---
title: "How to create and apply standard paywalls"
updated: 2026-08-05
---

# How to create and apply standard paywalls

> Available on **paid beehiiv** plans.

Paywalls let you highlight the value of your paid subscription while controlling which readers can access your content. You can restrict an entire post to paying subscribers, or place a paywall break at a specific point in your content so free readers see a preview before being prompted to upgrade.

Publications with paid subscriptions enabled have a default paywall. You can customize that default and create additional paywalls to use in different posts or contexts.

> **Notice**
>
> The Paid Subscriptions area has been redesigned. Paywalls now have a dedicated page. If your navigation looks different from what you remember, see [How to navigate the redesigned paid subscriptions area](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/41454831643799) for a full map of where everything moved. Paywall functionality is unchanged.

For metered access, which gives free readers a set number of posts before the paywall appears, see [How to set up metered paywall access](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/39970827643159).

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## How to create or customize a paywall

Publications with [paid subscriptions enabled](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/23080261008279) will have a default paywall in their account. You can customize this default paywall and also create other custom paywall options to use at different parts in your posts. 

1.  From the left panel in your account, go to **Subscriptions >** [**Paywalls**](https://app.beehiiv.com/monetize/subscriptions/paywalls). The paywalls page will open on the **Standard paywalls** tab.   
      
    ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/42506424097303)
2.  To create a new custom paywall, click + **New paywall**. To customize the default paywall or any existing paywall, click the **three-dot menu** next to it and select **Edit**.
3.  A form will open with a live preview on the left and customization options on the right.  
    ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/42506408531479)

**Paywall Customizations**

-   **Smart fill from Paid Subscription Tier:** Simply click and select a tier, to autofill your tier’s benefits.
-   **Name (required):** Provide a name for your paywall. This is for internal use only and will not be visible to readers.
-   **Image (optional):** Hover over the image to reveal icons for replacing or deleting it. A square image is recommended.
-   **Title (required):** Enter a prominent title for your paywall — this will be the first thing readers notice.
-   **Description (required):** Include a brief message guiding readers on the next action.
-   **Button (required):** The button text defaults to "Upgrade," but you can customize it by replacing the default copy.
-   **Benefits (optional):** Enter a Benefits Header to be seen in the paywall and then add the benefits one at a time. Once added, you can drag and drop the benefits into a different order on the left, or click the **x** on the right to delete a benefit from the list. 
-   **Offer (optional):** If you have any [Paid Subscription Offers](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/20533265842967) set up, select one to apply. When a reader clicks the paywall button, they will be directed to the upgrade page for that offer, with any associated discount or trial period pre-applied. Note that the offer selection only controls which upgrade page the reader lands on, it does not affect where they are redirected after completing payment.
-   **Styles (optional):** Click on the Styles tab to adjust the Background Color, Text Color, Button Background Color, Button Text Color, and the Shadow around the paywall popup. You can also disable the image from showing on the paywall by toggling the Show Image option off.  
      
    ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/27014500161687) 
    
    > **Tech Note**
    >
    > If you are making a new paywall, the button to complete your customization will say **Create**. If you are editing an existing one, it will say **Save**.
    

4.  When satisfied with the paywall, click **Save** (or **Create**). The paywall will appear in your list under the Paywalls tab.

### Managing paywalls

From the **Paywalls** tab, click the **three-dot menu** next to any paywall to **Edit**, **Delete**, **Duplicate**, or **Set as Default**.

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## Applying a paywall to an entire web post

Use this approach to restrict access to the full web version of a post to paying subscribers only.

1.  From a publication with paid subscriptions enabled, open an existing post or create a new draft.
2.  At the top of the Post Builder, navigate from the **Compose** page to the **Audience** page.
3.  Under **Web Audience**, click into the **Default audiences** field and select one of your paid subscriber tiers or choose **All Paid Subscribers**.  
      
    ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/42506424097943)
4.  Use the dropdown to decide which paywall will display to your free subscribers.   
      
    ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/42506424099479)
5.  Your selection will appear alongside your default paywall. To remove a selection, click the **X**. Changes sync automatically.

You can also click **Manage tiers and plans** to go directly to your paid subscription settings. 

> **Note**
>
> Email and web audiences are controlled separately. A post can be sent to all email subscribers while the web version remains paywalled. Review both the **Email Audience** and **Web Audience** settings on the Audience page to confirm your intended configuration.

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## Adding paywall breaks within post content

1.  Open an existing post or create a new draft. On the **Compose** page, write your content.
2.  When ready to add a paywall break, click at the point in your post where you want it to appear. Type a forward slash ( / ) to open the **Slash menu** and then type **Paywall Break** to find the option. Click to insert it.  
    ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/42506424099735)
3.  Use the dropdown to choose between your available paywalls.  Or, if you wish, click on **\+ Create a paywall** to create a new paywall option. Select the one you want readers to see at that point. Changes sync automatically.  
      
    ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/42506408534551)
4.  The paywall will display in the post and trigger for free subscribers as they scroll past the designated section.

> **Tech Note**
>
> Complimentary access links are designed to display paid content only. For the best experience, use them exclusively on posts containing paid content. Sections set to free visibility in the post will not appear through a complimentary access link.

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## Troubleshooting paywalls

If your paywall isn't behaving as expected, the topics below cover the most common issues and how to resolve them.

### Paywall isn't displaying on the web version of a post

If your paywall appears in email but not on the web version of a post, check your [Web Audience settings](https://www.beehiiv.com/support/article/13064033042199):

1.  Open the post in the Post Builder and click the **Audience** tab.
2.  Under **Web audience**, confirm the audience field is set to a paid tier or **All Paid Subscribers** — not **All subscribers** or a free tier.
3.  On the **Compose** tab, confirm a **Paywall Break** has been inserted at the correct location in the post and a paywall is selected from the dropdown.

> **Note**
>
> Email and web audiences are controlled separately. A post can be sent to all email subscribers while the web version remains paywalled. Review both the **Email Audience** and **Web Audience** settings on the [Audience page](https://www.beehiiv.com/support/article/13064033042199) to confirm your intended configuration.

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### Paywall text isn't updating after edits

Paywall text updates are live within a few seconds of saving. If you've saved your changes and the updated text isn't appearing, open the post URL in a private or incognito browser window to rule out a locally cached version in your browser.

To confirm your updates are saved correctly:

1.  From the left panel, go to **Subscriptions** **\>** [**Paywalls**](https://app.beehiiv.com/monetize/subscriptions/paywalls).
2.  Click the **3 dots menu** next to your paywall and select **Edit**.
3.  Confirm the text in the preview pane matches your intended changes, then click **Save**.

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### Subscriber sees the paywall again after upgrading

If a subscriber completes payment but continues to see the paywall, this is typically a login or session issue. Direct the subscriber to log in using the link in their payment confirmation email, or by visiting your publication's login page. Once logged in, their paid access should reflect correctly.

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### Where readers are redirected after completing payment

After a reader completes a paid subscription upgrade, they are redirected to your publication's homepage by default. To send readers to a specific URL instead (such as a thank-you page or exclusive content) configure the **Redirect URL after purchase** field in your tier settings:

1.  From the left panel, go to **Subscriptions** **\>** [**Tiers**](https://app.beehiiv.com/monetize/subscriptions/paid_tiers).
2.  Click the **3 dots menu** next to the tier and select **Edit**.
3.  In **Step 3: Advanced settings**, enter your preferred destination in the **Redirect URL** field.
4.  Save the tier.

> **Note**
>
> The redirect URL is configured per tier. If you have multiple tiers, set this for each one individually.

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