import { checkoutIntentFromSearchParams } from "@storyteller/ui-pricing-table";
 import { AuthHeader, AuthFooter, SignupForm } from "../../components/auth";
 import Seo from "../../components/seo";
 import { Reveal } from "../../components/motion/reveal";
@@ -12,10 +9,11 @@ const Signup = () => {
   const [searchParams] = useSearchParams();
   const checkoutIntent = checkoutIntentFromSearchParams(searchParams);
 
-  const handleSuccess = async () => {
-    // A pricing-page purchase click brought the user here; resume Stripe
-    // checkout for the plan they picked instead of the welcome flow.
-    if (checkoutIntent && (await redirectToCheckout(checkoutIntent))) {
+  const handleSuccess = () => {
+    // A pricing-page purchase click brought the user here; stay put. Once the
+    // session refresh flips loggedIn, AuthLayout swaps in a spinner and
+    // redirects to Stripe checkout for the plan they picked.
+    if (checkoutIntent) {
       return;
     }
     navigate("/welcome");
@@ -27,15 +25,15 @@ const Signup = () => {
         title="Sign Up - ArtCraft"
         description="Create your ArtCraft account."
       />
-      <AuthHeader title="Create an Account" subtitle="Join thousands of creators" />
+      <AuthHeader
+        title="Create an Account"
+        subtitle="Join thousands of creators"
+      />
 
       {/* SignupForm runs its own field cascade internally (see signup-form.tsx).
           The footer picks up the tail of that cascade — the form's six staggered
           steps land by ~0.36s, so the footer follows at ~0.44s. */}
-      <SignupForm
-        onSuccess={handleSuccess}
-        signupSource="artcraft"
-      />
+      <SignupForm onSuccess={handleSuccess} signupSource="artcraft" autoFocus />
 
       <Reveal inView={false} delay={0.44}>
         <AuthFooter>
diff --git a/frontend/apps/artcraft-website/src/pages/login/login.tsx b/frontend/apps/artcraft-website/src/pages/login/login.tsx
index 767c4896f6..e30e686beb 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/artcraft-website/src/pages/login/login.tsx
+++ b/frontend/apps/artcraft-website/src/pages/login/login.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const Login = () => {
   // Set when a pricing-page purchase click routed the user through auth;
   // after login we resume Stripe checkout for that plan.
   const checkoutIntent = checkoutIntentFromSearchParams(searchParams);
+  const [redirectingToCheckout, setRedirectingToCheckout] = useState(false);
   const [email, setEmail] = useState("");
   const [password, setPassword] = useState("");
   const [showPassword, setShowPassword] = useState(false);
@@ -42,8 +43,12 @@ const Login = () => {
 
     if (response.success) {
       window.dispatchEvent(new Event("auth-change"));
-      if (checkoutIntent && (await redirectToCheckout(checkoutIntent))) {
-        return;
+      if (checkoutIntent) {
+        setRedirectingToCheckout(true);
+        if (await redirectToCheckout(checkoutIntent)) {
+          return;
+        }
+        setRedirectingToCheckout(false);
       }
       navigate("/");
     } else {
@@ -81,13 +86,23 @@ const Login = () => {
 
       <main className="relative z-10 flex-1 flex items-center justify-center p-4">
         <div className="w-full max-w-md bg-[#1C1C20] border border-white/10 rounded-2xl p-6 py-8 shadow-2xl">
-          <div className="text-center mb-8">
-            <h1 className="text-2xl font-semibold mb-2">Welcome Back</h1>
-            <p className="text-white/60 text-sm">Log in to your account</p>
-          </div>
+          {redirectingToCheckout ? (
+            <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-4 py-12 text-white/60">
+              <FontAwesomeIcon
+                icon={faSpinnerThird}
+                className="animate-spin text-2xl text-white/40"
+              />
+              <span className="text-sm">Taking you to secure checkout…</span>
+            </div>
+          ) : (
+            <>
+              <div className="text-center mb-8">
+                <h1 className="text-2xl font-semibold mb-2">Welcome Back</h1>
+                <p className="text-white/60 text-sm">Log in to your account</p>
+              </div>
 
-          <div className="space-y-4">
-            {/*<GoogleLoginButton
+              <div className="space-y-4">
+                {/*<GoogleLoginButton
               mode="login"
               onSuccess={handleGoogleSuccess}
               onError={handleGoogleError}
@@ -103,89 +118,93 @@ const Login = () => {
             </div>
             */}
 
