Traditional paywalls often push visitors away. Some people find a way around them; others leave the site altogether. Either way, the publisher loses both revenue and engagement.

The problem isn’t that readers don’t value content — it’s that most won’t commit to a full subscription for every site they visit. At the same time, giving everything away for free rarely covers the cost of producing it. Micropayments bridge that gap, letting readers pay a small amount for exactly what they want without having to sign up for a full subscription.

Transact makes this possible. It’s a web-based payment system that lets publishers charge for individual pieces of content — articles, videos, or podcasts — using fast, flexible micropayment technology. Readers keep a small balance in their Transact account, like a web-based debit card, so purchases take just seconds without re-entering payment details or incurring bank fees.

If even 200 readers paid just five cents for an article, that’s $10 a publisher wouldn’t have earned from lost readers — often more than the ad revenue from dozens of ad-supported “free” views. And those ads? They slow pages, redraw layouts, and frustrate readers. Micropayments keep readers on-site, give publishers more control, and generate revenue where “free” never could. With no bank fees eating into tiny transactions, every cent goes where it should: to the publisher.

This is a game changer for local and niche publishers, where national-scale ad revenue isn’t an option. In local news, it can work alongside community sponsorships, creating a sustainable three-part model: subscriptions, micropayments, and locally based advertising. People still want to know what’s happening in their community — and they’re willing to pay for it.

How Transact Works

Transact doesn’t curate or aggregate content; it simply handles payments. Publishers set their own prices, decide how much is free to preview, and keep 94% of every payment when they integrate Transact on their own site.

Purchases are fast and frictionless — no credit card entry for each transaction, and no bank fees for publishers or their readers.

Transact can be up and running within minutes with our free WordPress plugin for instant setup. Or request a custom integration for any CMS. Either way, the publisher controls pricing for every piece of content — whether it’s part of a subscription or a single purchase — and starts earning right away.

By making it easy for every reader to contribute, Transact helps publishers of all sizes — especially local and independent outlets — build a more reliable, reader-supported business model.

Have questions? To learn more about how Transact can help increase revenue, contact publishers@transact.io or 805.273.8586.