Leaky Paywall vs Steady
Leaky Paywall
leakypaywall.comSteady
steady.pageSide by side
| Figure | Leaky Paywall | Steady |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $299/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Paywall Software | 8.3 (#6) | 7.7 (#12) |
| Spec score · Membership Site Platforms | 8.1 (#44) | 8.3 (#29) |
| Content gating | post | full_site |
| Founded | 2013 | 2016 |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Subscription billing | both | recurring |
| Support | Pricing says support responds within 24 business hours, usually within a couple of hours, during 9am–5pm ET, and offers Zoom meetings. | The creator success team helps creators price membership tiers, plan launches and maintain momentum after launch. |
| Transaction fee | 5% of gross subscription revenue from new subscribers on Pro and Pro + Flowletter | 10% Steady commission, plus variable payment-provider fees and VAT |
Plans
Leaky Paywall
- Pro$299 a month
- Pro + Flowletter$499 a month
- Enterprise$1,000 a month
In their own words
Leaky Paywall
Leaky Paywall has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Steady
Steady is a web and API platform for independent media makers, including magazines, newsletters, podcasts and video channels. It helps creators publish newsletters and memberships and earn directly from audiences. Newsletter sending is free without audience limits or escalating costs. Memberships use recurring billing, with monthly or annual charges, and Steady takes a 10% commission on membership revenue once earning begins; payment-provider fees and VAT also apply. The service supports full-site content gating, flexible paywalls, embedded buttons and supporter prompts. Newsletter tools can welcome readers automatically, resurface selected work and re-engage quiet subscribers. Externally hosted podcasts can be gated by membership tier and distributed through Spotify or private RSS. Steady Code adds website layers and embeds regardless of a site’s CMS. Creator income is transferred in lump sums, and failed payments are retried automatically. The Free plan is free. Custom domains are not supported.