Poool + Stripe — Modern paywall with experimentation
Poool sits between WordPress plugins and full Piano contracts. It's the right answer for growing publishers that want experimentation without enterprise overhead.
Pricing summary
From €149/month
Pay-as-you-go: 0.7% of billing volume. Or from €500/month (pay monthly, up to €80k volume/mo, 1-year contract, 0.67% beyond). Plus standard Stripe payment processing (1.5%+€0.25 EU cards).
Estimated monthly cost
| Stage | Poool | Stripe Billing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 (starting) | — | Free | Variable |
| $5k MTR | — | ~$35 | ~$35 |
| $25k MTR | — | ~$175 | ~$175 |
| $100k MTR | — | ~$700 | ~$700 |
Estimates exclude payment processing fees and App Store / Google Play platform cuts. MTR = monthly tracked revenue.
Why this stack
- ✓Metering, registration walls, dynamic offers
- ✓Strong A/B testing without enterprise pricing
- ✓CMS-agnostic — works beyond WordPress
Tradeoffs
- —Smaller ecosystem than Piano
- —Requires more setup than a WordPress plugin
Who this is for
Stage:Growing — past first revenue
Priorities:Conversion optimization · Advanced billing (usage, metering)
Best fit for paid content teams that value conversion optimization and advanced billing (usage, metering).
Setup order
- 01
Create your Poool account
Sign up and connect a bank account or Stripe account to receive payouts.
Open docs → - 02
Create your first product and pricing plan
Define product name, recurring interval, currency, and any trial period. Keep your initial pricing simple — you can iterate later.
- 03
Install the SDK and wire up Stripe Billing
Use the primary checkout from Poool, then layer Stripe Billing for subscription management, entitlements, or advanced billing rules.
Open docs → - 04
Test in sandbox and go live
Run end-to-end tests with test cards, confirm webhooks land in your backend, then flip the keys to production.
Alternatives to this stack
Step up when you reach enterprise scale.
Quote-based
Cheaper if you're WordPress-only.
From $99/mo
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