A paywall is the gate between your viewer and your content. It presents the price, collects the payment, and grants access to the stream. Setting one up is simpler than it sounds, provided you choose the right platform.
Built-in vs third-party paywalls
Some streaming platforms include a built-in paywall. You create an event, set a price, and the paywall appears automatically on the viewer page. This is the simplest and most reliable option.
Third-party paywalls like InPlayer or Cleeng can be bolted onto platforms that do not have their own. This works but adds complexity: you are now managing two systems, two sets of credentials, and two potential points of failure on event day.
Payment processing
The paywall needs a payment processor to handle card transactions. Stripe is the industry standard. It supports cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and dozens of currencies. Setup takes about ten minutes.
Look for platforms that use Stripe Connect, which routes payments directly to your Stripe account. This is faster and more transparent than platforms that collect money on your behalf and pay you out later.
The viewer experience
The best paywalls are invisible to the viewer. They see a buy button, enter their card, and the video starts playing. No account creation, no complicated signup, no waiting for an email. The fewer steps, the more conversions.
Make sure the paywall works on mobile. More than half of your viewers will be buying tickets on their phone. If the mobile experience is clunky, you are losing sales.
Paywall included, no bolting required
PassCast includes a built-in paywall with Stripe Connect. Viewers buy, watch, and you get paid. No third-party tools needed.
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