diff --git a/cmd/access.go b/cmd/access.go
index 88f666c..c304acd 100644
--- a/cmd/access.go
+++ b/cmd/access.go
@@ -192,11 +192,11 @@ func showUsers(c *cli.Context, manager *user.Manager, users []*user.User) error
 			fmt.Fprintf(c.App.ErrWriter, "- read-write access to all topics (admin role)\n")
 		} else if len(grants) > 0 {
 			for _, grant := range grants {
-				if grant.AllowRead && grant.AllowWrite {
+				if grant.Allow.IsReadWrite() {
 					fmt.Fprintf(c.App.ErrWriter, "- read-write access to topic %s\n", grant.TopicPattern)
-				} else if grant.AllowRead {
+				} else if grant.Allow.IsRead() {
 					fmt.Fprintf(c.App.ErrWriter, "- read-only access to topic %s\n", grant.TopicPattern)
-				} else if grant.AllowWrite {
+				} else if grant.Allow.IsWrite() {
 					fmt.Fprintf(c.App.ErrWriter, "- write-only access to topic %s\n", grant.TopicPattern)
 				} else {
 					fmt.Fprintf(c.App.ErrWriter, "- no access to topic %s\n", grant.TopicPattern)
@@ -206,12 +206,12 @@ func showUsers(c *cli.Context, manager *user.Manager, users []*user.User) error
 			fmt.Fprintf(c.App.ErrWriter, "- no topic-specific permissions\n")
 		}
 		if u.Name == user.Everyone {
-			defaultRead, defaultWrite := manager.DefaultAccess()
-			if defaultRead && defaultWrite {
+			access := manager.DefaultAccess()
+			if access.IsReadWrite() {
 				fmt.Fprintln(c.App.ErrWriter, "- read-write access to all (other) topics (server config)")
-			} else if defaultRead {
+			} else if access.IsRead() {
 				fmt.Fprintln(c.App.ErrWriter, "- read-only access to all (other) topics (server config)")
-			} else if defaultWrite {
+			} else if access.IsWrite() {
 				fmt.Fprintln(c.App.ErrWriter, "- write-only access to all (other) topics (server config)")
 			} else {
 				fmt.Fprintln(c.App.ErrWriter, "- no access to any (other) topics (server config)")
diff --git a/cmd/access_test.go b/cmd/access_test.go
index 67159d4..6e3c5ba 100644
--- a/cmd/access_test.go
+++ b/cmd/access_test.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func runAccessCommand(app *cli.App, conf *server.Config, args ...string) error {
 		"ntfy",
 		"access",
 		"--auth-file=" + conf.AuthFile,
-		"--auth-default-access=" + confToDefaultAccess(conf),
+		"--auth-default-access=" + conf.AuthDefault.String(),
 	}
 	return app.Run(append(userArgs, args...))
 }
diff --git a/cmd/serve.go b/cmd/serve.go
index e82c3bf..196b891 100644
--- a/cmd/serve.go
+++ b/cmd/serve.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ package cmd
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"heckel.io/ntfy/user"
 	"io/fs"
 	"math"
 	"net"
@@ -171,8 +172,6 @@ func execServe(c *cli.Context) error {
 		return errors.New("if set, base-url must start with http:// or https://")
 	} else if baseURL != "" && strings.HasSuffix(baseURL, "/") {
 		return errors.New("if set, base-url must not end with a slash (/)")
-	} else if !util.Contains([]string{"read-write", "read-only", "write-only", "deny-all"}, authDefaultAccess) {
-		return errors.New("if set, auth-default-access must start set to 'read-write', 'read-only', 'write-only' or 'deny-all'")
 	} else if !util.Contains([]string{"app", "home", "disable"}, webRoot) {
 		return errors.New("if set, web-root must be 'home' or 'app'")
 	} else if upstreamBaseURL != "" && !strings.HasPrefix(upstreamBaseURL, "http://") && !strings.HasPrefix(upstreamBaseURL, "https://") {
@@ -189,8 +188,10 @@ func execServe(c *cli.Context) error {
 	enableWeb := webRoot != "disable"
 
 	// Default auth permissions
-	authDefaultRead := authDefaultAccess == "read-write" || authDefaultAccess == "read-only"
-	authDefaultWrite := authDefaultAccess == "read-write" || authDefaultAccess == "write-only"
+	authDefault, err := user.ParsePermission(authDefaultAccess)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.New("if set, auth-default-access must start set to 'read-write', 'read-only', 'write-only' or 'deny-all'")
+	}
 
