# Set up a paywall

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).


https://help.circle.so/p/payments/paywall-setup/set-up-a-paywall

Category: [Payments](https://help.circle.so/p/payments) › [Paywall setup](https://help.circle.so/p/payments/paywall-setup)

---

_Last updated: October, 2026_

Paywalls allow you to charge for your community membership via subscriptions, installments, or one-time payments. You can use a paywall to gate your entire community or specific spaces within it. This gives you control over what content or areas your members can access based on what they pay for.

## **Create a new paywall**

Before you start, make sure your Circle community is [**connected to a Stripe account**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/connect-a-stripe-account-for-paywalls). Once that’s set up, you’re ready to create your first paywall.

1. Click **Payments** in the left sidebar and then select **Paywalls**.

2. Click  **Create paywall**  in the top-right corner.

In the next sections, we’ll walk you through each step of the paywall setup process, tab by tab.

## **Step 1: Product details**

Fill out the following details:

- **Display name** : Provide the name of your paywall (e.g., Basic, Premium, Pro). This is a member-facing paywall name displayed on the paywall checkout page and billing information.

- **Internal name (optional)**: You can provide an alternate name to be used by admins for internal reference.

- **Subtitle (optional):** You can enter a brief subtitle that members will see for this plan when they are changing plans within subscription groups.

- **Currency:** Select one of the [**supported currencies**](https://help.circle.so/p/payments/paywall-setup/paywalls-overviews?locale=en#supported-currencies) from the dropdown menu. 

- **Checkout URL** : This field displays the checkout URL, which includes a slug generated from the display name. You can customize the slug to match your preferences for better readability or branding. When shared, this link directs users to the plan’s checkout page. For more information, see the **Share checkout URL** section in this article. 

- **Checkout description (optional)**: Add additional info about the plan to display on the checkout page.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/mtf1fmdmhupt3xxez57zfjrz28wv)

## **Step 2: Price options**

You can add up to **six different pricing options** to a single paywall. This lets you offer flexible plans, like monthly, quarterly, or yearly subscriptions, to fit different needs. You can also discount longer-term plans, such as yearly subscriptions, to make them more appealing and encourage users to commit longer.

### Add a price

1. Click **Add price** in the Price options section.  

2. In the **Payment type** dropdown menu, choose from the following [**prices**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/explore-pricing-options-for-paywalls):

3. **(Optional)** When configuring subscription or installment pricing, you can set up an [**upfront payment**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/set-up-upfront-payments-for-subscription-and-installment-prices), allowing you to charge a distinct initial payment followed by regular payments. For instance, for a monthly subscription paywall, you could charge $50 upfront, then $20 per month thereafter.

4. Click **Add**.

### Configure additional price settings

Depending on the pricing type, you can enable extra options:

- **Upgradable subscription group** : 

- **Offer a trial period:**  

- **Allow members to repurchase this paywall:**

- **Allow members to self-cancel subscriptions:**

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/daaz1rvcjq4r2nf29njo8lim7833)

### **Manage pricing options**

You can set one price as the preferred option and remove prices you don’t want to offer.

**Set a preferred pricing option:**

You can mark one of the prices as the preferred option, which means it will be pre-selected when someone visits the checkout page.

1. Click the **More actions (three dots icon)** next to the price.

2. Select **Make preferred**.  

This helps draw attention to the plan you want to promote and can increase the chance that users choose it. You can also configure callouts for each pricing option in the **Checkout** tab (see the **Checkout** section below for more information).

**Remove a pricing option:**

1. Click the **More actions (three dots icon)** next to the pricing option.

2. Select **Remove**.

When you're done adding and configuring your pricing options, click **Next** to continue setting up your paywall.

## **Step 3: Access**

This section allows you to configure which community spaces users can access when they purchase the paywall and become members of your community.

### Before you set up access

Here are a few important things to keep in mind to make sure members get the right access.

