diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 6da7f80..3c22283 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -29,10 +29,9 @@ PORT=8080
 # Download settings
 # DOWNLOAD_PARALLEL_LIMIT: Max concurrent downloads
 # DOWNLOAD_RATE_LIMIT: Seconds between requests (to avoid rate limiting)
-# DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL: Seconds between automatic checks for new content
+# Check interval is configured per-source in the web UI (Settings page)
 DOWNLOAD_PARALLEL_LIMIT=3
 DOWNLOAD_RATE_LIMIT=3.0
-DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL=3600
 
 # Logging level (DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR)
 LOG_LEVEL=INFO
diff --git a/backend/app/api/settings.py b/backend/app/api/settings.py
index 64f185b..576a1f7 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/settings.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/settings.py
@@ -31,6 +31,29 @@ async def get_or_create_extension_api_key(session: AsyncSession) -> str:
     return new_key
 
 
+async def get_setting_value(session: AsyncSession, key: str, default=None):
+    """Get a setting value from the database, falling back to defaults.
+
+    Args:
+        session: Database session
+        key: Setting key (e.g., 'download.schedule_interval')
+        default: Fallback if not in database or DEFAULT_SETTINGS
+
+    Returns:
+        The setting value
+    """
+    result = await session.execute(
+        select(Setting).where(Setting.key == key)
+    )
+    setting = result.scalar()
+
+    if setting:
+        return setting.value
+
+    # Fall back to DEFAULT_SETTINGS, then to provided default
+    return DEFAULT_SETTINGS.get(key, default)
+
+
 @bp.route("", methods=["GET"])
 async def get_all_settings():
     """Get all application settings."""
diff --git a/backend/app/api/sources.py b/backend/app/api/sources.py
index f01f8b4..1f781bf 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/sources.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/sources.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import selectinload
 from app.models.source import Source
 from app.models.subscription import Subscription
 from app.tasks.downloads import download_source
+from app.api.settings import get_setting_value
 
 bp = Blueprint("sources", __name__)
 
@@ -100,12 +101,17 @@ async def create_source():
         if existing.scalar():
             return jsonify({"error": "Source with this platform and URL already exists"}), 409
 
+        # Get default check interval from database settings
+        default_interval = await get_setting_value(
+            session, "download.schedule_interval", 3600
+        )
+
         source = Source(
             subscription_id=data["subscription_id"],
             platform=data["platform"],
             url=data["url"],
             enabled=data.get("enabled", True),
-            check_interval=data.get("check_interval", 3600),
+            check_interval=data.get("check_interval", default_interval),
             metadata_=data.get("metadata", {}),
         )
 
diff --git a/backend/app/api/subscriptions.py b/backend/app/api/subscriptions.py
index 8bacb07..23ab742 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/subscriptions.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/subscriptions.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import selectinload
 from app.models.subscription import Subscription
 from app.models.source import Source
 from app.tasks.downloads import download_source
+from app.api.settings import get_setting_value
 
 bp = Blueprint("subscriptions", __name__)
 
@@ -85,6 +86,11 @@ async def create_subscription():
             metadata_=data.get("metadata", {}),
         )
 
+        # Get default check interval from database settings
+        default_interval = await get_setting_value(
+            session, "download.schedule_interval", 3600
+        )
+
         # Add sources if provided
         sources_data = data.get("sources", [])
         for source_data in sources_data:
@@ -94,7 +100,7 @@ async def create_subscription():
                 platform=source_data["platform"],
                 url=source_data["url"],
                 enabled=source_data.get("enabled", True),
-                check_interval=source_data.get("check_interval", 3600),
+                check_interval=source_data.get("check_interval", default_interval),
                 metadata_=source_data.get("metadata", {}),
             )
             subscription.sources.append(source)
@@ -254,12 +260,17 @@ async def add_source_to_subscription(subscription_id: int):
         # Store name before commit (attributes expire after commit)
         subscription_name = subscription.name
 
