diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c71a5b66..e2a13b54 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
     "bump:major": "pnpm --filter @different-ai/openwork-ui bump:major",
     "bump:set": "pnpm --filter @different-ai/openwork-ui bump:set",
     "release:review": "node scripts/release/review.mjs",
+    "release:prepare": "node scripts/release/prepare.mjs",
+    "release:prepare:dry": "node scripts/release/prepare.mjs --dry-run",
+    "release:ship": "node scripts/release/ship.mjs",
+    "release:ship:watch": "node scripts/release/ship.mjs --watch",
     "tauri": "pnpm --filter @different-ai/openwork exec tauri"
   },
   "pnpm": {
diff --git a/scripts/release/prepare.mjs b/scripts/release/prepare.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9070415a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/release/prepare.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+/**
+ * release:prepare [patch|minor|major]
+ *
+ * Bumps versions, runs lockfile check, runs release:review,
+ * commits, and tags — but does NOT push.
+ *
+ * Flags:
+ *   --dry-run   Print what would happen without mutating anything.
+ *   --ci        Skip interactive-safety checks (branch, clean-tree).
+ */
+import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { resolve } from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+
+const root = resolve(fileURLToPath(new URL("../..", import.meta.url)));
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+
+const dryRun = args.includes("--dry-run");
+const ci = args.includes("--ci");
+const bumpType = args.find((a) => ["patch", "minor", "major"].includes(a)) ?? "patch";
+
+const log = (msg) => console.log(`  ${msg}`);
+const heading = (msg) => console.log(`\n▸ ${msg}`);
+const success = (msg) => console.log(`  ✓ ${msg}`);
+const fail = (msg) => {
+  console.error(`  ✗ ${msg}`);
+  process.exit(1);
+};
+
+const run = (cmd, opts = {}) => {
+  if (dryRun && !opts.readOnly) {
+    log(`[dry-run] ${cmd}`);
+    return "";
+  }
+  try {
+    return execSync(cmd, { cwd: root, encoding: "utf8", stdio: opts.stdio ?? "pipe" }).trim();
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (opts.allowFail) return "";
+    fail(`Command failed: ${cmd}\n${err.stderr || err.message}`);
+  }
+};
+
+// ── Step 1: Verify state ────────────────────────────────────────────
+heading("Checking git state");
+
+if (!ci) {
+  const branch = run("git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD", { readOnly: true });
+  if (branch !== "dev") fail(`Must be on 'dev' branch (currently on '${branch}')`);
+  success(`On branch ${branch}`);
+}
+
+const dirty = run("git status --porcelain", { readOnly: true });
+if (dirty && !ci) fail(`Working tree is dirty:\n${dirty}`);
+success("Working tree clean");
+
+heading("Syncing with origin/dev");
+run("git fetch origin dev", { readOnly: true });
+const behind = run("git rev-list HEAD..origin/dev --count", { readOnly: true });
+if (behind !== "0" && !dryRun) {
+  log(`Behind origin/dev by ${behind} commits — pulling…`);
+  run("git pull --rebase origin dev");
+}
+success("Up to date with origin/dev");
+
+// ── Step 2: Bump versions ───────────────────────────────────────────
+heading(`Bumping versions (${bumpType})`);
+const bumpOutput = run(`pnpm bump:${bumpType}`, { stdio: "pipe" });
+if (!dryRun) {
+  log(bumpOutput);
+}
+
+// Read the new version
+const appPkg = JSON.parse(readFileSync(resolve(root, "packages/app/package.json"), "utf8"));
+const version = appPkg.version;
+success(`Version is now ${version}`);
+
+// ── Step 3: Lockfile ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+heading("Checking lockfile");
+run("pnpm install --lockfile-only");
+const lockfileChanged = run("git diff --name-only -- pnpm-lock.yaml", { readOnly: true });
+if (lockfileChanged) {
+  success("Lockfile updated");
+} else {
+  success("Lockfile unchanged");
+}
+
+// ── Step 4: Release review ──────────────────────────────────────────
+heading("Running release review");
+const reviewOutput = run("node scripts/release/review.mjs --strict", { readOnly: true, allowFail: false });
+log(reviewOutput);
+success("Release review passed");
+
+// ── Step 5: Commit ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+heading("Committing version bump");
+run("git add -A");
+run(`git commit -m "chore: bump version to ${version}"`);
+success(`Committed: chore: bump version to ${version}`);
+
+// ── Step 6: Tag ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+heading("Creating tag");
+const tag = `v${version}`;
+run(`git tag ${tag}`);
+success(`Tagged ${tag}`);
+
+// ── Summary ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+console.log("\n" + "─".repeat(50));
+console.log(`  Release prepared: ${tag}`);
+console.log(`  Version:          ${version}`);
+console.log(`  Bump type:        ${bumpType}`);
+if (dryRun) {
+  console.log("  Mode:             DRY RUN (nothing was changed)");
+}
+console.log("");
+console.log("  Next step:");
+console.log(`    pnpm release:ship`);
+console.log("─".repeat(50) + "\n");
diff --git a/scripts/release/ship.mjs b/scripts/release/ship.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..00d1654e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/release/ship.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+/**
+ * release:ship
+ *
+ * Pushes the current tag + dev branch to origin, then prints the
+ * GitHub Actions workflow URL. Optionally tails the workflow run.
