diff --git a/app/page.tsx b/app/page.tsx
index a2817afb..e5cf63a8 100644
--- a/app/page.tsx
+++ b/app/page.tsx
@@ -64,7 +64,20 @@ export default function HomePage() {
     enabled: status !== "loading" && !((filter === "mine" || filter === "private") && !isAuthenticated),
   });
 
-  const projects = data?.pages.flatMap((page) => page.items) ?? [];
+  // Optimistic overrides: only tracks changes made this session.
+  // Server data (is_favorited) remains the source of truth for all other projects.
+  const [favoriteOverrides, setFavoriteOverrides] = useState<Map<string, boolean>>(new Map());
+
+  const handleFavoriteChange = (projectId: string, isFavorited: boolean) => {
+    setFavoriteOverrides((prev) => new Map(prev).set(projectId, isFavorited));
+  };
+
+  const rawProjects = data?.pages.flatMap((page) => page.items) ?? [];
+  const projects = [...rawProjects].sort((a, b) => {
+    const aFav = favoriteOverrides.has(a.id) ? favoriteOverrides.get(a.id)! : (a.is_favorited ?? false);
+    const bFav = favoriteOverrides.has(b.id) ? favoriteOverrides.get(b.id)! : (b.is_favorited ?? false);
+    return (bFav ? 1 : 0) - (aFav ? 1 : 0);
+  });
   const total = data?.pages.at(-1)?.total ?? 0;
   const unfilteredTotal = data?.pages.at(-1)?.unfiltered_total ?? 0;
   const isFiltered = (!!debouncedSearch || filter !== "all") && unfilteredTotal > total;
@@ -245,7 +258,17 @@ export default function HomePage() {
                 </div>
                 <div className="grid gap-4 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3">
                   {projects.map((project) => (
-                    <ProjectCard key={project.id} project={project} />
+                    <ProjectCard
+                      key={project.id}
+                      project={{
+                        ...project,
+                        is_favorited: favoriteOverrides.has(project.id)
+                          ? favoriteOverrides.get(project.id)
+                          : project.is_favorited,
+                      }}
+                      accessToken={session?.accessToken}
+                      onFavoriteChange={handleFavoriteChange}
+                    />
                   ))}
                 </div>
                 {hasNextPage && (
diff --git a/components/projects/project-card.tsx b/components/projects/project-card.tsx
index 69b82033..39a789d5 100644
--- a/components/projects/project-card.tsx
+++ b/components/projects/project-card.tsx
@@ -1,22 +1,27 @@
 "use client";
 
+import { useState } from "react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { useSession } from "next-auth/react";
-import { Globe, Lock, Users } from "lucide-react";
+import { Globe, Lock, Users, Star } from "lucide-react";
 import { cn, formatDate } from "@/lib/utils";
-import type { Project } from "@/lib/api/projects";
+import { projectApi, type Project } from "@/lib/api/projects";
 import { derivePermissions } from "@/lib/hooks/useProject";
 import { useEditorModeStore } from "@/lib/stores/editorModeStore";
 
 interface ProjectCardProps {
   project: Project;
   className?: string;
+  accessToken?: string;
+  onFavoriteChange?: (projectId: string, isFavorited: boolean) => void;
 }
 
-export function ProjectCard({ project, className }: ProjectCardProps) {
+export function ProjectCard({ project, className, accessToken, onFavoriteChange }: ProjectCardProps) {
   const { data: session } = useSession();
   const { canSuggest } = derivePermissions(project, session?.accessToken);
   const preferEditMode = useEditorModeStore((s) => s.preferEditMode);
+  const isFavorited = project.is_favorited ?? false;
+  const [isToggling, setIsToggling] = useState(false);
 
   // When the user has prefer-edit-mode on AND has at least suggester rights,
   // open the project straight to the editor. Anyone without edit/suggest
@@ -25,6 +30,27 @@ export function ProjectCard({ project, className }: ProjectCardProps) {
     ? `/projects/${project.id}/editor`
     : `/projects/${project.id}`;
 
+  const handleFavoriteClick = async (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    if (!accessToken || isToggling) return;
+
+    // Optimistic update via parent — parent holds the source of truth
+    onFavoriteChange?.(project.id, !isFavorited);
+    setIsToggling(true);
+
+    try {
+      if (isFavorited) {
+        await projectApi.unfavorite(project.id, accessToken);
+      } else {
+        await projectApi.favorite(project.id, accessToken);
+      }
+    } catch {
+      onFavoriteChange?.(project.id, isFavorited); // rollback in parent
+    } finally {
+      setIsToggling(false);
+    }
+  };
+
   return (
     <Link
       href={href}
@@ -47,20 +73,44 @@ export function ProjectCard({ project, className }: ProjectCardProps) {
             </p>
           )}
         </div>
-        <div
-          className={cn(
-            "flex h-8 w-8 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full",
-            project.is_public
-              ? "bg-green-100 text-green-600 dark:bg-green-900/30 dark:text-green-400"
-              : "bg-amber-100 text-amber-600 dark:bg-amber-900/30 dark:text-amber-400"
-          )}
-          title={project.is_public ? "Public project" : "Private project"}
-        >
-          {project.is_public ? (
-            <Globe className="h-4 w-4" />
-          ) : (
-            <Lock className="h-4 w-4" />
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 shrink-0">
+          {accessToken && (
+            <button
+              onClick={handleFavoriteClick}
+              disabled={isToggling}
+              aria-label={isFavorited ? "Remove from favorites" : "Add to favorites"}
+              aria-pressed={isFavorited}
+              className={cn(
+                "flex h-8 w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-full transition-colors",
+                "hover:bg-amber-50 dark:hover:bg-amber-900/20",
+                isToggling && "opacity-50 cursor-not-allowed"
+              )}
+            >
+              <Star
+                className={cn(
+                  "h-4 w-4 transition-colors",
+                  isFavorited
+                    ? "fill-amber-400 text-amber-400"
+                    : "text-slate-300 dark:text-slate-600 hover:text-amber-400"
+                )}
+              />
+            </button>
           )}
+          <div
+            className={cn(
+              "flex h-8 w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-full",
+              project.is_public
+                ? "bg-green-100 text-green-600 dark:bg-green-900/30 dark:text-green-400"
+                : "bg-amber-100 text-amber-600 dark:bg-amber-900/30 dark:text-amber-400"
+            )}
+            title={project.is_public ? "Public project" : "Private project"}
+          >
+            {project.is_public ? (
+              <Globe className="h-4 w-4" />
+            ) : (
+              <Lock className="h-4 w-4" />
+            )}
+          </div>
         </div>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/lib/api/projects.ts b/lib/api/projects.ts
index 21b7d543..13f41de2 100644
--- a/lib/api/projects.ts
+++ b/lib/api/projects.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ export interface Project {
   is_exemplar?: boolean;
   exemplar_slug?: string;
   exemplar_source_url?: string;
+  // Favorites
+  is_favorited?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface ProjectListResponse {
@@ -300,6 +302,22 @@ export const projectApi = {
       headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
     }),
 
+  /**
+   * Add a project to the current user's favorites
+   */
+  favorite: (id: string, token: string) =>
+    api.post<Project>(`/api/v1/projects/${id}/favorite`, {}, {
+      headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
+    }),
+
+  /**
+   * Remove a project from the current user's favorites
+   */
+  unfavorite: (id: string, token: string) =>
+    api.delete<Project>(`/api/v1/projects/${id}/favorite`, {
+      headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
+    }),
+
   /**
    * Transfer project ownership to an admin member
    * @param force - If true, proceed even if GitHub integration will be disconnected