 	// Special case: Unset default
 	if listenHTTP == "-" {
@@ -244,8 +245,7 @@ func execServe(c *cli.Context) error {
 	conf.CacheBatchSize = cacheBatchSize
 	conf.CacheBatchTimeout = cacheBatchTimeout
 	conf.AuthFile = authFile
-	conf.AuthDefaultRead = authDefaultRead
-	conf.AuthDefaultWrite = authDefaultWrite
+	conf.AuthDefault = authDefault
 	conf.AttachmentCacheDir = attachmentCacheDir
 	conf.AttachmentTotalSizeLimit = attachmentTotalSizeLimit
 	conf.AttachmentFileSizeLimit = attachmentFileSizeLimit
diff --git a/cmd/user.go b/cmd/user.go
index 3562e30..ee50de6 100644
--- a/cmd/user.go
+++ b/cmd/user.go
@@ -273,12 +273,12 @@ func createUserManager(c *cli.Context) (*user.Manager, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("option auth-file not set; auth is unconfigured for this server")
 	} else if !util.FileExists(authFile) {
 		return nil, errors.New("auth-file does not exist; please start the server at least once to create it")
-	} else if !util.Contains([]string{"read-write", "read-only", "write-only", "deny-all"}, authDefaultAccess) {
-		return nil, errors.New("if set, auth-default-access must start set to 'read-write', 'read-only' or 'deny-all'")
 	}
-	authDefaultRead := authDefaultAccess == "read-write" || authDefaultAccess == "read-only"
-	authDefaultWrite := authDefaultAccess == "read-write" || authDefaultAccess == "write-only"
-	return user.NewManager(authFile, authDefaultRead, authDefaultWrite)
+	authDefault, err := user.ParsePermission(authDefaultAccess)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("if set, auth-default-access must start set to 'read-write', 'read-only', 'write-only' or 'deny-all'")
+	}
+	return user.NewManager(authFile, authDefault)
 }
 
 func readPasswordAndConfirm(c *cli.Context) (string, error) {
diff --git a/cmd/user_test.go b/cmd/user_test.go
index 666cb42..c8bcd6a 100644
--- a/cmd/user_test.go
+++ b/cmd/user_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/urfave/cli/v2"
 	"heckel.io/ntfy/server"
 	"heckel.io/ntfy/test"
+	"heckel.io/ntfy/user"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 )
@@ -114,8 +115,7 @@ func TestCLI_User_Delete(t *testing.T) {
 func newTestServerWithAuth(t *testing.T) (s *server.Server, conf *server.Config, port int) {
 	conf = server.NewConfig()
 	conf.AuthFile = filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "user.db")
-	conf.AuthDefaultRead = false
-	conf.AuthDefaultWrite = false
+	conf.AuthDefault = user.PermissionDenyAll
 	s, port = test.StartServerWithConfig(t, conf)
 	return
 }
@@ -125,21 +125,7 @@ func runUserCommand(app *cli.App, conf *server.Config, args ...string) error {
 		"ntfy",
 		"user",
 		"--auth-file=" + conf.AuthFile,
-		"--auth-default-access=" + confToDefaultAccess(conf),
+		"--auth-default-access=" + conf.AuthDefault.String(),
 	}
 	return app.Run(append(userArgs, args...))
 }
-
-func confToDefaultAccess(conf *server.Config) string {
-	var defaultAccess string
-	if conf.AuthDefaultRead && conf.AuthDefaultWrite {
-		defaultAccess = "read-write"
-	} else if conf.AuthDefaultRead && !conf.AuthDefaultWrite {
-		defaultAccess = "read-only"
-	} else if !conf.AuthDefaultRead && conf.AuthDefaultWrite {
-		defaultAccess = "write-only"
-	} else if !conf.AuthDefaultRead && !conf.AuthDefaultWrite {
-		defaultAccess = "deny-all"
-	}
-	return defaultAccess
-}
diff --git a/server/config.go b/server/config.go
index abc53a5..c3f9356 100644
--- a/server/config.go
+++ b/server/config.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package server
 
