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402x Paywalls ​

Monetize Content at the Speed of Attention ​

Paywalls ​

Instant micropayments for articles, videos, and posts - no subscriptions or accounts required.

Creators earn instantly. Readers unlock in seconds.

The Problem with Traditional Paywalls ​

Traditional content monetization forces creators into impossible choices:

  • Ads → Cluttered experience, privacy invasion, low revenue
  • Subscriptions → High barrier to entry, all-or-nothing access
  • Freemium → Race to the bottom, devalues quality content

The Creator's Dilemma

"Give everything away for free and hope for ad pennies, or lock everything behind a $10/month paywall and lose 95% of potential readers."

How 402x Paywalls Work ​

With 402x Paywalls, you can charge per article, per video, or per post - and get paid instantly.

javascript
// Add a paywall with one line of code
<script src="https://402x.io/paywall.js" data-price="0.05"></script>

The Reader Experience ​

  1. Discover: Reader finds your content through search or social media
  2. Preview: First paragraph or video snippet is visible
  3. Pay: Click to unlock for $0.05 (or whatever you set)
  4. Instant Access: Content unlocks immediately
  5. No Account: No signup, no subscription, just read

Frictionless Payments

The entire payment flow takes less than 3 seconds. No forms, no accounts, no hassle.

The Creator Experience ​

  1. Add Script: Drop a single line of code into your content
  2. Set Price: Choose per-view pricing (e.g., $0.01 - $5.00)
  3. Publish: Your content is now monetized
  4. Earn Instantly: Payments arrive in real-time
  5. Track Analytics: See views, unlocks, and earnings

Key Features ​

💰 Instant Settlement ​

No more waiting 30 days for payouts. Earnings arrive in your wallet immediately after each unlock.

🎯 Flexible Pricing ​

  • Per Article: $0.01 to $5.00 per piece
  • Time-Based: Charge for 24-hour access
  • Bundle Discounts: Offer multi-article packages
  • Dynamic Pricing: Adjust based on demand or time

📊 Real-Time Analytics ​

Track your content performance:

  • Total views vs. unlocks
  • Revenue per article
  • Conversion rates
  • Peak traffic times
  • Geographic distribution

🔒 Content Protection ​

Your premium content stays protected:

  • Server-side rendering prevents scraping
  • Encrypted content delivery
  • Watermarking options
  • DMCA takedown support

🌍 Global Reach ​

Accept payments from anyone, anywhere:

  • No geographic restrictions
  • Multi-currency support
  • Instant cross-border settlement
  • No foreign exchange fees

Use Cases ​

Journalism & News ​

Independent Journalists Publish investigative pieces without relying on ad revenue or corporate backing.

md
::: details Real Example
An investigative reporter publishes a deep-dive on local corruption.
- Price: $0.50 per article
- Readers: 2,000 unlocks
- Earnings: $1,000 (instant)
- No platform fees eating into revenue
:::

Breaking News Monetize time-sensitive content when it's most valuable.

Creative Writing ​

Authors & Bloggers Serialize your novel or publish short stories with per-chapter pricing.

Poetry & Essays Share your work with readers who value quality over quantity.

Video Content ​

Educational Tutorials Charge for in-depth video courses or specialized knowledge.

Documentary Filmmakers Distribute directly to your audience without platform intermediaries.

Photography & Art ​

Visual Artists Unlock high-resolution images for a small fee.

Photographers Monetize portfolios and exclusive galleries.

Getting Started ​

For Websites ​

html
<!-- Add to your HTML head -->
<script src="https://402x.io/paywall.js"></script>

<!-- Wrap your premium content -->
<div class="x402-paywall" data-price="0.25">
  <h2>Your Premium Content Here</h2>
  <p>This content is protected by 402x Paywalls.</p>
</div>

For WordPress ​

bash
# Install the 402x WordPress plugin
wp plugin install 402x-paywalls --activate

Then configure in your WordPress admin panel.

For Medium, Substack, Ghost ​

Use our browser extension or embed codes to add paywalls to existing platforms.

Platform Compatibility

Some platforms may restrict embedded scripts. Visit our Discord for platform-specific guidance.

Pricing Models ​

Pay-Per-View ​

Charge a fixed amount per article unlock.

  • Best for: Individual articles, standalone content
  • Example: $0.10 per article

Time-Based Access ​

Grant access for a limited time period.

  • Best for: News, time-sensitive content
  • Example: $0.25 for 24-hour access

Bundle Pricing ​

Offer discounts for multiple articles.

  • Best for: Series, collections
  • Example: 5 articles for $1.00 (instead of $1.50)

Dynamic Pricing ​

Automatically adjust prices based on:

  • Time since publication (higher when fresh)
  • Demand (surge pricing for viral content)
  • User behavior (discounts for returning readers)

FAQ ​

What if a reader shares unlocked content?

Unlocks are tied to a specific session/device. Sharing is possible, but not incentivized. We also offer watermarking for premium content.

Can I combine paywalls with ads?

Yes! You can offer an ad-supported free tier and a paid ad-free version.

What's your fee?

402x charges a minimal protocol fee (typically 1-2%). No monthly fees, no setup costs.

How do refunds work?

Readers can request refunds within 10 minutes of unlock. After that, sales are final.

Can I paywall part of an article?

Yes! Use our "teaser" mode to show the first few paragraphs for free, then require payment to continue.

Case Studies ​

The Independent Newsletter ​

Before 402x:

  • 5,000 subscribers on Substack
  • $5/month subscription
  • 200 paying subscribers (4% conversion)
  • Monthly revenue: $1,000

After 402x:

  • Same 5,000 readers
  • $0.20 per article
  • 1,500 average unlocks per article (30% conversion)
  • 8 articles/month
  • Monthly revenue: $300 per article × 8 = $2,400

Result: 2.4× revenue increase with lower per-article barrier

Next Steps ​

Ready to monetize?
→ Getting Started Guide

Need help?
→ Join our Discord

See it in action
→ Live demo

Explore More Use Cases