Content & Digital Goods ✓ Tested with aipp

Content & Article Paywall

Gate premium blog posts, whitepapers, research articles, or media pages behind small payments.

Target Audience: Independent journalists, newsletter publishers, research analysts, and website owners.

The Real Problem

Publishers, whitepaper authors, and newsletter writers are trapped behind strict all-or-nothing monthly paywalls. Casual readers wanting to read a single research document, whitepaper, or guide bounce rather than subscribing.

Real-World Example: For example, a researcher publishing a market breakdown can allow readers to pay $0.25 to unlock the individual article without forcing a monthly subscription.

How aipp Solves It

Embed the lightweight aipp drop-in widget script (public/aipp-widget.js). The widget blurs the protected section of the page and overlays a payment card. Upon payment verification, the content reveals.

Step-by-Step Payment Flow

STEP 01 Visit Page Reader visits article or research URL; intro is visible, body is blurred.

STEP 02 Paywall Card aipp widget presents payment QR code / WebLN button.

STEP 03 Verification Payment settles and proof is verified before content unlocks.

STEP 04 Content Unlocked Blur filter removed and full article renders.

Scope & Boundaries

What aipp Does

✓ Provides standalone CSS and JS paywall overlay components
✓ Supports WebLN browser wallet payments
✓ Auto-forwards net earnings to your payout address

What aipp Does Not Do

✗ Does not require readers to create passwords or accounts
✗ Does not store user browsing history

Implementation Pattern

Below is the minimal implementation pattern using standard aipp endpoints / SDK:

<!-- Include aipp Paywall Widget in HTML -->
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://aipp.dev/paywall.css">
<script src="https://aipp.dev/aipp-widget.js"></script>

<div class="aipp-paywall" data-tag="p_demo123" data-amount="0.25">
  <p>This is the premium unlocked report content...</p>
</div>

Settlement Architecture Note:
• Lightning Rail: In hosted Lightning flows, payments route through aipp's Lightning gateway before net proceeds are automatically forwarded to your configured wallet address.
• Base USDC Rail: USDC transfers settle directly on-chain to your designated EVM wallet address.
• No Merchant Spending Balance: aipp does not maintain a spendable merchant balance or require manual withdrawal steps.

Requirements & Limitations

Client-side JS paywalls can be bypassed by inspecting element unless combined with server-side L402 gating
Funds settle to configured wallet with automated forwarding

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this on WordPress or Ghost?

Yes. You can paste the script tag and container div directly into custom HTML blocks on WordPress, Ghost, or Webflow.

Related Use Cases

Content & Digital Goods Digital File Download Sell digital files, Notion templates, and Obsidian notes with micro-payments. Creators & Independent Work Sell a Digital Product Sell downloadable guides, templates, code packages, and AI prompt packs without building an e-commerce storefront. Content & Digital Goods Paid Report & Document Generation Sell automated PDF reports, SEO audits, and company analyses on demand.

Start Monetizing Content & Article Paywall

Create a Smart Tag payment link to accept supported Lightning and Base USDC payments for your digital content.

Create Payment Link →