+        # Get default check interval from database settings
+        default_interval = await get_setting_value(
+            session, "download.schedule_interval", 3600
+        )
+
         source = Source(
             subscription_id=subscription_id,
             platform=data["platform"],
             url=data["url"],
             enabled=data.get("enabled", True),
-            check_interval=data.get("check_interval", 3600),
+            check_interval=data.get("check_interval", default_interval),
             metadata_=data.get("metadata", {}),
         )
 
diff --git a/backend/app/config.py b/backend/app/config.py
index a52235b..4c16160 100644
--- a/backend/app/config.py
+++ b/backend/app/config.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     # Download settings
     download_parallel_limit: int = 3
     download_rate_limit: float = 3.0
-    default_check_interval: int = 3600  # seconds
+    # Note: check_interval is now per-source and stored in database
 
     # Server
     host: str = "0.0.0.0"
diff --git a/backend/app/tasks/celery_app.py b/backend/app/tasks/celery_app.py
index 2eab98e..69abda9 100644
--- a/backend/app/tasks/celery_app.py
+++ b/backend/app/tasks/celery_app.py
@@ -28,10 +28,13 @@ celery_app.conf.update(
 )
 
 # Celery Beat schedule for periodic tasks
+# Note: The scheduler runs frequently (every 60s) but only triggers downloads
+# for sources whose individual check_interval has elapsed. Per-source intervals
+# are stored in the database and can be configured via the UI.
 celery_app.conf.beat_schedule = {
-    "check-sources-hourly": {
+    "check-sources-scheduler": {
         "task": "app.tasks.downloads.scheduled_check",
-        "schedule": settings.default_check_interval,  # Default: every hour
+        "schedule": 60,  # Run every 60 seconds to check for due sources
     },
     "cleanup-old-downloads-daily": {
         "task": "app.tasks.downloads.cleanup_old_downloads",
diff --git a/docker-compose.dev.yml b/docker-compose.dev.yml
index 14b0e4d..e97976a 100644
--- a/docker-compose.dev.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.dev.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ services:
       - SECRET_KEY=${SECRET_KEY:-dev-secret-key-not-for-production}
       - DOWNLOAD_PARALLEL_LIMIT=${DOWNLOAD_PARALLEL_LIMIT:-3}
       - DOWNLOAD_RATE_LIMIT=${DOWNLOAD_RATE_LIMIT:-3.0}
-      - DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL=${DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL:-3600}
       - LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG
       - DEBUG=true
     volumes:
@@ -47,7 +46,6 @@ services:
       - SECRET_KEY=${SECRET_KEY:-dev-secret-key-not-for-production}
       - DOWNLOAD_PARALLEL_LIMIT=${DOWNLOAD_PARALLEL_LIMIT:-3}
       - DOWNLOAD_RATE_LIMIT=${DOWNLOAD_RATE_LIMIT:-3.0}
-      - DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL=${DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL:-3600}
       - LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG
       - DEBUG=true
     volumes:
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 00979de..94402b8 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ services:
       - SECRET_KEY=${SECRET_KEY}
       - DOWNLOAD_PARALLEL_LIMIT=${DOWNLOAD_PARALLEL_LIMIT:-3}
       - DOWNLOAD_RATE_LIMIT=${DOWNLOAD_RATE_LIMIT:-3.0}
-      - DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL=${DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL:-3600}
       - LOG_LEVEL=${LOG_LEVEL:-INFO}
     volumes:
       - ${DATA_DOWNLOADS:-downloads}:/data/downloads
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@ services:
       - SECRET_KEY=${SECRET_KEY}
       - DOWNLOAD_PARALLEL_LIMIT=${DOWNLOAD_PARALLEL_LIMIT:-3}
       - DOWNLOAD_RATE_LIMIT=${DOWNLOAD_RATE_LIMIT:-3.0}
-      - DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL=${DEFAULT_CHECK_INTERVAL:-3600}
       - LOG_LEVEL=${LOG_LEVEL:-INFO}
     volumes:
       - ${DATA_DOWNLOADS:-downloads}:/data/downloads