diff --git a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
index 99fdeebac4..fbc9d35197 100644
--- a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
@@ -1516,7 +1516,7 @@ public enum ChatInfo: Identifiable, Decodable, NamedChat, Hashable {
         case let .direct(contact): contact.sndReady
         case let .group(groupInfo, groupScope):
             groupInfo.membership.memberActive
-                && (groupScope != nil || (!groupInfo.membership.memberPending && groupInfo.membership.memberRole != .observer))
+                && (groupScope != nil || (!groupInfo.membership.memberPending && groupInfo.membership.memberRole >= .author))
         case .local: true
         case .contactRequest: false
         case .contactConnection: false
@@ -1579,7 +1579,7 @@ public enum ChatInfo: Identifiable, Decodable, NamedChat, Hashable {
                     switch(groupChatScope) {
                     case .none:
                         if groupInfo.membership.memberPending { return ("reviewed by admins", "Please contact group admin.") }
-                        if groupInfo.membership.memberRole == .observer {
+                        if groupInfo.membership.memberRole < .author {
                             return groupInfo.useRelays ? ("you are subscriber", nil) : ("you are observer", "Please contact group admin.")
                         }
                         return nil
@@ -2874,6 +2874,7 @@ public struct GroupMemberIds: Decodable, Hashable {
 public enum GroupMemberRole: String, Identifiable, CaseIterable, Comparable, Codable, Hashable {
     case relay
     case observer
+    case commenter
     case author
     case member
     case moderator
@@ -2888,6 +2889,7 @@ public enum GroupMemberRole: String, Identifiable, CaseIterable, Comparable, Cod
         switch self {
         case .relay: return NSLocalizedString("relay", comment: "member role")
         case .observer: return NSLocalizedString("observer", comment: "member role")
+        case .commenter: return NSLocalizedString("commenter", comment: "member role")
         case .author: return NSLocalizedString("author", comment: "member role")
         case .member: return NSLocalizedString("member", comment: "member role")
         case .moderator: return NSLocalizedString("moderator", comment: "member role")
@@ -2900,11 +2902,12 @@ public enum GroupMemberRole: String, Identifiable, CaseIterable, Comparable, Cod
         switch self {
         case .relay: 0
         case .observer: 1
-        case .author: 2
-        case .member: 3
-        case .moderator: 4
-        case .admin: 5
-        case .owner: 6
+        case .commenter: 2
+        case .author: 3
+        case .member: 4
+        case .moderator: 5
+        case .admin: 6
+        case .owner: 7
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt
index f89a599bb4..ad6b492e43 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt
@@ -1621,7 +1621,7 @@ sealed class ChatInfo: SomeChat, NamedChat {
                 if (groupInfo.membership.memberPending) {
                   return generalGetString(MR.strings.reviewed_by_admins) to generalGetString(MR.strings.observer_cant_send_message_desc)
                 }
-                if (groupInfo.membership.memberRole == GroupMemberRole.Observer) {
+                if (groupInfo.membership.memberRole < GroupMemberRole.Author) {
                   return if (groupInfo.useRelays) {
                     generalGetString(MR.strings.you_are_subscriber) to null
                   } else {
@@ -1673,7 +1673,7 @@ sealed class ChatInfo: SomeChat, NamedChat {
         is Direct -> contact.sndReady
         is Group ->
           groupInfo.membership.memberActive
-              && (groupChatScope != null || (!groupInfo.membership.memberPending && groupInfo.membership.memberRole != GroupMemberRole.Observer))
+              && (groupChatScope != null || (!groupInfo.membership.memberPending && groupInfo.membership.memberRole >= GroupMemberRole.Author))
         is Local -> true
         is ContactRequest -> false
         is ContactConnection -> false
@@ -2529,6 +2529,7 @@ data class GroupMemberIds(
 enum class GroupMemberRole(val memberRole: String) {
   @SerialName("relay") Relay("relay"), // order matters in comparisons
   @SerialName("observer") Observer("observer"),
+  @SerialName("commenter") Commenter("commenter"),
   @SerialName("author") Author("author"),
   @SerialName("member") Member("member"),
   @SerialName("moderator") Moderator("moderator"),
@@ -2542,6 +2543,7 @@ enum class GroupMemberRole(val memberRole: String) {
   val text: String get() = when (this) {
     Relay -> generalGetString(MR.strings.group_member_role_relay)
     Observer -> generalGetString(MR.strings.group_member_role_observer)
+    Commenter -> generalGetString(MR.strings.group_member_role_commenter)
     Author -> generalGetString(MR.strings.group_member_role_author)
     Member -> generalGetString(MR.strings.group_member_role_member)
     Moderator -> generalGetString(MR.strings.group_member_role_moderator)
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml
index 9ea32d5131..3b3d5af785 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml
@@ -1772,6 +1772,7 @@
 
   <!-- GroupMemberRole -->
   <string name="group_member_role_observer">observer</string>
+  <string name="group_member_role_commenter">commenter</string>
   <string name="group_member_role_author">author</string>
   <string name="group_member_role_member">member</string>
   <string name="group_member_role_moderator">moderator</string>