Fix onboarding loading gate for inactive subscriptions

frontend/src/App.tsx

@@ -280,10 +280,11 @@ const InitialRouteHandler: React.FC = () => {
     );
   }
 
-  // Loading state - only wait for onboarding init, not subscription check
-  // Subscription check is non-blocking and happens in background
-  const waitingForOnboardingInit = loading || !data;
-  if (loading || waitingForOnboardingInit) {
+  // Only block on onboarding initialization once we know the user has an active subscription.
+  // This allows no-subscription/inactive flows to continue even when onboarding data is still null.
+  const isActiveSubscriber = Boolean(subscription && subscription.active && subscription.plan !== 'none');
+  const waitingForOnboardingInit = isActiveSubscriber && (loading || !data);
+  if (waitingForOnboardingInit) {
     return (
       <Box
         display="flex"
@@ -295,7 +296,7 @@ const InitialRouteHandler: React.FC = () => {
       >
         <CircularProgress size={60} />
         <Typography variant="h6" color="textSecondary">
-          {subscriptionLoading ? 'Checking subscription...' : 'Preparing your workspace...'}
+          Preparing your workspace...
         </Typography>
       </Box>
     );

frontend/src/components/Pricing/PricingPage.tsx

@@ -72,39 +72,6 @@ const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
     fetchPlans();
   }, []);
 
-  const isPodcastOnlyDemoMode = () => {
-    const appMode = (localStorage.getItem('app_mode') || '').toLowerCase();
-    const demoMode = (localStorage.getItem('demo_mode') || '').toLowerCase();
-    const podcastOnlyDemoMode = (localStorage.getItem('podcast_only_demo_mode') || '').toLowerCase();
-    const envAppMode = (process.env.REACT_APP_APP_MODE || '').toLowerCase();
-    const envDemoMode = (process.env.REACT_APP_DEMO_MODE || '').toLowerCase();
-
-    return (
-      podcastOnlyDemoMode === 'true' ||
-      appMode === 'podcast-only' ||
-      demoMode === 'podcast-only' ||
-      envAppMode === 'podcast-only' ||
-      envDemoMode === 'podcast-only'
-    );
-  };
-
-  const redirectAfterSubscription = () => {
-    // In podcast-only demo mode, always force users into podcast flow.
-    // Never send demo users to onboarding.
-    if (isPodcastOnlyDemoMode()) {
-      navigate('/podcast-maker');
-      return;
-    }
-
-    // Full mode keeps existing onboarding redirect behavior.
-    const onboardingComplete = localStorage.getItem('onboarding_complete') === 'true';
-    if (onboardingComplete) {
-      navigate('/dashboard');
-    } else {
-      navigate('/onboarding');
-    }
-  };
-
   const fetchPlans = async () => {
     try {
       setLoading(true);
@@ -166,7 +133,14 @@ const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
         // Refresh subscription status
         window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('subscription-updated'));
 
-        redirectAfterSubscription();
+        // After subscription, check if onboarding is complete
+        // If not complete, redirect to onboarding; otherwise to dashboard
+        const onboardingComplete = localStorage.getItem('onboarding_complete') === 'true';
+        if (onboardingComplete) {
+          navigate('/dashboard');
+        } else {
+          navigate('/onboarding');
+        }
       } catch (err) {
         console.error('Error subscribing:', err);
         setError('Failed to process subscription');
@@ -266,13 +240,10 @@ const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
       setTimeout(() => {
         clearInterval(countdownInterval);
         
-        // In podcast-only demo mode, always route users to podcast flow.
-        if (isPodcastOnlyDemoMode()) {
-          navigate('/podcast-maker');
-        } else {
-          const onboardingComplete = localStorage.getItem('onboarding_complete') === 'true';
-
-          if (onboardingComplete) {
+        // After subscription, check if onboarding is complete
+        // If not complete, redirect to onboarding; otherwise to dashboard
+        const onboardingComplete = localStorage.getItem('onboarding_complete') === 'true';
+        if (onboardingComplete) {
           // Restore navigation state (path, phase, tool) if available
           const navState = restoreNavigationState();
           
@@ -295,8 +266,7 @@ const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
             }
           }
         } else {
-            navigate('/onboarding');
-          }
+          navigate('/onboarding');
         }
       }, 3000);
     } catch (err) {