- **Protecting paywalled spaces** : To prevent unauthorized access, set paywalled spaces to [**private**](https://help.circle.so/p/basics/spaces/managing-space-access-and-visibility?locale=en#control-access-to-a-specific-space) so that only paying members can enter. For detailed instructions on securing these spaces, see [**Configure important settings prior to setting up a paywall.**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/configure-important-settings-prior-to-setting-up-a-paywall-e2be31)

- **Automatic access type conversion:** We've implemented some safeguards to manage instances where both types of access are unintentionally provided to the same spaces or space groups via different entry points. To learn about the access conversion rules for spaces that are part of a paywall and that a member already has access to via invite access, see[](/p/audience/onboarding/understanding-invite-access-and-paywall-access-methods)[**Understanding invite access and paywall access methods**](/p/audience/onboarding/understanding-invite-access-and-paywall-access-methods).

- **Impact of default onboarding access** : If you have configured access in your community’s [**onboarding settings**](https://help.circle.so/p/audience/onboarding/automatically-grant-free-access-to-spaces-when-members-join-your-community), anyone purchasing the paywall will also be added to the spaces and space groups from the onboarding settings.

- **Impact on shared access when multiple paywalls are purchased:**  If a member purchases multiple paywalls that grant access to the same spaces, their access to those common spaces will persist as long as at least one of those paywalls remains active.

There are two ways to grant access through a paywall:

- Access groups (recommended)

- Space access (available only for communities created before January 29, 2025)

### **Access groups**

Access groups help you effectively define which spaces (and space groups) members get access to. This helps you streamline access management and eliminate the need for repetitive manual setups for entry points.

To provide access to spaces using [**access groups**](https://help.circle.so/p/basics/community-access/access-group-overview), select the **Access groups** option and then choose one from the list. You can add more than one access group here to provide members with access to multiple groups.

> 💡  **Tip:** If you add an access group by mistake, click the **More actions (three dots icon)** next to the group and select **Remove**.  
>   
> To update the settings of a connected access group, click the **More actions** **(three dots icon)** next to the group and select **Edit**. This opens a new browser tab where you can modify the group settings.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/6p4iftf0m4fq6a3a9qd14su6dmee)
### **Space access (legacy space access)**

For communities created **before January 29, 2025** , you can manually grant access to specific spaces and space groups instead of connecting access groups.

To use the legacy space access option, select **Space access**. Here, you have two options:

- **Give access to all spaces** : Toggle this option to grant members access to all spaces in your community.

- **Provide access to specific spaces and space groups** : Choose specific spaces and space groups to include in paywall access.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/44zckdm9d2pu0jngykdgdrclwsfi)

To provide access to select spaces and space groups:

1. Use the search bar or scroll through the **No**  **access** column to locate the specific space or space group.

2. In the access form, each space is represented with an icon indicating the space access setting: 

3. To provide access: 

4. If you accidentally add a space or space group to the **Access** column, hover over it and click **Remove**.

5. Once you have reviewed the **Access** column, click **Next**.

## Step 4: Checkout

The **Checkout** tab lets you customize your paywall page. You can add a cover image, badges, and testimonials to make it more visual, trustworthy, and aligned with your brand. These small visual details can make a big difference in how confident and motivated someone feels before they pay.

You can also preview how the page will appear on different screen sizes. Use the **preview pane on the right side** to switch between desktop, tablet, and mobile views. This helps you make sure your page looks polished on any device.

To get started, click **Customize** in the Full page checkout section.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/upfia1f4bkj9z0his0kydpdgp7gn)

### Cover image

The cover image sets the tone for your paywall. It’s the first thing users see at the top of the description, and it’s also used as a preview image when your paywall is shared on social media or messaging apps. A strong visual helps grab attention, build brand recognition, and create a more polished experience.

To add a paywall cover image, follow these steps:

1. Click **Add image**.

2. In the upload dialog, choose one of the options:

3. To adjust the image, you can:

4. Click **Save changes**.

### Badges

Badges are a great way to highlight key benefits of your offer in a quick, visual way. They help answer the question: _“Why should I buy this?”_ right at the moment when someone’s considering a purchase.