-            <form
-              className="space-y-4"
-              onSubmit={(e) => {
-                e.preventDefault();
-                handleLogin();
-              }}
-            >
-              {error && (
-                <div className="bg-red-500/10 border border-red-500/20 text-red-500 px-4 py-3 rounded-xl text-sm text-center">
-                  {error}
-                </div>
-              )}
-
-              <div className="space-y-2">
-                <label className="text-xs font-semibold text-white/70 ml-1">
-                  Email or Username
-                </label>
-                <Input
-                  type="text"
-                  value={email}
-                  onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)}
-                  placeholder="you@example.com or username"
-                  inputClassName="w-full bg-black/20 border border-white/10 focus:border-primary/50 rounded-xl px-4 py-3 text-white placeholder-white/20 outline-none transition-colors"
-                />
-              </div>
-              <div className="space-y-2">
-                <div className="flex justify-between items-center ml-1">
-                  <label className="text-xs font-semibold text-white/70">
-                    Password
-                  </label>
-                  <Link
-                    to="/forgot-password"
-                    className="text-xs text-primary hover:text-primary-400 transition-colors"
-                  >
-                    Forgot password?
-                  </Link>
-                </div>
-                <div className="relative">
-                  <Input
-                    type={showPassword ? "text" : "password"}
-                    value={password}
-                    onChange={(e) => setPassword(e.target.value)}
-                    placeholder="Min. 8 characters"
-                    inputClassName="w-full bg-black/20 border border-white/10 focus:border-primary/50 rounded-xl px-4 py-3 text-white placeholder-white/20 outline-none transition-colors pr-12"
-                  />
-                  <button
-                    type="button"
-                    onClick={() => setShowPassword(!showPassword)}
-                    className="absolute right-4 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 text-white/30 hover:text-white/60 transition-colors"
-                  >
-                    <FontAwesomeIcon icon={showPassword ? faEyeSlash : faEye} />
-                  </button>
-                </div>
-              </div>
-
-              <div className="pt-2">
-                <Button
-                  className="w-full bg-primary hover:bg-primary-600 text-white border-none justify-center font-bold h-10"
-                  type="submit"
-                  disabled={isLoading}
+                <form
+                  className="space-y-4"
+                  onSubmit={(e) => {
+                    e.preventDefault();
+                    handleLogin();
+                  }}
                 >
-                  {isLoading ? (
-                    <FontAwesomeIcon
-                      icon={faSpinnerThird}
-                      className="animate-spin"
-                    />
-                  ) : (
-                    "Log in"
+                  {error && (
+                    <div className="bg-red-500/10 border border-red-500/20 text-red-500 px-4 py-3 rounded-xl text-sm text-center">
+                      {error}
+                    </div>
                   )}
-                </Button>
-              </div>
-            </form>
-          </div>
 
-          <div className="mt-8 text-center text-sm text-white/60">
-            Don't have an account?{" "}
-            <Link
-              to={{ pathname: "/signup", search: searchParams.toString() }}
-              className="text-primary hover:text-primary-400 font-semibold transition-colors"
-            >
-              Sign up
-            </Link>
-          </div>
+                  <div className="space-y-2">
+                    <label className="text-xs font-semibold text-white/70 ml-1">
+                      Email or Username
+                    </label>
+                    <Input
+                      type="text"
+                      value={email}
+                      onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)}
+                      placeholder="you@example.com or username"
+                      inputClassName="w-full bg-black/20 border border-white/10 focus:border-primary/50 rounded-xl px-4 py-3 text-white placeholder-white/20 outline-none transition-colors"
+                    />
+                  </div>
+                  <div className="space-y-2">
+                    <div className="flex justify-between items-center ml-1">
+                      <label className="text-xs font-semibold text-white/70">
+                        Password
+                      </label>
+                      <Link
+                        to="/forgot-password"
+                        className="text-xs text-primary hover:text-primary-400 transition-colors"
+                      >
+                        Forgot password?
+                      </Link>
+                    </div>
+                    <div className="relative">
+                      <Input
+                        type={showPassword ? "text" : "password"}
+                        value={password}
+                        onChange={(e) => setPassword(e.target.value)}
+                        placeholder="Min. 8 characters"
+                        inputClassName="w-full bg-black/20 border border-white/10 focus:border-primary/50 rounded-xl px-4 py-3 text-white placeholder-white/20 outline-none transition-colors pr-12"
+                      />
+                      <button
+                        type="button"
+                        onClick={() => setShowPassword(!showPassword)}
+                        className="absolute right-4 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 text-white/30 hover:text-white/60 transition-colors"
+                      >
+                        <FontAwesomeIcon
+                          icon={showPassword ? faEyeSlash : faEye}
+                        />
+                      </button>
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+
+                  <div className="pt-2">
+                    <Button
+                      className="w-full bg-primary hover:bg-primary-600 text-white border-none justify-center font-bold h-10"
+                      type="submit"
+                      disabled={isLoading}
+                    >
+                      {isLoading ? (
+                        <FontAwesomeIcon
+                          icon={faSpinnerThird}
+                          className="animate-spin"
+                        />
+                      ) : (
+                        "Log in"
+                      )}
+                    </Button>
+                  </div>
+                </form>
+              </div>
+
+              <div className="mt-8 text-center text-sm text-white/60">
+                Don't have an account?{" "}
+                <Link
+                  to={{ pathname: "/signup", search: searchParams.toString() }}
+                  className="text-primary hover:text-primary-400 font-semibold transition-colors"
+                >
+                  Sign up
+                </Link>
+              </div>
+            </>
+          )}
         </div>
       </main>
 