 import (
+	"heckel.io/ntfy/user"
 	"io/fs"
 	"net/netip"
 	"time"
@@ -66,8 +67,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	CacheBatchSize                       int
 	CacheBatchTimeout                    time.Duration
 	AuthFile                             string
-	AuthDefaultRead                      bool
-	AuthDefaultWrite                     bool
+	AuthDefault                          user.Permission
 	AttachmentCacheDir                   string
 	AttachmentTotalSizeLimit             int64
 	AttachmentFileSizeLimit              int64
@@ -127,8 +127,7 @@ func NewConfig() *Config {
 		CacheBatchSize:                       0,
 		CacheBatchTimeout:                    0,
 		AuthFile:                             "",
-		AuthDefaultRead:                      true,
-		AuthDefaultWrite:                     true,
+		AuthDefault:                          user.NewPermission(true, true),
 		AttachmentCacheDir:                   "",
 		AttachmentTotalSizeLimit:             DefaultAttachmentTotalSizeLimit,
 		AttachmentFileSizeLimit:              DefaultAttachmentFileSizeLimit,
diff --git a/server/errors.go b/server/errors.go
index a1d8bcb..e136287 100644
--- a/server/errors.go
+++ b/server/errors.go
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ var (
 	errHTTPBadRequestDelayTooLarge                   = &errHTTP{40006, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid delay parameter: too large, please refer to the docs", "https://ntfy.sh/docs/publish/#scheduled-delivery"}
 	errHTTPBadRequestPriorityInvalid                 = &errHTTP{40007, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid priority parameter", "https://ntfy.sh/docs/publish/#message-priority"}
 	errHTTPBadRequestSinceInvalid                    = &errHTTP{40008, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid since parameter", "https://ntfy.sh/docs/subscribe/api/#fetch-cached-messages"}
-	errHTTPBadRequestTopicInvalid                    = &errHTTP{40009, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid topic: topic invalid", ""}
-	errHTTPBadRequestTopicDisallowed                 = &errHTTP{40010, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid topic: topic name is disallowed", ""}
+	errHTTPBadRequestTopicInvalid                    = &errHTTP{40009, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid request: topic invalid", ""}
+	errHTTPBadRequestTopicDisallowed                 = &errHTTP{40010, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid request: topic name is disallowed", ""}
 	errHTTPBadRequestMessageNotUTF8                  = &errHTTP{40011, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid message: message must be UTF-8 encoded", ""}
 	errHTTPBadRequestAttachmentURLInvalid            = &errHTTP{40013, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid request: attachment URL is invalid", "https://ntfy.sh/docs/publish/#attachments"}
 	errHTTPBadRequestAttachmentsDisallowed           = &errHTTP{40014, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid request: attachments not allowed", "https://ntfy.sh/docs/config/#attachments"}
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ var (
 	errHTTPBadRequestSignupNotEnabled                = &errHTTP{40022, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid request: signup not enabled", "https://ntfy.sh/docs/config"}
 	errHTTPBadRequestNoTokenProvided                 = &errHTTP{40023, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid request: no token provided", ""}
 	errHTTPBadRequestJSONInvalid                     = &errHTTP{40024, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid request: request body must be valid JSON", ""}
+	errHTTPBadRequestPermissionInvalid               = &errHTTP{40025, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid request: incorrect permission string", ""}
 	errHTTPNotFound                                  = &errHTTP{40401, http.StatusNotFound, "page not found", ""}
 	errHTTPUnauthorized                              = &errHTTP{40101, http.StatusUnauthorized, "unauthorized", "https://ntfy.sh/docs/publish/#authentication"}
 	errHTTPForbidden                                 = &errHTTP{40301, http.StatusForbidden, "forbidden", "https://ntfy.sh/docs/publish/#authentication"}
diff --git a/server/server.go b/server/server.go
index 032879b..b4a79f0 100644
--- a/server/server.go
+++ b/server/server.go
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func New(conf *Config) (*Server, error) {
 	}
 	var userManager *user.Manager
 	if conf.AuthFile != "" {
-		userManager, err = user.NewManager(conf.AuthFile, conf.AuthDefaultRead, conf.AuthDefaultWrite)
+		userManager, err = user.NewManager(conf.AuthFile, conf.AuthDefault)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
diff --git a/server/server_account.go b/server/server_account.go
index c6d226b..ce8a292 100644
--- a/server/server_account.go
+++ b/server/server_account.go
@@ -101,19 +101,9 @@ func (s *Server) handleAccountGet(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request, v *vis
 		if len(reservations) > 0 {
 			response.Reservations = make([]*apiAccountReservation, 0)
 			for _, r := range reservations {
-				var everyone string
-				if r.AllowEveryoneRead && r.AllowEveryoneWrite {
-					everyone = "read-write"
-				} else if r.AllowEveryoneRead && !r.AllowEveryoneWrite {
-					everyone = "read-only"
-				} else if !r.AllowEveryoneRead && r.AllowEveryoneWrite {
-					everyone = "write-only"
-				} else {
-					everyone = "deny-all"
-				}
 				response.Reservations = append(response.Reservations, &apiAccountReservation{
-					Topic:    r.TopicPattern,
-					Everyone: everyone,
+					Topic:    r.Topic,
+					Everyone: r.Everyone.String(),
 				})
 			}
 		}
@@ -345,12 +335,14 @@ func (s *Server) handleAccountAccessAdd(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request,
 		return errHTTPConflictTopicReserved
 	}
 	owner, username := v.user.Name, v.user.Name
-	everyoneRead := util.Contains([]string{"read-write", "rw", "read-only", "read", "ro"}, req.Everyone)
-	everyoneWrite := util.Contains([]string{"read-write", "rw", "write-only", "write", "wo"}, req.Everyone)
+	everyone, err := user.ParsePermission(req.Everyone)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errHTTPBadRequestPermissionInvalid
+	}
 	if err := s.userManager.AllowAccess(owner, username, req.Topic, true, true); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := s.userManager.AllowAccess(owner, user.Everyone, req.Topic, everyoneRead, everyoneWrite); err != nil {
+	if err := s.userManager.AllowAccess(owner, user.Everyone, req.Topic, everyone.IsRead(), everyone.IsWrite()); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
@@ -373,7 +365,7 @@ func (s *Server) handleAccountAccessDelete(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Reques
 	}
 	authorized := false
 	for _, r := range reservations {
-		if r.TopicPattern == topic {
+		if r.Topic == topic {
 			authorized = true
 			break
 		}
diff --git a/server/server_test.go b/server/server_test.go
index bf731b9..5ce4126 100644
--- a/server/server_test.go
+++ b/server/server_test.go
@@ -638,8 +638,7 @@ func TestServer_Auth_Success_Admin(t *testing.T) {
 func TestServer_Auth_Success_User(t *testing.T) {
 	c := newTestConfig(t)
 	c.AuthFile = filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "user.db")
-	c.AuthDefaultRead = false
-	c.AuthDefaultWrite = false
+	c.AuthDefault = user.PermissionDenyAll
 	s := newTestServer(t, c)
 
