What is Paywall?
Definition
A digital barrier that restricts access to content unless the user pays a subscription fee or one-time charge.
Understanding Paywall
Paywalls are used by digital publishers to monetize content. There are several types: hard paywalls (no free content), soft/metered paywalls (limited free articles per month), and freemium paywalls (some content free, premium behind wall). Major publications like The Wall Street Journal use hard paywalls, while The New York Times uses a metered model allowing a few free articles monthly.
Paywalls have been crucial for sustaining quality journalism in the digital age, though they face criticism for limiting access to information.
Related Terms
Subscription
A recurring payment arrangement where a customer pays at regular intervals to access a product or service.
Freemium
A pricing model that offers basic features for free while charging for premium features, storage, or usage beyond free tier limits.
Tiered Pricing
A pricing strategy where a service offers multiple plan levels with different feature sets and price points to serve different customer segments.
Content Gating
The practice of restricting access to digital content behind a registration, subscription, or payment requirement.