diff --git a/frontend/apps/artcraft-website/src/pages/signup/signup.tsx b/frontend/apps/artcraft-website/src/pages/signup/signup.tsx
index 8058aa5c10..d76f40b229 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/artcraft-website/src/pages/signup/signup.tsx
+++ b/frontend/apps/artcraft-website/src/pages/signup/signup.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
+import { useState } from "react";
 import { Link, useNavigate, useSearchParams } from "react-router-dom";
+import { faSpinnerThird } from "@fortawesome/pro-solid-svg-icons";
+import { FontAwesomeIcon } from "@fortawesome/react-fontawesome";
 import {
   checkoutIntentFromSearchParams,
   redirectToCheckout,
@@ -10,12 +13,17 @@ const Signup = () => {
   const navigate = useNavigate();
   const [searchParams] = useSearchParams();
   const checkoutIntent = checkoutIntentFromSearchParams(searchParams);
+  const [redirectingToCheckout, setRedirectingToCheckout] = useState(false);
 
   const handleSuccess = async () => {
     // A pricing-page purchase click brought the user here; resume Stripe
     // checkout for the plan they picked instead of the welcome flow.
-    if (checkoutIntent && (await redirectToCheckout(checkoutIntent))) {
-      return;
+    if (checkoutIntent) {
+      setRedirectingToCheckout(true);
+      if (await redirectToCheckout(checkoutIntent)) {
+        return;
+      }
+      setRedirectingToCheckout(false);
     }
     navigate("/welcome");
   };
@@ -37,25 +45,42 @@ const Signup = () => {
 
       <main className="relative z-10 flex-1 flex items-center justify-center p-4">
         <div className="w-full max-w-md bg-[#1C1C20] border border-white/10 rounded-2xl p-6 py-8 shadow-2xl">
-          <div className="text-center mb-8">
-            <h1 className="text-2xl font-semibold mb-2">Create an Account</h1>
-            <p className="text-white/60 text-sm">Join thousands of creators</p>
-          </div>
+          {redirectingToCheckout ? (
+            <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-4 py-12 text-white/60">
+              <FontAwesomeIcon
+                icon={faSpinnerThird}
+                className="animate-spin text-2xl text-white/40"
+              />
+              <span className="text-sm">Taking you to secure checkout…</span>
+            </div>
+          ) : (
+            <>
+              <div className="text-center mb-8">
+                <h1 className="text-2xl font-semibold mb-2">
+                  Create an Account
+                </h1>
+                <p className="text-white/60 text-sm">
+                  Join thousands of creators
+                </p>
+              </div>
 
-          <SignupForm
-            onSuccess={handleSuccess}
-            signupSource="artcraft"
-          />
+              <SignupForm
+                onSuccess={handleSuccess}
+                signupSource="artcraft"
+                autoFocus
+              />
 
-          <div className="mt-8 text-center text-sm text-white/60">
-            Already have an account?{" "}
-            <Link
-              to={{ pathname: "/login", search: searchParams.toString() }}
-              className="text-primary hover:text-primary-400 font-semibold transition-colors"
-            >
-              Log in
-            </Link>
-          </div>
+              <div className="mt-8 text-center text-sm text-white/60">
+                Already have an account?{" "}
+                <Link
+                  to={{ pathname: "/login", search: searchParams.toString() }}
+                  className="text-primary hover:text-primary-400 font-semibold transition-colors"
+                >
+                  Log in
+                </Link>
+              </div>
+            </>
+          )}
         </div>
       </main>
 
diff --git a/frontend/libs/components/pricing-table/src/lib/checkout-intent.ts b/frontend/libs/components/pricing-table/src/lib/checkout-intent.ts
index 6b705fb86f..63e111317f 100644
--- a/frontend/libs/components/pricing-table/src/lib/checkout-intent.ts
+++ b/frontend/libs/components/pricing-table/src/lib/checkout-intent.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ export const checkoutIntentFromSearchParams = (
   if (!plan || !PAID_PLAN_SLUGS.has(plan)) {
     return null;
   }
-  const cadence = params.get(CADENCE_PARAM) === "monthly" ? "monthly" : "yearly";
+  const cadence =
+    params.get(CADENCE_PARAM) === "monthly" ? "monthly" : "yearly";
   return { plan, cadence };
 };