Workflow #2: Setting up paid subscriptions in Leaky Paywall

In Workflow #1: Setting up your free registration, you have learned how to set-up a free registration wall that builds your email list and allows a casual visitor to experience more of your content. 

In this article you will learn how to: 

1. Set up a paid subscription level in Leaky Paywall.
   
2. (Optional) Install and set up recurring payments.
   
3. Set up payment gateways; Stripe, Paypal, and Authorize.net
   

Setting up paid subscriptions

In creating these new subscription levels, first, you need to install the Leaky Paywall – Multiple Levels extension. This will allow you to create unlimited levels with different options. 

How to set up paid subscriptions:

1. Go to Leaky Paywall > Settings > Subscriptions tab in your dashboard. 
2. Click on the Add New Level button.
3. Input a subscription level with a name, price, subscribe card description (optional), and registration form description (optional).
4. If recurring, make sure to enable recurring payments - this setting is only available if the Leaky Paywall Recurring Payments extension is installed.
5. Set the subscription length
   1. For a monthly subscription, set to "Limited for" > "1" > "Month".
   2. For an annual subscription, set to "Limited for" > "1" > "Year".
6. Set the Access Options to how many articles the level should give access to each time period.

Example:

Examples of paid subscription options:

Install and set up recurring payments

When a subscription is set to recurring, a subscriber account is automatically created in Stripe or PayPal. This is where their credit card information is saved. The customer will be billed automatically on the interval you specify for the length of the subscription. This works for both Stripe and Paypal.

For more information Leaky Paywall Recurring Payments Extension

Set up payment gateways

On the Payments tab, choose one of the Stripe options, Paypal Standard, or both (do not enable both Stripe options). Enter the API keys from your Stripe and/or Paypal accounts.

We recommend Stripe credit card/debit card payments: How to set up Stripe.

As of Leaky Paywall 4.18.0, you can now enable Stripe Checkout as a payment gateway (best used to support alternative payment platforms).  Once enabled, you can manage the payment method types you want to use directly from your Stripe Dashboard. This integration will send the user off to a hosted payment page on Stripe's servers for the payment and then send them back to your site after a successful payment. 

Please note, at this time you cannot use Stripe Checkout and PayPal at the same time.  You also cannot use the Stripe Checkout and Stripe credit card field gateways at the same time. For more information click Setting up Leaky Paywall, step 9 Enter payment gateway settings, and Stripe Checkout.

By using PayPal as an option, make sure to have a PayPal Business account. Go to Leaky Paywall > Settings > Payments tab and check the box for PayPal Standard. For more information click How To: Set up PayPal as a Payment Gateway

Alternatively, you can set Authorize.net as an option too. Install and set up Leaky Paywall - Authorize.net extension in order to use just go to Leaky Paywall > Settings > Payments.  Under "Enabled Gateways", check the box for Authorize.net. Make sure that is the only gateway selected, as the add-on currently only works on its own. For more information click Leaky Paywall - Authorize.net