A newspaper CMS your newsroom already knows how to use.
PaywallProject runs your newspaper on WordPress, the most widely used website software, with the paywall, newsletters, e-edition, ads, public notices and obituaries built in. We host it, run it and move you onto it.
What a newspaper CMS needs to do.
Publish fast
Reporters file and update stories in a familiar editor, from the newsroom or the road.
Earn revenue
A paywall, subscriptions, ads and newsletters in one place, with one record for each reader.
Serve the community
An e-edition, public notices, obituaries and events, without a separate vendor for each.
Included with Community, Daily and Regional.
How to choose a newspaper CMS.
Most local papers end up choosing between three kinds of system: a proprietary newspaper CMS such as BLOX, a newer purpose-built CMS, or WordPress. The software matters less than three questions.
Who runs it? A CMS your staff has to maintain eats reporting time. Look for a team that handles hosting, updates and security for you.
What does it cost, really? Quote-based pricing, setup fees and revenue shares add up. Ask for the full yearly cost, including what happens as your subscriptions grow.
Can you leave? Your stories, subscribers and payment data should be yours. Proprietary systems make moving harder. WordPress and your own Stripe account keep you in control.
Our comparison of PaywallProject, BLOX CMS and Surf CMS goes through each of these side by side.
Inside PaywallProject
Everything a local newspaper runs on.
Designs
Publisher designs, ready on day one.
Pick a newspaper design and we set it up with your sections, menus and branding. Your site is live in 30 days or less.
- Designs built for news
- Your sections, menus and branding
- Live in 30 days or less
Revenue
A paywall and subscriptions built in.
A metered paywall, free registration wall, print and digital subscriptions, gift and group plans, all paid straight into your own Stripe account.
- Metered paywall and registration wall
- Print and digital plans
- No revenue share on any managed plan
Your e-edition on your own site.
FlipPress puts your print replica on your site, behind your paywall, with no third-party reader or extra login.
- E-edition with FlipPress
- Public notices with NoticePress
- Obituaries with ObitPress
Ads
Sell and place ads without a network cut.
AdsGlue places your direct-sold ads in stories and pages, and you keep 100% of the revenue.
- Ad zones in stories and pages
- Direct-sold ads, no network cut
- Works alongside Google AdSense
Trusted by 100+ local publishers
Why WordPress for a newspaper?
Your staff already knows it. WordPress is the most widely used website software, so new reporters and freelancers rarely need training.
You own it. Your stories live in an open format, and your subscribers and payments sit in your own WordPress site and Stripe account.
It grows with you. Thousands of plugins and integrations mean you’re never waiting on one vendor’s roadmap.
The hard part is running it. Hosting, updates, security and a paywall that works with caching take real expertise. That’s the part we take off your plate.
“Their counsel on growing our subscriber base has made a material difference in our revenue.”
Les Zaitz · Publisher, Salem Reporter
Questions publishers ask
What is a newspaper CMS?
A newspaper CMS is the content management system a newsroom uses to write, edit and publish stories online. The best ones also handle subscriptions, ads, newsletters, the e-edition, public notices and obituaries, so the paper doesn’t need a separate vendor for each.
What is the best CMS for a local newspaper?
For most local and community papers, WordPress is the best fit. It’s the most widely used website software, reporters learn it quickly, and you own your site and data. The catch is running it, which is what PaywallProject does for you.
Is WordPress good enough for a newspaper?
Yes. WordPress runs many large news sites, and it scales from a weekly to a regional group. What a newspaper needs on top of WordPress is a paywall, subscriptions, newsletters, an e-edition and news-specific tools. PaywallProject includes all of them.
How does PaywallProject compare with BLOX and Newspack?
BLOX Digital runs its own CMS and prices by quote. Newspack is a WordPress platform from Automattic that starts at $750 a month. PaywallProject is a fully managed WordPress platform from $299 a month, with no revenue share. See our comparisons with BLOX Digital and Newspack.
Can I move my newspaper from another CMS?
Yes. We move your stories, subscribers and Stripe subscriptions from BLOX, Newspack, Ghost, Drupal or any other CMS into WordPress, and we handle the redirects so your search traffic follows.
Who hosts and maintains the site?
We do. Hosting, updates, security and backups are included in every plan, and real people answer your questions.
Moving your newspaper?
We handle the move: stories, subscribers and Stripe. Talk to a real person first.