Use them to showcase selling points such as guarantees, popularity, limited-time offers, or standout features. You can add up to **5 badges** on your checkout page. They appear below the paywall description.

To add badges, follow these steps:

1. Click **Badges** in the **Product details** section.

2. Turn on the **Show badges** toggle.

3. For each badge, you can set:

Badges will appear in the order you created them, so add them in the preferred order. To add more badges, click **Add badge** at the bottom of the last badge.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/2eytqi2rt4vlzgwht2ac5ovo7kpq)

**Managing badges**

You can manage each badge with the icons in the top right corner:

- **Duplicate** a badge using the copy icon.

- **Delete** a badge by clicking the trash icon.

### **Benefits**

The **Benefits** section helps you highlight what members will get when they join. Use this to list key features, perks, or experiences your membership includes, such as access to private courses, workshops, exclusive content, or coaching.

These benefits appear at the bottom of the order details. You can add up to **10 benefits** to your checkout page.

To set up benefits, follow these steps:

1. Click **Benefits** in the **Product details** section.

2. Turn on the **Show benefits** toggle.

3. In the **Title** field, enter a heading for the section (e.g., “What’s included” or “Your membership perks”).

4. For each benefit item, customize the following:

Benefit items appear in the order you create them, so we suggest adding them in order of priority to highlight what matters most. To add more benefits, click **Add item** at the bottom of the last item.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/3648s1xctug15w74ncm4h12hckz7)

**Managing benefits**

You can manage each benefit item with the icons in the top right corner:

- Use the **Duplicate** icon to quickly copy an item.

- Use the **Trash** icon to delete a benefit.

### Testimonials

Testimonials add credibility. They show potential buyers that others trust your product and have had a positive experience. Adding a few strong quotes can reduce hesitation and increase conversions. You can display up to 10 testimonials at the bottom of the order details.

To add a testimonial, follow these steps:

1. Click **Testimonials** in the **Product details** section.

2. Turn on the **Show testimonials** toggle.

3. For each testimonial, fill in the following:

Testimonials appear in the order you create them, so we suggest adding them in the preferred order. To add more testimonials, click **Add item** at the bottom of the last item.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/8flag9ihaalh0dts615taip7ljjp)

**Managing testimonials**

You can manage each testimonial with the icons in the top right corner:

- **Duplicate** it using the copy icon, which is useful if you're reusing the same layout or structure.

- **Delete** a testimonial using the trash icon if you want to remove it.

### Countdown price lock

You can add a countdown timer to your paywall checkout page to create urgency and encourage quicker purchases. The countdown appears at the top of the paywall cover image/description on the left, letting visitors know how much time they have before the deal expires.

To set it up, follow these steps:

1. Click **Countdown price lock** in the **Price features** section.

2. Turn on the **Show countdown** toggle.

3. Set up the following:

**❗ Important notes:**

- If a visitor is already on the checkout page when the timer expires, they can complete their purchase without interruption. 

- When the expiration action is set to **Do nothing** , visitors can continue purchasing the paywall even after the countdown has ended.

- The **Redirect** action only takes effect in the following cases:

- To move visitors to higher pricing after expiration, set the redirect URL to another paywall that offers the same offering at a higher price. This way, new visitors are automatically redirected, and anyone already on the page will be redirected as soon as they refresh.

### Callouts

Price callouts let you add short, eye-catching labels next to each price option on the checkout page. They’re a great way to show users why a plan is valuable, whether that’s a discounted price, popularity, or who it’s best for.

**Set up callouts:**

1. Click **Callouts** in the **Price features** section.

2. Configure the following:

These callouts will appear directly next to the paywall price on the checkout page, making it easier to quickly see the value and compare options.

**Highlight a price callout:**

In addition to setting up callouts, you can highlight one price to guide users toward your most common or best-value option.

To highlight a callout:

1. Click the **More actions (three dots icon)** next to the pricing option.

2. Select **Highlight**.

The highlighted callout will display with a badge. The badge background uses your chosen callout color, and the text color is automatically adjusted so it’s always easy to read.

