TLDR Marketing · STRATEGIES & TACTICS

SHOULD YOU HAVE A HARD PAYWALL?

growthgems.substack.com8 min read

Summary from the TLDR Marketing newsletter

A hard paywall, which blocks access to an app unless users start a free trial or subscription, can help focus on high-intent users, improve conversion signals for ad algorithms, and simplify analytics. However, it limits the user base, reduces opportunities for nurturing potential subscribers, and can hurt app store rankings due to higher uninstall rates. To mitigate its downsides, companies can implement tactics like capturing email addresses, using push notifications, offering backup discounts, or providing a preview during onboarding.