diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index af392236..8dead7d6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -286,7 +286,8 @@ GRIST_SERVERS | the types of server to setup. Comma separated values which may c
 GRIST_SESSION_COOKIE | if set, overrides the name of Grist's cookie
 GRIST_SESSION_DOMAIN | if set, associates the cookie with the given domain - otherwise defaults to GRIST_DOMAIN
 GRIST_SESSION_SECRET | a key used to encode sessions
-GRIST_FORCE_LOGIN    | when set to 'true' disables anonymous access
+GRIST_ANON_PLAYGROUND    | When set to 'false' deny anonymous users access to the home page
+GRIST_FORCE_LOGIN    | Much like GRIST_ANON_PLAYGROUND but don't support anonymous access at all (features like sharing docs publicly requires authentication)
 GRIST_SINGLE_ORG | set to an org "domain" to pin client to that org
 GRIST_TEMPLATE_ORG | set to an org "domain" to show public docs from that org
 GRIST_HELP_CENTER | set the help center link ref
diff --git a/app/client/models/DocPageModel.ts b/app/client/models/DocPageModel.ts
index 727f2e70..417d1180 100644
--- a/app/client/models/DocPageModel.ts
+++ b/app/client/models/DocPageModel.ts
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ export class DocPageModelImpl extends Disposable implements DocPageModel {
   public createLeftPane(leftPanelOpen: Observable<boolean>) {
     return cssLeftPanel(
       dom.maybe(this.gristDoc, (activeDoc) => [
-        addNewButton(leftPanelOpen,
+        addNewButton({ isOpen: leftPanelOpen },
           menu(() => addMenu(this.importSources, activeDoc, this.isReadonly.get()), {
             placement: 'bottom-start',
             // "Add New" menu should have the same width as the "Add New" button that opens it.
diff --git a/app/client/ui/AddNewButton.ts b/app/client/ui/AddNewButton.ts
index 1cd45dc1..02fa1762 100644
--- a/app/client/ui/AddNewButton.ts
+++ b/app/client/ui/AddNewButton.ts
@@ -5,14 +5,27 @@ import {dom, DomElementArg, Observable, styled} from "grainjs";
 
 const t = makeT(`AddNewButton`);
 
-export function addNewButton(isOpen: Observable<boolean> | boolean = true, ...args: DomElementArg[]) {
+export function addNewButton(
+  {
+    isOpen,
+    isDisabled = false,
+  }: {
+    isOpen: Observable<boolean> | boolean,
+    isDisabled?: boolean
+  },
+  ...args: DomElementArg[]
+) {
   return cssAddNewButton(
     cssAddNewButton.cls('-open', isOpen),
+    cssAddNewButton.cls('-disabled', isDisabled),
     // Setting spacing as flex items allows them to shrink faster when there isn't enough space.
     cssLeftMargin(),
     cssAddText(t("Add New")),
     dom('div', {style: 'flex: 1 1 16px'}),
-    cssPlusButton(cssPlusIcon('Plus')),
+    cssPlusButton(
+      cssPlusButton.cls('-disabled', isDisabled),
+      cssPlusIcon('Plus')
+    ),
     dom('div', {style: 'flex: 0 1 16px'}),
     ...args,
   );
@@ -47,6 +60,11 @@ export const cssAddNewButton = styled('div', `
     background-color: ${theme.controlPrimaryHoverBg};
     --circle-color: ${theme.addNewCircleHoverBg};
   }
+
+  &-disabled, &-disabled:hover {
+    color: ${theme.controlDisabledFg};
+    background-color: ${theme.controlDisabledBg}
+  }
 `);
 const cssLeftMargin = styled('div', `
   flex: 0 1 24px;
@@ -72,6 +90,9 @@ const cssPlusButton = styled('div', `
   border-radius: 14px;
   background-color: var(--circle-color);
   text-align: center;
+  &-disabled {
+    background-color: ${theme.controlDisabledBg};
+  }
 `);
 const cssPlusIcon = styled(icon, `
   background-color: ${theme.addNewCircleFg};
diff --git a/app/client/ui/HomeIntro.ts b/app/client/ui/HomeIntro.ts
index a5d52d10..debe362f 100644
--- a/app/client/ui/HomeIntro.ts
+++ b/app/client/ui/HomeIntro.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import {makeT} from 'app/client/lib/localization';
-import {getLoginOrSignupUrl, urlState} from 'app/client/models/gristUrlState';
+import {getLoginOrSignupUrl, getLoginUrl, getSignupUrl, urlState} from 'app/client/models/gristUrlState';
 import {HomeModel} from 'app/client/models/HomeModel';
 import {productPill} from 'app/client/ui/AppHeader';
 import * as css from 'app/client/ui/DocMenuCss';
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {cssLink} from 'app/client/ui2018/links';
 import {commonUrls, isFeatureEnabled} from 'app/common/gristUrls';
 import {FullUser} from 'app/common/LoginSessionAPI';
 import * as roles from 'app/common/roles';
+import {getGristConfig} from 'app/common/urlUtils';
 import {Computed, dom, DomContents, styled} from 'grainjs';
 
