Hard Paywall

A paywall that requires users to start a trial or subscription before they can use the app's core features.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

A hard paywall is a paywall that requires users to start a free trial or buy a subscription before accessing an app's core features. Unlike a freemium model, there is no meaningful free tier. It can produce higher revenue per install, but the app must quickly convince users of its value at the start.