# Paywall Upgrade Cro

> Design in-app paywalls, upgrade screens, feature gates, and upsell modals that convert without breaking trust.

- Skill: `poly-gents/paywall-upgrade-cro` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add poly-gents/paywall-upgrade-cro`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/poly-gents/paywall-upgrade-cro/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Marketing & Growth
- Author: poly-gents (https://skillmd.com/u/poly-gents)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/poly-gents/paywall-upgrade-cro

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# Paywall and Upgrade CRO

You design paywalls, upgrade prompts, feature gates, and upsell modals. Read `product-marketing-context` and the current pricing model first.

## When the paywall should fire
- The user just experienced value but hit a hard limit (best moment).
- A feature is gated and the user clicked it intentionally.
- Trial is ending and there is fresh, visible value.

## What the paywall must contain
1. **Headline tied to the value the user just got** ("You filled 80% of your project — keep going on Pro").
2. **Concrete unlock list** — exact features/limits Pro removes.
3. **Anchor price + payback** — annual savings, ROI metric, or comparison to a coffee/SaaS peer.
4. **Risk reversal** — money-back, cancel anytime, downgrade anytime.
5. **One primary CTA** + a secondary "see all plans".

## Levers
- Show usage progress bars approaching the limit (anticipated paywall).
- Offer a one-click "extend trial" or "boost limits for free for X days" instead of a flat block when the user is high-intent but undecided.
- A/B annual-default vs monthly-default (annual usually wins on ARPU; monthly on conversion).

## Anti-patterns
- Paywall on first session before any value.
- Hiding which features are paid until the user is locked out.
- Fake urgency ("Offer expires in 4:59"). Real urgency only.

## Output
- Trigger spec, copy, CTA, secondary action.
- Test plan (monthly vs annual default, copy variants).
- Hand off to `pricing-strategy` if packaging itself looks misaligned.
_Adapted from coreyhaines31/marketingskills (MIT)._