 const t = makeT('HomeIntro');
@@ -112,10 +113,36 @@ function makePersonalIntro(homeModel: HomeModel, user: FullUser) {
   ];
 }
 
+function makeAnonIntroWithoutPlayground(homeModel: HomeModel) {
+    return [
+      (!isFeatureEnabled('helpCenter') ? null : cssIntroLine(t("Visit our {{link}} to learn more about Grist.", {
+        link: helpCenterLink()
+      }), testId('welcome-text-no-playground'))),
+      cssIntroLine(t("To use Grist, please either sign up or sign in.")),
+      cssBtnGroup(
+        cssBtn(t("Sign up"), cssButton.cls('-primary'), testId('intro-sign-up'),
+          dom.on('click', () => location.href = getSignupUrl())
+        ),
+        cssBtn(t("Sign in"), testId('intro-sign-in'),
+          dom.on('click', () => location.href = getLoginUrl())
+        )
+      )
+    ];
+}
+
 function makeAnonIntro(homeModel: HomeModel) {
+  const welcomeToGrist = css.docListHeader(t("Welcome to Grist!"), testId('welcome-title'));
+
+  if (!getGristConfig().enableAnonPlayground) {
+    return [
+      welcomeToGrist,
+      ...makeAnonIntroWithoutPlayground(homeModel)
+    ];
+  }
+
   const signUp = cssLink({href: getLoginOrSignupUrl()}, t("Sign up"));
   return [
-    css.docListHeader(t("Welcome to Grist!"), testId('welcome-title')),
+    welcomeToGrist,
     cssIntroLine(t("Get started by exploring templates, or creating your first Grist document.")),
     cssIntroLine(t("{{signUp}} to save your work. ", {signUp}),
       (!isFeatureEnabled('helpCenter') ? null : t("Visit our {{link}} to learn more.", { link: helpCenterLink() })),
diff --git a/app/client/ui/HomeLeftPane.ts b/app/client/ui/HomeLeftPane.ts
index 44de1c66..be255bb0 100644
--- a/app/client/ui/HomeLeftPane.ts
+++ b/app/client/ui/HomeLeftPane.ts
@@ -30,16 +30,17 @@ export function createHomeLeftPane(leftPanelOpen: Observable<boolean>, home: Hom
   const creating = observable<boolean>(false);
   const renaming = observable<Workspace|null>(null);
   const isAnonymous = !home.app.currentValidUser;
+  const canCreate = !isAnonymous || getGristConfig().enableAnonPlayground;
 
   return cssContent(
     dom.autoDispose(creating),
     dom.autoDispose(renaming),
-    addNewButton(leftPanelOpen,
-      menu(() => addMenu(home, creating), {
+    addNewButton({ isOpen: leftPanelOpen, isDisabled: !canCreate },
+      canCreate ? menu(() => addMenu(home, creating), {
         placement: 'bottom-start',
         // "Add New" menu should have the same width as the "Add New" button that opens it.
         stretchToSelector: `.${cssAddNewButton.className}`
-      }),
+      }) : null,
       dom.cls('behavioral-prompt-add-new'),
       testId('dm-add-new'),
     ),
diff --git a/app/common/gristUrls.ts b/app/common/gristUrls.ts
index dc0ca1c0..454193f0 100644
--- a/app/common/gristUrls.ts
+++ b/app/common/gristUrls.ts
@@ -604,6 +604,9 @@ export interface GristLoadConfig {
   // If set, enable anonymous sharing UI elements.
   supportAnon?: boolean;
 
