Pricing that scales with your publication
No tiered feature gates. No surprise invoices. Just a simple, fair model that grows with your registered readership.
Platform commission + server provision fee
Most publishers fit our standard model. It keeps the platform accessible at small scale and predictable as you grow.
Platform commission
3.5%
of transaction value
Server provision fee
£50
per 1,000 registered users / month
Bespoke for larger titles
Larger publications, publisher groups, and titles with complex workflows often need a tailored arrangement. We price to reflect your situation, not a one-size-fits-all bracket.
No commitment required. We'll suggest an approach that fits your model.
How the model works in practice
Small title starting out
A publication with a few thousand registered readers typically pays a modest server provision fee, with the commission only applied when revenue flows.
Growing subscriber base
As your registered audience expands, the server provision fee scales linearly. There are no sudden jumps when you cross an arbitrary tier.
Established publisher
High-volume titles and multi-brand groups can move to a custom plan with committed volumes, annual terms, and dedicated support.
How Mocono stacks up
Most paywall platforms either take a large revenue cut or charge heavy enterprise licensing. Mocono keeps the platform fee low and transparent, so you keep more of what your readers pay.
Mocono platform commission
3.5%
vs. 10% on Substack / Pigeon
Server provision fee
From £50
per 1,000 registered users
Setup & migration
£0
No implementation fees
Payment processing
Stripe
Your own account, no markup
| Provider | Who it's for | Monthly fee | Commission / revenue share | Setup costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MoconoOur platform | Digital publishers, magazines, and independent titles ready to own their reader revenue. | £50 server provision fee per 1,000 registered users / month | 3.5% | £0. Free migration, onboarding, and configuration. |
Substack | Individual newsletter creators and small publication teams. | £0 | 10% of paid subscription revenue | £0. Optional ~£40 custom-domain fee. |
Pigeon | Digital publishers, news sites, and media companies. | Publishers Plan from ~£79/month; Enterprise from ~£400/month | 10% on standard plans; Enterprise is negotiated | Publishers Plan from ~£600; Enterprise from ~£2,000+ |
Piano | Mid-market to enterprise publishers (e.g. Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, Le Figaro). | Custom quote. Platform licensing typically ~£1,200–£4,000+/month | 0% direct commission | Enterprise implementation typically ~£4,000–£16,000+ |
MPP Global (CSG eSuite) | Large-scale media, broadcast, and telecom enterprises with complex subscription models. | Enterprise licensing from ~£1,300/month, scaling with volume | 0% revenue share | Enterprise contract. Onboarding and migration custom-quoted. |
Zephr (by Zuora) | Digital publishers and media companies looking for dynamic, AI-driven paywalls, user journeys, and identity management. | Custom enterprise pricing. Standalone typically ~£800–£2,800/month depending on visitors and active subscribers | 0% direct revenue cut | Typically ~£4,000–£12,000 for CMS, identity, and payment gateway integration |
Zuora (Core Platform + Billing) | Mid-market to high-volume enterprises needing full subscription lifecycle management, usage billing, and revenue recognition. | Annual contract based on billing volume. Entry-level packages from ~£60,000/year (~£5,000/month), scaling sharply | 0% transaction fee (overage rates apply if you exceed contracted volume limits) | ~£12,000–£40,000+ for implementation, migration, API wiring, and compliance configuration |
Why publishers choose Mocono
Lower revenue share
At 3.5%, Mocono takes a fraction of the 10% cut common on creator and publisher platforms.
No lock-in
Start small and scale linearly. There are no fixed contract lengths or exit penalties on the standard package, and no five-figure implementation quotes to get started.
You own the payment relationship
Connect your own Stripe account. Your money flows straight through — no delayed payouts or held reserves.
Built for publishers, not newsletters
Paywall rules, CRM, subscriber analytics, and automated billing designed around how digital publications actually work.
Common questions
- Is there a setup fee?
- No. We do not charge implementation or onboarding fees. Our team helps migrate your subscriber data and configure your paywall at no extra cost.
- What counts as a user?
- A user is any registered account on your publication — active subscriber, lapsed subscriber, or free registered reader. We price per thousand accounts per month.
- Can the price change as we grow?
- Yes. The server provision fee scales with your registered base, so costs move in line with your audience. We also review pricing as your model matures.
- Are there any hidden charges?
- None. Payment processing is handled through your own Stripe account, so Stripe's standard card fees apply separately and are not marked up by Mocono.
- Is there a minimum contract or exit fee?
- On the standard publisher package there are no fixed contract lengths and no exit penalties of any kind. You can adjust, pause, or leave whenever it suits you — we would rather earn your trust month by month than lock you in.
- Do you offer annual terms or discounts?
- We are happy to discuss annual commitments, volume pricing, and bespoke arrangements for publisher groups or multi-title operations.
Start with a 60-day free trial
Explore the full platform, run real transactions, and see how the pricing model fits your publication before committing.