The New York Times is altering the metered paywall on its mobile app to “better align the experience with that of NYTimes.com,” a spokesperson told Capital. Originally, NYT allowed mobile users to view 3 free articles a day before hitting an offer page to subscribe. But starting today, the mobile app will allow users to view 10 free articlesper month. However, the mobile app also allows for a free week of unlimited access after the initial download (see screenshot below).
I’ve always been cautious in advising subscription sites to glean lessons from The New York Times as most paid content publications don’t have their resources or traffic numbers. But aligning your mobile and online experience in this way makes sense, especially as audiences are still struggling to get used to metered paywalls and what to expect. Note: There seems to be no pricing changes associated with this change in metered access, once again proving how pricing is dependent on consumer perception not the amount of content you’re offering.