If you want to remove the highlight, click the **More actions (three dots icon)** next to the pricing option and select **Remove highlight**. To switch the highlight to another plan, just highlight the new one; this will automatically remove it from the previous callout.

### Reduced prices

The **reduced-price ** option helps create a sense of urgency and highlights savings by using strikethrough pricing. This option displays a reduced price next to the higher original amount to indicate a discount.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/111nv0a6e11e19q4oz24b9va3x3u)

**Set up strikethrough pricing**

1. Click **Reduced prices** in the **Price features** section.

2. Toggle on the pricing option you’d like to include and enter the higher amount in **Before price**.

3. Click **Save** in the top right corner.

> ❗️ **Important:** When a coupon is applied, the reduced price is automatically disabled on the checkout page, ensuring the exact discounted price is shown.

## Step 5: Upsells

Upsells let you offer your audience more value after they complete checkout. The upsell offer appears after the purchase and before the thank-you page, so members can accept it in one step.

> ❗️ **Important:** For subscriptions that include a trial, a credit card is required upfront for members to see the upsell page.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/dr5a9nomw4cfj39hu7krz1njlwv3)

Upsells can be delivered as **add-ons** or **Upgrades** :

- **Add-on** : Offer members an additional item alongside their main purchase. Use this to pair products, such as offering a premium course with a subscription or adding a recurring subscription to a one-time purchase.

- **Upgrade** : Offer members a higher-tier plan or a longer billing cycle. Circle handles the plan swap, the subscription change, and charges the price difference immediately.

📚 To learn more about upsells, see [**Get to know upsells**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/get-to-know-upsells).

## **Step 6: Post purchase**

These settings let you customize what happens after a user completes a purchase or starts a trial and becomes a member. You can thank them, guide them to a specific page, or send an email, all to help create a smoother, more welcoming experience.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/jh78xzf66tqcb4q07uzjsykrqomi)

You can enable and set up the following options:

### **Thank you page**

Send members to a default thank you page after they’ve purchased a paywall. This page is automatically created by Circle. It confirms the payment was successful successful, including any add-ons, and welcomes the member to your community. Note that this page cannot be customized.

### **Custom redirect URL**

If you'd like to send members to a specific page after checkout (instead of or after the thank you page), you can enable this toggle and enter a **custom redirect URL**.

This can be a URL from your community (e.g., a welcome space, announcement page, or onboarding guide) or any external website.

### **Send a confirmation email**

You can also send a personalized email to users when they **purchase a paywall** or **start a trial**.

- **Title** : Write a short, friendly subject line. You can personalize this with dynamic variables (see below).

- **Description** : Write a thank-you message to welcome your new member. You can explain what to expect next and link to helpful resources. You can use the bottom toolbar to access the command menu, add images, GIFs, and emojis. 

- **Custom button label** : Add a call-to-action text, for example, “Visit Community,” “View Welcome Guide,” or “Start Learning.”

- **Custom button URL** : Add the link you want the button to take members to. This could be a space in your community or any external page.

Use dynamic variables to automatically personalize your email. These variables pull in specific details about the member or purchase.

Here are the available variables:

- {first\_name} – The member's first name.

- {paywall\_display\_name} – The name of the paywall they purchased.

- {price\_label} – The pricing they selected (e.g., “$10/month”).

- {community\_name} – Your community’s name.

- {future\_payments\_sentence} – A sentence explaining future payments, depending on the plan.

- {community\_url} - The link to your community.

Using these variables makes your emails feel more personal and keeps them up-to-date, even if you later change paywall names or pricing.

## **Step 7: Tracking**

If you’d like to track successful payments or trigger analytics events, the **Tracking** tab in your paywall settings controls how this paywall sends purchase events.

- **Tracking apps:** Turning a toggle off prevents this paywall from sending events to that platform, without disconnecting it elsewhere.

