Paywall
A paywall or usage gating is a system that limits access to features until users make an upgrade or buy an addon. It's commonly used by AI tools, SaaS products, and content platforms to monetize their offerings.
Common types of paywalls:
- Hard paywall: No access without payment (Example: Netflix)
- Soft paywall: Limited free access (Example: Medium's 3 free articles per month)
- Metered paywall: Access based on usage (Example: New York Times' 10 free articles)
- Freemium paywall: Basic features free, premium features paid (Example: Spotify)
Paywalls often include preview content or free trials to let users sample the value before purchasing. This helps convert free users to paying customers while maintaining content value.