 	require.Nil(t, s.userManager.AddUser("ben", "ben", user.RoleUser))
@@ -654,8 +653,7 @@ func TestServer_Auth_Success_User(t *testing.T) {
 func TestServer_Auth_Success_User_MultipleTopics(t *testing.T) {
 	c := newTestConfig(t)
 	c.AuthFile = filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "user.db")
-	c.AuthDefaultRead = false
-	c.AuthDefaultWrite = false
+	c.AuthDefault = user.PermissionDenyAll
 	s := newTestServer(t, c)
 
 	require.Nil(t, s.userManager.AddUser("ben", "ben", user.RoleUser))
@@ -676,8 +674,7 @@ func TestServer_Auth_Success_User_MultipleTopics(t *testing.T) {
 func TestServer_Auth_Fail_InvalidPass(t *testing.T) {
 	c := newTestConfig(t)
 	c.AuthFile = filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "user.db")
-	c.AuthDefaultRead = false
-	c.AuthDefaultWrite = false
+	c.AuthDefault = user.PermissionDenyAll
 	s := newTestServer(t, c)
 
 	require.Nil(t, s.userManager.AddUser("phil", "phil", user.RoleAdmin))
@@ -691,8 +688,7 @@ func TestServer_Auth_Fail_InvalidPass(t *testing.T) {
 func TestServer_Auth_Fail_Unauthorized(t *testing.T) {
 	c := newTestConfig(t)
 	c.AuthFile = filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "user.db")
-	c.AuthDefaultRead = false
-	c.AuthDefaultWrite = false
+	c.AuthDefault = user.PermissionDenyAll
 	s := newTestServer(t, c)
 
 	require.Nil(t, s.userManager.AddUser("ben", "ben", user.RoleUser))
@@ -707,8 +703,7 @@ func TestServer_Auth_Fail_Unauthorized(t *testing.T) {
 func TestServer_Auth_Fail_CannotPublish(t *testing.T) {
 	c := newTestConfig(t)
 	c.AuthFile = filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "user.db")
-	c.AuthDefaultRead = true  // Open by default
-	c.AuthDefaultWrite = true // Open by default
+	c.AuthDefault = user.PermissionReadWrite // Open by default
 	s := newTestServer(t, c)
 
 	require.Nil(t, s.userManager.AddUser("phil", "phil", user.RoleAdmin))
@@ -739,8 +734,7 @@ func TestServer_Auth_Fail_CannotPublish(t *testing.T) {
 func TestServer_Auth_ViaQuery(t *testing.T) {
 	c := newTestConfig(t)
 	c.AuthFile = filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "user.db")
-	c.AuthDefaultRead = false
-	c.AuthDefaultWrite = false
+	c.AuthDefault = user.PermissionDenyAll
 	s := newTestServer(t, c)
 
 	require.Nil(t, s.userManager.AddUser("ben", "some pass", user.RoleAdmin))
diff --git a/user/manager.go b/user/manager.go
index 41d42ec..3dd77a9 100644
--- a/user/manager.go
+++ b/user/manager.go
@@ -182,8 +182,7 @@ const (
 // in a SQLite database.
 type Manager struct {
 	db                  *sql.DB
-	defaultRead         bool             // Default read permission if no ACL matches
-	defaultWrite        bool             // Default write permission if no ACL matches
+	defaultAccess       Permission       // Default permission if no ACL matches
 	statsQueue          map[string]*User // Username -> User, for "unimportant" user updates
 	tokenExpiryInterval time.Duration    // Duration after which tokens expire, and by which tokens are extended
 	mu                  sync.Mutex
@@ -192,12 +191,12 @@ type Manager struct {
 var _ Auther = (*Manager)(nil)
 