+  // If set, enable anonymous playground.
+  enableAnonPlayground?: boolean;
+
   // If set, allow selection of the specified engines.
   // TODO: move this list to a separate endpoint.
   supportEngines?: EngineCode[];
diff --git a/app/server/lib/DocApi.ts b/app/server/lib/DocApi.ts
index 1b707d7c..3533cbf2 100644
--- a/app/server/lib/DocApi.ts
+++ b/app/server/lib/DocApi.ts
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ export class DocWorkerApi {
     const canView = expressWrap(this._assertAccess.bind(this, 'viewers', false));
     // check document exists (not soft deleted) and user can edit it
     const canEdit = expressWrap(this._assertAccess.bind(this, 'editors', false));
+    const checkAnonymousCreation = expressWrap(this._checkAnonymousCreation.bind(this));
     const isOwner = expressWrap(this._assertAccess.bind(this, 'owners', false));
     // check user can edit document, with soft-deleted documents being acceptable
     const canEditMaybeRemoved = expressWrap(this._assertAccess.bind(this, 'editors', true));
@@ -1234,7 +1235,7 @@ export class DocWorkerApi {
      *
      * TODO: unify this with the other document creation and import endpoints.
      */
-    this._app.post('/api/docs', expressWrap(async (req, res) => {
+    this._app.post('/api/docs', checkAnonymousCreation, expressWrap(async (req, res) => {
       const userId = getUserId(req);
 
       let uploadId: number|undefined;
@@ -1452,6 +1453,17 @@ export class DocWorkerApi {
     return await this._dbManager.increaseUsage(getDocScope(req), limit, {delta: 1});
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Disallow document creation for anonymous users if GRIST_ANONYMOUS_CREATION is set to false.
+   */
+  private async _checkAnonymousCreation(req: Request, res: Response, next: NextFunction) {
+    const isAnonPlayground = isAffirmative(process.env.GRIST_ANON_PLAYGROUND ?? true);
+    if (isAnonymousUser(req) && !isAnonPlayground) {
+      throw new ApiError('Anonymous document creation is disabled', 403);
+    }
+    next();
+  }
+
   private async _assertAccess(role: 'viewers'|'editors'|'owners'|null, allowRemoved: boolean,
                               req: Request, res: Response, next: NextFunction) {
     const scope = getDocScope(req);
diff --git a/app/server/lib/FlexServer.ts b/app/server/lib/FlexServer.ts
index cb60b1d2..524ab419 100644
--- a/app/server/lib/FlexServer.ts
+++ b/app/server/lib/FlexServer.ts
@@ -850,10 +850,11 @@ export class FlexServer implements GristServer {
       baseDomain: this._defaultBaseDomain,
     });
 
-    const isForced = appSettings.section('login').flag('forced').readBool({
+    const forceLogin = appSettings.section('login').flag('forced').readBool({
       envVar: 'GRIST_FORCE_LOGIN',
     });
-    const forcedLoginMiddleware = isForced ? this._redirectToLoginWithoutExceptionsMiddleware : noop;
+
+    const forcedLoginMiddleware = forceLogin ? this._redirectToLoginWithoutExceptionsMiddleware : noop;
 