+ *
+ * Flags:
+ *   --dry-run   Print what would happen without pushing.
+ *   --watch     Tail the GHA workflow run after push.
+ */
+import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { resolve } from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+
+const root = resolve(fileURLToPath(new URL("../..", import.meta.url)));
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+
+const dryRun = args.includes("--dry-run");
+const watch = args.includes("--watch");
+
+const log = (msg) => console.log(`  ${msg}`);
+const heading = (msg) => console.log(`\n▸ ${msg}`);
+const success = (msg) => console.log(`  ✓ ${msg}`);
+const fail = (msg) => {
+  console.error(`  ✗ ${msg}`);
+  process.exit(1);
+};
+
+const run = (cmd, opts = {}) => {
+  if (dryRun && !opts.readOnly) {
+    log(`[dry-run] ${cmd}`);
+    return "";
+  }
+  try {
+    return execSync(cmd, {
+      cwd: root,
+      encoding: "utf8",
+      stdio: opts.inherit ? "inherit" : "pipe",
+    }).trim();
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (opts.allowFail) return "";
+    fail(`Command failed: ${cmd}\n${err.stderr || err.message}`);
+  }
+};
+
+// ── Step 1: Resolve tag from HEAD ───────────────────────────────────
+heading("Resolving tag");
+
+const tag = run("git describe --tags --exact-match HEAD", {
+  readOnly: true,
+  allowFail: true,
+});
+
+if (!tag) {
+  fail(
+    "HEAD is not tagged. Run 'pnpm release:prepare' first.\n" +
+    "  (Expected a vX.Y.Z tag on HEAD)"
+  );
+}
+
+if (!/^v\d+\.\d+\.\d+/.test(tag)) {
+  fail(`Tag '${tag}' does not look like a release tag (expected vX.Y.Z)`);
+}
+
+success(`Found tag: ${tag}`);
+
+// ── Step 2: Push tag ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+heading("Pushing tag to origin");
+run(`git push origin ${tag}`);
+success(`Pushed ${tag}`);
+
+// ── Step 3: Push dev ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+heading("Pushing dev to origin");
+run("git push origin dev");
+success("Pushed dev");
+
+// ── Step 4: Print workflow URL ──────────────────────────────────────
+heading("GitHub Actions");
+
+const repo = "different-ai/openwork";
+const url = `https://github.com/${repo}/actions/workflows/release-macos-aarch64.yml`;
+log(`Workflow: ${url}`);
+log(`Release:  https://github.com/${repo}/releases/tag/${tag}`);
+
+// ── Step 5: Optionally watch ────────────────────────────────────────
+if (watch && !dryRun) {
+  heading("Watching workflow run");
+  log("Waiting for workflow to appear…");
+
+  // Give GitHub a moment to register the run
+  execSync("sleep 10", { cwd: root });
+
+  try {
+    const runs = run(
+      `gh run list --repo ${repo} --workflow "Release App" --limit 1 --json databaseId,headBranch,event -q ".[0].databaseId"`,
+      { readOnly: true }
+    );
+    if (runs) {
+      log(`Run ID: ${runs}`);
+      run(`gh run watch ${runs} --repo ${repo} --exit-status`, { inherit: true });
+    } else {
+      log("Could not find the workflow run. Check the Actions tab manually.");
+    }
+  } catch {
+    log("Workflow watch exited (check status on GitHub).");
+  }
+}
+
+// ── Summary ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+console.log("\n" + "─".repeat(50));
+console.log(`  Shipped: ${tag}`);
+if (dryRun) {
+  console.log("  Mode:    DRY RUN (nothing was pushed)");
+}
+console.log("─".repeat(50) + "\n");