 // NewManager creates a new Manager instance
-func NewManager(filename string, defaultRead, defaultWrite bool) (*Manager, error) {
-	return newManager(filename, defaultRead, defaultWrite, userTokenExpiryDuration, userStatsQueueWriterInterval)
+func NewManager(filename string, defaultAccess Permission) (*Manager, error) {
+	return newManager(filename, defaultAccess, userTokenExpiryDuration, userStatsQueueWriterInterval)
 }
 
 // NewManager creates a new Manager instance
-func newManager(filename string, defaultRead, defaultWrite bool, tokenExpiryDuration, statsWriterInterval time.Duration) (*Manager, error) {
+func newManager(filename string, defaultAccess Permission, tokenExpiryDuration, statsWriterInterval time.Duration) (*Manager, error) {
 	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", filename)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -207,8 +206,7 @@ func newManager(filename string, defaultRead, defaultWrite bool, tokenExpiryDura
 	}
 	manager := &Manager{
 		db:                  db,
-		defaultRead:         defaultRead,
-		defaultWrite:        defaultWrite,
+		defaultAccess:       defaultAccess,
 		statsQueue:          make(map[string]*User),
 		tokenExpiryInterval: tokenExpiryDuration,
 	}
@@ -368,7 +366,7 @@ func (a *Manager) Authorize(user *User, topic string, perm Permission) error {
 	}
 	defer rows.Close()
 	if !rows.Next() {
-		return a.resolvePerms(a.defaultRead, a.defaultWrite, perm)
+		return a.resolvePerms(a.defaultAccess, perm)
 	}
 	var read, write bool
 	if err := rows.Scan(&read, &write); err != nil {
@@ -376,13 +374,13 @@ func (a *Manager) Authorize(user *User, topic string, perm Permission) error {
 	} else if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	return a.resolvePerms(read, write, perm)
+	return a.resolvePerms(NewPermission(read, write), perm)
 }
 
-func (a *Manager) resolvePerms(read, write bool, perm Permission) error {
-	if perm == PermissionRead && read {
+func (a *Manager) resolvePerms(base, perm Permission) error {
+	if perm == PermissionRead && base.IsRead() {
 		return nil
-	} else if perm == PermissionWrite && write {
+	} else if perm == PermissionWrite && base.IsWrite() {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return ErrUnauthorized
@@ -534,8 +532,7 @@ func (a *Manager) Grants(username string) ([]Grant, error) {
 		}
 		grants = append(grants, Grant{
 			TopicPattern: fromSQLWildcard(topic),
-			AllowRead:    read,
-			AllowWrite:   write,
+			Allow:        NewPermission(read, write),
 		})
 	}
 	return grants, nil
@@ -551,19 +548,17 @@ func (a *Manager) Reservations(username string) ([]Reservation, error) {
 	reservations := make([]Reservation, 0)
 	for rows.Next() {
 		var topic string
-		var read, write bool
+		var ownerRead, ownerWrite bool
 		var everyoneRead, everyoneWrite sql.NullBool
-		if err := rows.Scan(&topic, &read, &write, &everyoneRead, &everyoneWrite); err != nil {
+		if err := rows.Scan(&topic, &ownerRead, &ownerWrite, &everyoneRead, &everyoneWrite); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		} else if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		reservations = append(reservations, Reservation{
-			TopicPattern:       topic,
-			AllowRead:          read,
-			AllowWrite:         write,
-			AllowEveryoneRead:  everyoneRead.Bool,  // false if null
-			AllowEveryoneWrite: everyoneWrite.Bool, // false if null
+			Topic:    topic,
+			Owner:    NewPermission(ownerRead, ownerWrite),
+			Everyone: NewPermission(everyoneRead.Bool, everyoneWrite.Bool), // false if null
 		})
 	}
 	return reservations, nil
@@ -659,8 +654,8 @@ func (a *Manager) ResetAccess(username string, topicPattern string) error {
 }
 
 // DefaultAccess returns the default read/write access if no access control entry matches
-func (a *Manager) DefaultAccess() (read bool, write bool) {
-	return a.defaultRead, a.defaultWrite
+func (a *Manager) DefaultAccess() Permission {
+	return a.defaultAccess
 }
 
 func toSQLWildcard(s string) string {
diff --git a/user/manager_test.go b/user/manager_test.go
index 9c2153b..8845372 100644
--- a/user/manager_test.go
+++ b/user/manager_test.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 const minBcryptTimingMillis = int64(50) // Ideally should be >100ms, but this should also run on a Raspberry Pi without massive resources
 