     const welcomeNewUser: express.RequestHandler = isSingleUserMode() ?
       (req, res, next) => next() :
diff --git a/app/server/lib/sendAppPage.ts b/app/server/lib/sendAppPage.ts
index d80bc0d3..304c0422 100644
--- a/app/server/lib/sendAppPage.ts
+++ b/app/server/lib/sendAppPage.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ export function makeGristConfig(options: MakeGristConfigOptons): GristLoadConfig
     helpCenterUrl: process.env.GRIST_HELP_CENTER || "https://support.getgrist.com",
     pathOnly,
     supportAnon: shouldSupportAnon(),
+    enableAnonPlayground: isAffirmative(process.env.GRIST_ANON_PLAYGROUND ?? true),
     supportEngines: getSupportedEngineChoices(),
     features: getFeatures(),
     pageTitleSuffix: configuredPageTitleSuffix(),
diff --git a/test/nbrowser/HomeIntroWithoutPlaygound.ts b/test/nbrowser/HomeIntroWithoutPlaygound.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aafc5353
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/nbrowser/HomeIntroWithoutPlaygound.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import {assert, driver} from 'mocha-webdriver';
+import * as gu from 'test/nbrowser/gristUtils';
+import {setupTestSuite} from 'test/nbrowser/testUtils';
+
+describe('HomeIntroWithoutPlayground', function() {
+  this.timeout(40000);
+  setupTestSuite({samples: true});
+  gu.withEnvironmentSnapshot({'GRIST_ANON_PLAYGROUND': false});
+
+  describe("Anonymous on merged-org", function() {
+    it('should show welcome page with signin and signup buttons and "add new" button disabled', async function () {
+      // Sign out
+      const session = await gu.session().personalSite.anon.login();
+
+      // Open doc-menu
+      await session.loadDocMenu('/');
+
+      assert.equal(await driver.find('.test-welcome-title').getText(), 'Welcome to Grist!');
+      assert.match(
+        await driver.find('.test-welcome-text-no-playground').getText(),
+        /Visit our Help Center.*about Grist./
+      );
+
+      // Check the sign-up and sign-in buttons.
+      const getSignUp = async () => await driver.findContent('.test-intro-sign-up', 'Sign up');
+      const getSignIn = async () => await driver.findContent('.test-intro-sign-in', 'Sign in');
+      // Check that these buttons take us to a Grist login page.
+      for (const getButton of [getSignUp, getSignIn]) {
+        const button = await getButton();
+        await button.click();
+        await gu.checkLoginPage();
+        await driver.navigate().back();
+        await gu.waitForDocMenuToLoad();
+      }
+    });
+
+    it('should not allow creating new documents', async function () {
+      // Sign out
+      const session = await gu.session().personalSite.anon.login();
+
+      // Open doc-menu
+      await session.loadDocMenu('/');
+
+      // Check that add-new button is disabled
+      assert.equal(await driver.find('.test-dm-add-new').matches('[class*=-disabled]'), true);
+
+      // Check that add-new menu is not displayed
+      await driver.find('.test-dm-add-new').doClick();
+      assert.equal(await driver.find('.test-dm-new-doc').isPresent(), false);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/server/lib/DocApi.ts b/test/server/lib/DocApi.ts
index f6e0ad37..0305a4a1 100644
--- a/test/server/lib/DocApi.ts
+++ b/test/server/lib/DocApi.ts
@@ -120,6 +120,24 @@ describe('DocApi', function () {
     testDocApi();
   });
 
+  describe('With GRIST_ANON_PLAYGROUND disabled', async () => {
+    setup('anon-playground', async () => {
+      const additionalEnvConfiguration = {
+        ALLOWED_WEBHOOK_DOMAINS: `example.com,localhost:${webhooksTestPort}`,
+        GRIST_DATA_DIR: dataDir,
+        GRIST_ANON_PLAYGROUND: 'false'
+      };
+      home = docs = await TestServer.startServer('home,docs', tmpDir, suitename, additionalEnvConfiguration);
+      homeUrl = serverUrl = home.serverUrl;
+      hasHomeApi = true;
+    });
+
+    it('should not allow anonymous users to create new docs', async () => {
+      const resp = await axios.post(`${serverUrl}/api/docs`, null, nobody);
+      assert.equal(resp.status, 403);
+    });
+  });
+
   // the way these tests are written, non-merged server requires redis.
   if (process.env.TEST_REDIS_URL) {
     describe("should work with a home server and a docworker", async () => {