- **Custom tracking code (optional):** You can also add your own JavaScript for tools not listed above. Use this option if you advertise on a platform that native tracking doesn’t cover yet (such as LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, or Snap), or you need more control over what gets tracked.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/yjbi3gj8zudcz6rqbln5yjpuwipd)

📚 To learn more about conversion tracking, see [**Add conversion tracking to paywalls**](https://help.circle.so/p/payments/paywall-management/add-conversion-tracking-code-to-paywalls)[.](https://help.circle.so/p/payments/paywall-management/add-conversion-tracking-code-to-paywalls)

## **Step 8: Save or publish your paywall**

Once you’ve finished setting up your paywall, you have two options:

- **Save as draft** : Click **Save draft** if you're not ready to launch yet. Your paywall will be saved in **Draft** status, and you can return to edit or publish it later. It won’t be visible or accessible to users until it is published.

- **Publish** : Click **Publish** to make the paywall live. Its status will change to **Active** , and users will be able to view and purchase it.

You can archive your paywall at any time if you decide to deactivate it after it has been published. To learn more, see [**Archive or delete a paywall.**](/p/payments/paywall-management/archive-or-delete-a-paywall)

## **Set up Stripe’s failed payment configuration**

If you’re using **subscription** or **installment** paywalls, Stripe’s failed payment settings help manage what happens when a member’s payment fails.

You can configure:

- A **retry schedule** (how many times and how often Stripe should retry the payment).

- To **cancel the subscription** if all retries fail. 

- Various emails, such as upcoming renewals, failed card payments, and expiring cards.

This helps Circle integration know when to **automatically revoke a member’s access** to any spaces gated by the paywall.

📚 To learn more about managing Stripe’s failed payment configuration for payment retries and cancellations, see the following articles:

- [**Automatically remove member's paywall access upon cancellation or failed payments**](/p/payments/paywall-management/automatically-remove-member-s-paywall-access-upon-cancellation-or-failed-payments)

- [**Automatically remove member's access from paywalled content after trial ends**](/p/payments/paywall-trials/automatically-remove-member-s-access-from-paywalled-content-after-trial-ends)

## **Test paywall experience (optional)**

Once you have published the paywall, you can test the user experience. We suggest doing this, especially if you are publishing your first paywall. This will help you experience the paywall checkout flow as a user and give you an opportunity to make any changes before you share it with your members.

> 💡  **Tip:** To verify and experience the space access exactly as a new member would when they purchase a specific paywall, you can utilize the “ **View as** ” feature. For more information, see [**Preview your community’s paywall access**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/preview-your-community-s-paywall-access) **.**

📚 To learn more about how to do test transactions and how the checkout flow works, see the following articles:

- [**Making a test transaction**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/making-a-test-transaction)

- [**Understanding the paywall checkout flow**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/understanding-the-paywall-checkout-flow)

## **Share the checkout URL**

Once your paywall is live, you can start sharing the **checkout link** with your audience. You can post this link on your pages, website, email newsletter, social channels, or anywhere you invite users to join the membership.

To copy the link:

1. Go to the **Paywalls** page.

2. Click the  **Copy link**  icon beside the paywall entry.

 ![](https://assets-v2.circle.so/fhhlx1pgpzvawg6zeemyzdc74v4r)

> 💡  **Tip:** You can share a paywall checkout URL with discounted pricing, by [**creating a checkout URL appended with the coupon code**](https://help.circle.so/p/payments/paywall-setup/share-a-paywall-checkout-url-with-an-auto-applied-coupon). When users click the link and navigate to the checkout page, the coupon will be automatically applied, ensuring a seamless discount experience.

📚 For detailed information, see [**Onboard members to your community via paywalls.**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/onboard-members-to-your-community-via-paywalls)

## **Relevant articles**

- [**Offer paywall trials**](/p/payments/paywall-trials/offer-paywall-trials)

- [**Setting up a lock screen**](/p/basics/spaces/setting-up-a-lock-screen)

- [**Set up subscription groups**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/set-up-subscription-groups)

- [**Create coupons for paywalls**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/create-coupons-for-paywalls)

- [**Making a test transaction**](/p/payments/paywall-setup/making-a-test-transaction)