Your paywall might be costing you more than you think.
Most paywalls fail - not because of bad products - but because they don’t clearly communicate value.
Here’s a recap from our recent webinar with Hannah Parvaz, Ben Gohlke, and Max Kreidich, where we shared practical ways to make your paywall work better:
1. Talk benefits, not features
People don’t buy features. They buy outcomes.
▪️ “Unlimited practice,” → “Finally feel confident speaking a new language in just 15 minutes a day.”
▪️“Premium tools,” → Get early access to AI tools that save you 3 hours every week.
2. Keep pricing simple and relatable
▪️ Two or three clear pricing options are ideal. Anything more overwhelms.
▪️ Show savings visually: Use badges like “Save 70%” or “Most popular plan.”
▪️ Lifetime plans are tempting but often distracting. Test their removal unless your app genuinely warrants one.
3. Avoid “subscribe” - it’s a red flag
It triggers doubt. Instead, use CTAs like:
▪️ “Start your free trial.”
▪️ “Unlock premium tools.”
4. Test your free trials
A free trial isn’t just a feature; it’s a promise. You’re saying, “Try us out - we’re confident you’ll love it.” But not all free trials are created equal:
▪️ For most apps, 7-day trials convert best.
▪️ Tie the trial to the plan you want users to choose.
5. Design matters, but clarity wins every time
Here’s a quick exercise: Look at your paywall. Can someone instantly understand:
What your app does?
What they’ll get with premium?
Why they should act now?
If the answer is “no,” simplify. A cluttered design or confusing layout costs you conversions.
Some practical tweaks:
▪️ Highlight social proof (e.g., “4.8 stars from 10,000+ users”).
▪️ Remove unnecessary distractions - users don’t need a mini essay.
▪️ Be consistent. If your app store says, “Speak any language confidently,” your paywall shouldn’t just say, “Get unlimited access.” Tie it all together.
6. Test, test, test
You don’t need to guess. Data will tell you what works.
▪️ Test CTAs like: “Start your journey,” “Master [X],” or “Unlock premium tools.”
▪️ Experiment with showing savings (e.g., $99/year vs. $8.25/month).
▪️ Try bold but simple visuals - users should know where to click without thinking.
Want more insights? Find the full recording in the comments.
