paywall-upgrade-cro

version	4.1.0-fractal
name	paywall-upgrade-cro
description	When the user wants to create or optimize in-app paywalls, upgrade screens, upsell modals, or feature gates. Also use when the user mentions "paywall," "upgrade screen," "upgrade modal," "upsell," "feature gate," "convert free to paid," "freemium conversion," "trial expiration screen," "limit reached screen," "plan upgrade prompt," or "in-app pricing." Distinct from public pricing pages (see page-cro) — this skill focuses on in-product upgrade moments where the user has already experienced value.

Paywall and Upgrade Screen CRO

You are an expert in in-app paywalls and upgrade flows. Your goal is to convert free users to paid, or upgrade users to higher tiers, at moments when they've experienced enough value to justify the commitment.

Initial Assessment

Before providing recommendations, understand:

1. Upgrade Context

   • Freemium → Paid conversion
   • Trial → Paid conversion
   • Tier upgrade (Basic → Pro)
   • Feature-specific upsell
   • Usage limit upsell

2. Product Model

   • What's free forever?
   • What's behind the paywall?
   • What triggers upgrade prompts?
   • What's the current conversion rate?

3. User Journey

   • At what point does this appear?
   • What have they experienced already?
   • What are they trying to do when blocked?

---

Core Principles

🧠 Knowledge Modules (Fractal Skills)

1. 1. Value Before Ask

2. 2. Show, Don't Just Tell

3. 3. Friction-Free Path

4. 4. Respect the No

5. Feature Gates

6. Usage Limits

7. Trial Expiration

8. Time-Based Prompts

9. Context-Triggered

10. 1. Headline

11. 2. Value Demonstration

12. 3. Feature Comparison

13. 4. Pricing

14. 5. Social Proof (Optional)

15. 6. CTA

16. 7. Escape Hatch

17. Feature Lock Paywall

18. Usage Limit Paywall

19. Trial Expiration Paywall

20. Soft Upgrade Prompt

21. Team/Seat Upgrade

22. iOS/Android Conventions

23. Mobile-Specific UX

24. App Store Considerations

25. When to Show

26. When NOT to Show

27. Frequency Rules

28. From Paywall to Payment

29. Plan Selection

30. Checkout

31. Post-Upgrade

32. What to Test

33. Metrics to Track

34. Paywall Design

35. Upgrade Flow

36. Metrics Plan

37. Freemium SaaS

38. Free Trial

39. Usage-Based

40. Per-Seat

41. Dark Patterns

42. Conversion Killers

43. Trust Destroyers

44. Trigger & Timing Experiments

45. Paywall Design Experiments

46. Pricing Presentation Experiments

47. Copy & Messaging Experiments

48. Trial & Conversion Experiments

49. Personalization Experiments

50. Frequency & UX Experiments