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](./sub-skills/1-value-before-ask.md)
### 2. [2. Show, Don't Just Tell](./sub-skills/2-show-dont-just-tell.md)
### 3. [3. Friction-Free Path](./sub-skills/3-friction-free-path.md)
### 4. [4. Respect the No](./sub-skills/4-respect-the-no.md)
### 5. [Feature Gates](./sub-skills/feature-gates.md)
### 6. [Usage Limits](./sub-skills/usage-limits.md)
### 7. [Trial Expiration](./sub-skills/trial-expiration.md)
### 8. [Time-Based Prompts](./sub-skills/time-based-prompts.md)
### 9. [Context-Triggered](./sub-skills/context-triggered.md)
### 10. [1. Headline](./sub-skills/1-headline.md)
### 11. [2. Value Demonstration](./sub-skills/2-value-demonstration.md)
### 12. [3. Feature Comparison](./sub-skills/3-feature-comparison.md)
### 13. [4. Pricing](./sub-skills/4-pricing.md)
### 14. [5. Social Proof (Optional)](./sub-skills/5-social-proof-optional.md)
### 15. [6. CTA](./sub-skills/6-cta.md)
### 16. [7. Escape Hatch](./sub-skills/7-escape-hatch.md)
### 17. [Feature Lock Paywall](./sub-skills/feature-lock-paywall.md)
### 18. [Usage Limit Paywall](./sub-skills/usage-limit-paywall.md)
### 19. [Trial Expiration Paywall](./sub-skills/trial-expiration-paywall.md)
### 20. [Soft Upgrade Prompt](./sub-skills/soft-upgrade-prompt.md)
### 21. [Team/Seat Upgrade](./sub-skills/teamseat-upgrade.md)
### 22. [iOS/Android Conventions](./sub-skills/iosandroid-conventions.md)
### 23. [Mobile-Specific UX](./sub-skills/mobile-specific-ux.md)
### 24. [App Store Considerations](./sub-skills/app-store-considerations.md)
### 25. [When to Show](./sub-skills/when-to-show.md)
### 26. [When NOT to Show](./sub-skills/when-not-to-show.md)
### 27. [Frequency Rules](./sub-skills/frequency-rules.md)
### 28. [From Paywall to Payment](./sub-skills/from-paywall-to-payment.md)
### 29. [Plan Selection](./sub-skills/plan-selection.md)
### 30. [Checkout](./sub-skills/checkout.md)
### 31. [Post-Upgrade](./sub-skills/post-upgrade.md)
### 32. [What to Test](./sub-skills/what-to-test.md)
### 33. [Metrics to Track](./sub-skills/metrics-to-track.md)
### 34. [Paywall Design](./sub-skills/paywall-design.md)
### 35. [Upgrade Flow](./sub-skills/upgrade-flow.md)
### 36. [Metrics Plan](./sub-skills/metrics-plan.md)
### 37. [Freemium SaaS](./sub-skills/freemium-saas.md)
### 38. [Free Trial](./sub-skills/free-trial.md)
### 39. [Usage-Based](./sub-skills/usage-based.md)
### 40. [Per-Seat](./sub-skills/per-seat.md)
### 41. [Dark Patterns](./sub-skills/dark-patterns.md)
### 42. [Conversion Killers](./sub-skills/conversion-killers.md)
### 43. [Trust Destroyers](./sub-skills/trust-destroyers.md)
### 44. [Trigger & Timing Experiments](./sub-skills/trigger-timing-experiments.md)
### 45. [Paywall Design Experiments](./sub-skills/paywall-design-experiments.md)
### 46. [Pricing Presentation Experiments](./sub-skills/pricing-presentation-experiments.md)
### 47. [Copy & Messaging Experiments](./sub-skills/copy-messaging-experiments.md)
### 48. [Trial & Conversion Experiments](./sub-skills/trial-conversion-experiments.md)
### 49. [Personalization Experiments](./sub-skills/personalization-experiments.md)
### 50. [Frequency & UX Experiments](./sub-skills/frequency-ux-experiments.md)