 func TestManager_FullScenario_Default_DenyAll(t *testing.T) {
-	a := newTestManager(t, false, false)
+	a := newTestManager(t, PermissionDenyAll)
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("phil", "phil", RoleAdmin))
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("ben", "ben", RoleUser))
 	require.Nil(t, a.AllowAccess("", "ben", "mytopic", true, true))
@@ -28,19 +28,25 @@ func TestManager_FullScenario_Default_DenyAll(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, "phil", phil.Name)
 	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(phil.Hash, "$2a$10$"))
 	require.Equal(t, RoleAdmin, phil.Role)
-	require.Equal(t, []Grant{}, phil.Grants)
+
+	philGrants, err := a.Grants("phil")
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, []Grant{}, philGrants)
 
 	ben, err := a.Authenticate("ben", "ben")
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, "ben", ben.Name)
 	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(ben.Hash, "$2a$10$"))
 	require.Equal(t, RoleUser, ben.Role)
+
+	benGrants, err := a.Grants("ben")
+	require.Nil(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, []Grant{
-		{"mytopic", true, true, false},
-		{"writeme", false, true, false},
-		{"readme", true, false, false},
-		{"everyonewrite", false, false, false},
-	}, ben.Grants)
+		{"mytopic", PermissionReadWrite},
+		{"writeme", PermissionWrite},
+		{"readme", PermissionRead},
+		{"everyonewrite", PermissionDenyAll},
+	}, benGrants)
 
 	notben, err := a.Authenticate("ben", "this is wrong")
 	require.Nil(t, notben)
@@ -85,20 +91,20 @@ func TestManager_FullScenario_Default_DenyAll(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestManager_AddUser_Invalid(t *testing.T) {
-	a := newTestManager(t, false, false)
+	a := newTestManager(t, PermissionDenyAll)
 	require.Equal(t, ErrInvalidArgument, a.AddUser("  invalid  ", "pass", RoleAdmin))
 	require.Equal(t, ErrInvalidArgument, a.AddUser("validuser", "pass", "invalid-role"))
 }
 
 func TestManager_AddUser_Timing(t *testing.T) {
-	a := newTestManager(t, false, false)
+	a := newTestManager(t, PermissionDenyAll)
 	start := time.Now().UnixMilli()
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("user", "pass", RoleAdmin))
 	require.GreaterOrEqual(t, time.Now().UnixMilli()-start, minBcryptTimingMillis)
 }
 
 func TestManager_Authenticate_Timing(t *testing.T) {
-	a := newTestManager(t, false, false)
+	a := newTestManager(t, PermissionDenyAll)
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("user", "pass", RoleAdmin))
 
 	// Timing a correct attempt
@@ -121,7 +127,7 @@ func TestManager_Authenticate_Timing(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestManager_UserManagement(t *testing.T) {
-	a := newTestManager(t, false, false)
+	a := newTestManager(t, PermissionDenyAll)
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("phil", "phil", RoleAdmin))
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("ben", "ben", RoleUser))
 	require.Nil(t, a.AllowAccess("", "ben", "mytopic", true, true))
@@ -137,29 +143,38 @@ func TestManager_UserManagement(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, "phil", phil.Name)
 	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(phil.Hash, "$2a$10$"))
 	require.Equal(t, RoleAdmin, phil.Role)
-	require.Equal(t, []Grant{}, phil.Grants)
+
+	philGrants, err := a.Grants("phil")
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, []Grant{}, philGrants)
 
 	ben, err := a.User("ben")
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, "ben", ben.Name)
 	require.True(t, strings.HasPrefix(ben.Hash, "$2a$10$"))
 	require.Equal(t, RoleUser, ben.Role)
+
+	benGrants, err := a.Grants("ben")
+	require.Nil(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, []Grant{
-		{"mytopic", true, true, false},
-		{"writeme", false, true, false},
-		{"readme", true, false, false},
-		{"everyonewrite", false, false, false},
-	}, ben.Grants)
+		{"mytopic", PermissionReadWrite},
+		{"writeme", PermissionWrite},
+		{"readme", PermissionRead},
+		{"everyonewrite", PermissionDenyAll},
+	}, benGrants)
 
 	everyone, err := a.User(Everyone)
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, "*", everyone.Name)
 	require.Equal(t, "", everyone.Hash)
 	require.Equal(t, RoleAnonymous, everyone.Role)
+
+	everyoneGrants, err := a.Grants(Everyone)
+	require.Nil(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, []Grant{
-		{"everyonewrite", true, true, false},
-		{"announcements", true, false, false},
-	}, everyone.Grants)
+		{"everyonewrite", PermissionReadWrite},
+		{"announcements", PermissionRead},
+	}, everyoneGrants)
 
 	// Ben: Before revoking
 	require.Nil(t, a.AllowAccess("", "ben", "mytopic", true, true)) // Overwrite!
@@ -203,7 +218,7 @@ func TestManager_UserManagement(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestManager_ChangePassword(t *testing.T) {
-	a := newTestManager(t, false, false)
+	a := newTestManager(t, PermissionDenyAll)
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("phil", "phil", RoleAdmin))
 
