Premium Content: Add ability to give free access to Premium content block

[serabi]

User came to chat (#23290182-hc) to request the ability to give their colleagues free access to the content behind their Premium content blocks, while still requiring all other readers to pay for the content. However, there is currently no way to give anyone free access to content added to a Premium content block, unless you add the person to your site in an Editor role or higher.

I let them know that I would file this as a feature request. Thank you!

[kwight]

Sounds like we could use a fake plan of $0 value.

[thesacredpath]

Have another user inquiring about this. Told them that not supported at this time.

3488292-zd-woothemes

[donalirl]

I had two requests for this feature this week:

1. One was the ability to allow coupon codes in Premium Content.
2. The other was to be able to comp friends with free plans (#3638150-zen), which I'm thinking could also be done via a 100% off coupon code.

[kdevnel]

Sounds like we could use a fake plan of $0 value.

Just to add to this @kwight (I know that comment was a long time ago) - I'm not sure if this was just an idea to explor or a suggestion to the OP as a solution but in another recent interaction with a custom I tested that idea and it appears we require a minimum subscription value of 0.50 so a free plan isn't an option here currently.

[dcoleonline]

Another request in #29051926-hc. I told them we don't offer it at this time.

[kwight]

@kdevnel Correct, my suggestion was for us to add the $0 option to the block.

[msilbers]

Adding my +1 to this issue! I've had at least 2 customers ask about this option. I suggested some alternatives (like password protected content, or refunding a purchase).

[ersatzpenguin]

I also had a user ask for this today, in 29170330-hc.

The user wanted to provide free access to folks to give feedback on the Premium Content they were setting up. I suggested assigning them a user role of editor so they could open up the posts etc where things are in Premium content blocks, but that seems excessive for just "review" purposes.

A manual way to add a user as a subscriber (without even using the block options or checkout)—perhaps with a set end-date, would be really rad. Otherwise, a basic coupon setup (which I know would involve more work, likely) would be great.

[mrfoxtalbot]

I have also run into user requests for this in the past. From a technical perspective, perhaps the easiest way to implement this would be by adding a "password-protected" option to the block. Enabling this option would give visitors the option to either purchase the block or to access it using a password.

We could also go one step further by turning this password into a coupon and assigning it a discount/percentage, but as a starting point, password-protecting it would be probably the simplest solution.

[mrfoxtalbot]

I have seen many instances of users asking for this feature over the last few days. I have labeled this as "High Priority" for visibility. Thank you!

[kwight]

@mrfoxtalbot I'll suggest we remove the high priority label since it's a feature request (albeit a popular one). We're trying to reserve that label for genuine "this is a fire that needs to be put out" situations.

[mrfoxtalbot]

100%! Thank you for the clarification @kwight!

[chrism245]

I also had a user that asked for this today, in 4003548-zd-woothemes.

[lizswafford]

Also got this request today 29420704-hc.

[joweber123]

Another request to add a 'free' option to this block. 4222848-zen

They would specifically like to only show content once someone has signed up for Mailchimp or to follow their site.

[joweber123]

Another request to add a 'free' option to this block. 31138506-hc

They would like to allow users to see premium content if they sign up as a subscriber on the site but not charge any money for this.

[kuropixel]

User is wanting to be able to issue coupons/free passes for users to access content behind Premium content blocks. 32941757-hc

[dcoleonline]

noting 3308550-hc here, as it could have helped them to find a solution within WordPress.com instead of seeking out a plugin/newsletter

[radtechgh]

another request to add complimentary subscriptions: 4690653-zen

[vinnykaur]

Another request to offer discount codes with the premium content block. 33906129-hc

[rw-ye]

User asked about this here 4754839-zd-woothemes

[ccwalburn]

Another request to offer free access to Premium content: 34350340-hc

[masperber]

Site owner would like the ability to add subscribers who have already paid using another payment method prior to the site owner learning about the Premium Content Block: 34475365-hc

[KirkwallDay]

Had a strange situation happen here: 26976881-hc the subscription canceled, it was a one-time payment, but there's no way to re-add the subscriber without asking them to pay again. This feature would have solved the problem.

[ariel-maidana]

+1 5221518-zd-woothemes The user would like to allow visitors to subscribe for free, so a $0 plan or a 100% coupon would be useful.

[sharonlaker19]

+1 at 35943160-hc

[jp-imagines]

Another request in 36016507-hc.

[devNigel]

Another request: 36224656-hc

[github-actions[bot]]

Support References

This comment is automatically generated. Please do not edit it.

• [ ] 3488292-zen
• [ ] 3638150-zen
• [ ] 4003548-zen
• [ ] 4222848-zen
• [ ] 4690653-zen
• [ ] 4754839-zen
• [ ] 5221518-zen
• [ ] 5868790-zen
• [ ] 5921860-zen
• [ ] 6047039-zen
• [ ] https://wordpress.com/forums/topic/premium-not-paywall-content-for-subscribers
• [ ] 8014194-zen