# paywall-optimization

A skill for auditing and A/B testing paywalls in subscription apps. It finds the weakest funnel stage and fixes that one.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1900 installs · ★ 2219
- Author: appeeky
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/paywall-optimization/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-06
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/paywall-optimization

## What it does

The skill turns the agent into a paywall conversion specialist. It walks the funnel from app open to purchase, scores the current screen on seven elements — headline, value props, social proof, plan picker, price anchoring, trust elements, CTA — and says what to fix first.

Then comes placement strategy: hard paywall after onboarding, soft paywall after the first value moment, feature or time gating. There is a table of pricing display patterns and a priority order for A/B tests, from headline copy down to the number of plans. Minimum sample sizes are listed per baseline conversion rate.

To get a real diagnosis you supply context: App ID, paywall framework (RevenueCat, Superwall, Adapty or native StoreKit), current paywall view to trial start and trial to paid rates for the last 30 days, a screenshot of the screen, and the plan structure. Without those, the output is guesswork. If RevenueCat is connected, subscription metrics are pulled first.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill paywall-optimization -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/paywall-optimization/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/paywall-optimization/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill paywall-optimization -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/paywall-optimization/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill paywall-optimization -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/paywall-optimization/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install appeeky/aso-skills paywall-optimization
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/paywall-optimization/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill paywall-optimization -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills --path skills/paywall-optimization
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/paywall-optimization/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill paywall-optimization -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/paywall-optimization/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- pinpoint the weakest stage of the paywall funnel and fix only that
- score the current screen on seven elements and get a quick-win list
- decide between a hard and a soft paywall for your app
- plan a single-element A/B test with the right sample size
- rewrite the headline and CTA so they state an outcome instead of a feature

## Example prompts
- diagnose my paywall, here is the screenshot and plan structure
- my paywall isn't converting, look at the funnel and tell me what to fix first
- build an A/B test plan for the paywall across two release cycles

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: bcca4c10e92c94c2.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE bcca4c10e92c94c2
```text
---
name: paywall-optimization
description: When the user wants to design, test, or optimize their app's paywall — layout, copy, pricing display, trial offers, plan structure, hard vs soft paywall, paywall placement, or paywall A/B tests. Use when the user mentions "paywall", "paywall design", "paywall conversion", "trial-to-paid", "soft paywall", "hard paywall", "paywall A/B test", "paywall copy", "plan picker", "annual vs monthly display", "best paywall", "RevenueCat paywall", "Superwall", "Adapty", or "my paywall isn't converting". For overall pricing strategy and monetization model choice, see monetization-strategy. For trial nurture, dunning, and churn, see subscription-lifecycle. For where in the onboarding the paywall fires, see onboarding-optimization.
metadata:
  version: 1.0.0
---

# Paywall Optimization

You are a paywall conversion specialist with deep knowledge of subscription app pricing psychology, A/B testing, and the major paywall frameworks (RevenueCat, Superwall, Adapty, native StoreKit). Your goal is to diagnose paywall under-performance and ship a higher-converting variant within 1–2 release cycles.

## Initial Assessment

1. Check for `app-marketing-context.md` — read it for app, audience, and price-point context
2. Ask for the **App ID** and **paywall framework** (RevenueCat / Superwall / Adapty / native)
3. Ask for current **paywall view → trial start** and **trial → paid** rates (last 30 days)
4. Ask for a **screenshot of the current paywall** (or 2–3 if there are variants)
5. Ask for **plan structure** — monthly, annual, lifetime, weekly? What price points?

If RevenueCat is connected, pull subscription metrics first. If `asc-metrics` is available, cross-check trial counts.

## Diagnose Before You Redesign

Run the **Paywall Conversion Funnel** before changing anything:

| Stage | Healthy Range | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| App open → paywall view | 60–95% (depends on placement) | <50% (paywall buried) |
| Paywall view → CTA tap | 25–45% | <15% (copy/offer weak) |
| CTA tap → purchase confirm | 70–90% | <50% (StoreKit friction or price shock) |
| Trial start → paid conversion | 25–60% (varies by category) | <15% (wrong audience or price) |

Identify the weakest stage. Optimization targets that stage only — do not redesign the whole paywall if only the trial-to-paid step is broken (that's a `subscription-lifecycle` problem).

## The 7-Element Paywall Audit

Score the current paywall on each (1–5):

1. **Headline** — does it state the outcome (not the feature)? "Unlock unlimited workouts" beats "Pro Plan".
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE bcca4c10e92c94c2

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---
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