 	_, err := a.Authenticate("phil", "phil")
@@ -217,7 +232,7 @@ func TestManager_ChangePassword(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestManager_ChangeRole(t *testing.T) {
-	a := newTestManager(t, false, false)
+	a := newTestManager(t, PermissionDenyAll)
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("ben", "ben", RoleUser))
 	require.Nil(t, a.AllowAccess("", "ben", "mytopic", true, true))
 	require.Nil(t, a.AllowAccess("", "ben", "readme", true, false))
@@ -225,18 +240,24 @@ func TestManager_ChangeRole(t *testing.T) {
 	ben, err := a.User("ben")
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, RoleUser, ben.Role)
-	require.Equal(t, 2, len(ben.Grants))
+
+	benGrants, err := a.Grants("ben")
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 2, len(benGrants))
 
 	require.Nil(t, a.ChangeRole("ben", RoleAdmin))
 
 	ben, err = a.User("ben")
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, RoleAdmin, ben.Role)
-	require.Equal(t, 0, len(ben.Grants))
+
+	benGrants, err = a.Grants("ben")
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 0, len(benGrants))
 }
 
 func TestManager_Token_Valid(t *testing.T) {
-	a := newTestManager(t, false, false)
+	a := newTestManager(t, PermissionDenyAll)
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("ben", "ben", RoleUser))
 
 	u, err := a.User("ben")
@@ -261,7 +282,7 @@ func TestManager_Token_Valid(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestManager_Token_Invalid(t *testing.T) {
-	a := newTestManager(t, false, false)
+	a := newTestManager(t, PermissionDenyAll)
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("ben", "ben", RoleUser))
 
 	u, err := a.AuthenticateToken(strings.Repeat("x", 32)) // 32 == token length
@@ -274,7 +295,7 @@ func TestManager_Token_Invalid(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestManager_Token_Expire(t *testing.T) {
-	a := newTestManager(t, false, false)
+	a := newTestManager(t, PermissionDenyAll)
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("ben", "ben", RoleUser))
 
 	u, err := a.User("ben")
@@ -322,7 +343,7 @@ func TestManager_Token_Expire(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestManager_Token_Extend(t *testing.T) {
-	a := newTestManager(t, false, false)
+	a := newTestManager(t, PermissionDenyAll)
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("ben", "ben", RoleUser))
 
 	// Try to extend token for user without token
@@ -349,7 +370,7 @@ func TestManager_Token_Extend(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestManager_EnqueueStats(t *testing.T) {
-	a, err := newManager(filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "db"), true, true, time.Hour, 1500*time.Millisecond)
+	a, err := newManager(filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "db"), PermissionReadWrite, time.Hour, 1500*time.Millisecond)
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("ben", "ben", RoleUser))
 
@@ -379,7 +400,7 @@ func TestManager_EnqueueStats(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestManager_ChangeSettings(t *testing.T) {
-	a, err := newManager(filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "db"), true, true, time.Hour, 1500*time.Millisecond)
+	a, err := newManager(filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "db"), PermissionReadWrite, time.Hour, 1500*time.Millisecond)
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 	require.Nil(t, a.AddUser("ben", "ben", RoleUser))
 
@@ -461,7 +482,7 @@ func TestSqliteCache_Migration_From1(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 
 	// Create manager to trigger migration
-	a := newTestManagerFromFile(t, filename, false, false, userTokenExpiryDuration, userStatsQueueWriterInterval)
+	a := newTestManagerFromFile(t, filename, PermissionDenyAll, userTokenExpiryDuration, userStatsQueueWriterInterval)
 	checkSchemaVersion(t, a.db)
 
 	users, err := a.Users()
@@ -469,26 +490,32 @@ func TestSqliteCache_Migration_From1(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, 3, len(users))
 	phil, ben, everyone := users[0], users[1], users[2]
 
+	philGrants, err := a.Grants("phil")
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+
+	benGrants, err := a.Grants("ben")
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+
+	everyoneGrants, err := a.Grants(Everyone)
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+
 	require.Equal(t, "phil", phil.Name)
 	require.Equal(t, RoleAdmin, phil.Role)
-	require.Equal(t, 0, len(phil.Grants))
+	require.Equal(t, 0, len(philGrants))
 
 	require.Equal(t, "ben", ben.Name)
 	require.Equal(t, RoleUser, ben.Role)
-	require.Equal(t, 2, len(ben.Grants))
-	require.Equal(t, "stats", ben.Grants[0].TopicPattern)
-	require.Equal(t, true, ben.Grants[0].AllowRead)
-	require.Equal(t, true, ben.Grants[0].AllowWrite)
-	require.Equal(t, "secret", ben.Grants[1].TopicPattern)
-	require.Equal(t, true, ben.Grants[1].AllowRead)
-	require.Equal(t, false, ben.Grants[1].AllowWrite)
+	require.Equal(t, 2, len(benGrants))
+	require.Equal(t, "stats", benGrants[0].TopicPattern)
+	require.Equal(t, PermissionReadWrite, benGrants[0].Allow)
+	require.Equal(t, "secret", benGrants[1].TopicPattern)
+	require.Equal(t, PermissionRead, benGrants[1].Allow)
 
 	require.Equal(t, Everyone, everyone.Name)
 	require.Equal(t, RoleAnonymous, everyone.Role)
-	require.Equal(t, 1, len(everyone.Grants))
-	require.Equal(t, "stats", everyone.Grants[0].TopicPattern)
-	require.Equal(t, true, everyone.Grants[0].AllowRead)
-	require.Equal(t, false, everyone.Grants[0].AllowWrite)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, len(everyoneGrants))
+	require.Equal(t, "stats", everyoneGrants[0].TopicPattern)
+	require.Equal(t, PermissionRead, everyoneGrants[0].Allow)
 }
 
 func checkSchemaVersion(t *testing.T, db *sql.DB) {
@@ -502,12 +529,12 @@ func checkSchemaVersion(t *testing.T, db *sql.DB) {
 	require.Nil(t, rows.Close())
 }
 
-func newTestManager(t *testing.T, defaultRead, defaultWrite bool) *Manager {
-	return newTestManagerFromFile(t, filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "user.db"), defaultRead, defaultWrite, userTokenExpiryDuration, userStatsQueueWriterInterval)
+func newTestManager(t *testing.T, defaultAccess Permission) *Manager {
+	return newTestManagerFromFile(t, filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "user.db"), defaultAccess, userTokenExpiryDuration, userStatsQueueWriterInterval)
 }
 
-func newTestManagerFromFile(t *testing.T, filename string, defaultRead, defaultWrite bool, tokenExpiryDuration, statsWriterInterval time.Duration) *Manager {
-	a, err := newManager(filename, defaultRead, defaultWrite, tokenExpiryDuration, statsWriterInterval)
+func newTestManagerFromFile(t *testing.T, filename string, defaultAccess Permission, tokenExpiryDuration, statsWriterInterval time.Duration) *Manager {
+	a, err := newManager(filename, defaultAccess, tokenExpiryDuration, statsWriterInterval)
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 	return a
 }
diff --git a/user/types.go b/user/types.go
index 03e67ac..ac5f838 100644
--- a/user/types.go
+++ b/user/types.go
@@ -85,31 +85,79 @@ type Stats struct {
 	Emails   int64
 }
 
-// Grant is a struct that represents an access control entry to a topic
+// Grant is a struct that represents an access control entry to a topic by a user
 type Grant struct {
 	TopicPattern string // May include wildcard (*)
-	AllowRead    bool
-	AllowWrite   bool
+	Allow        Permission
 }
 
 // Reservation is a struct that represents the ownership over a topic by a user
 type Reservation struct {
-	TopicPattern       string
-	AllowRead          bool
-	AllowWrite         bool
-	AllowEveryoneRead  bool
-	AllowEveryoneWrite bool
+	Topic    string
+	Owner    Permission
+	Everyone Permission
 }
 
 // Permission represents a read or write permission to a topic
-type Permission int
+type Permission uint8
 
 // Permissions to a topic
 const (
-	PermissionRead  = Permission(1)
-	PermissionWrite = Permission(2)
+	PermissionDenyAll Permission = iota
+	PermissionRead
+	PermissionWrite
+	PermissionReadWrite // 3!
 )
 
+func NewPermission(read, write bool) Permission {
+	p := uint8(0)
+	if read {
+		p |= uint8(PermissionRead)
+	}
+	if write {
+		p |= uint8(PermissionWrite)
+	}
+	return Permission(p)
+}
+
+func ParsePermission(s string) (Permission, error) {
+	switch s {
+	case "read-write", "rw":
+		return NewPermission(true, true), nil
+	case "read-only", "read", "ro":
+		return NewPermission(true, false), nil
+	case "write-only", "write", "wo":
+		return NewPermission(false, true), nil
+	case "deny-all", "deny", "none":
+		return NewPermission(false, false), nil
+	default:
+		return NewPermission(false, false), errors.New("invalid permission")
+	}
+}
+
+func (p Permission) IsRead() bool {
+	return p&PermissionRead != 0
+}
+
+func (p Permission) IsWrite() bool {
+	return p&PermissionWrite != 0
+}
+
+func (p Permission) IsReadWrite() bool {
+	return p.IsRead() && p.IsWrite()
+}
+
+func (p Permission) String() string {
+	if p.IsReadWrite() {
+		return "read-write"
+	} else if p.IsRead() {
+		return "read-only"
+	} else if p.IsWrite() {
+		return "write-only"
+	}
+	return "deny-all"
+}
+
 // Role represents a user's role, either admin or regular user
 type Role string