Get paid before you share the file.
Stop hoping clients pay after delivery. A paywall link makes it structurally impossible to get the work without paying first.
Try it freeNo credit card required to list.
The ghosting problem nobody talks about openly
You finish the Figma file. You send it. The client disappears.
You write the code. You deliver the repo. The invoice sits unpaid for 30 days.
You create the Google Doc. You share the link. They download it and never respond to your follow-up messages.
This is the most common problem for freelancers and independent creators, and almost everyone has a story about it. You did the work. You trusted the process. You got burned.
The system that's supposed to protect you (invoices, contracts, good faith) fails constantly. Not because your clients are all bad people. Because the system creates the wrong incentives: you give first, then hope.
The fix: deliver through a paywall
A paywall link changes the flow structurally:
Before: Do work > Send file > Hope they pay > Chase invoice > Sometimes get paid
After: Do work > Put file behind paywall > Share paywall link > They pay > File unlocked instantly > Always get paid
The client never gets the file without paying. Not because you're being difficult. Because the system enforces it before either party has to be awkward about it.
Payment before access, always
The destination URL is hidden until Stripe confirms the payment. There's no manual step, no trust required.
Instant delivery after payment
Buyer pays, gets your file link by email in under 30 seconds. No waiting, no manual send.
No awkward conversations
You don't have to ask for payment. The paywall does it for you. It's just how your delivery works.
How to use a paywall for Figma file delivery
Finish your Figma file
Complete the design. Set sharing to 'Anyone with the link can view'. Copy the Figma share URL.
Create a paywall on unseal.link
Paste the Figma URL, write a title ('Final design files: Project X'), set your delivery fee. Connect Stripe once.
Send the paywall link to the client
Instead of sending the Figma link directly, send the paywall link. 'Here are your final files: [paywall link]'
Client pays, gets the link
Client enters email, pays via Stripe, receives the Figma link by email instantly. Done.
What to say to clients
The most common worry: "Won't this seem weird or untrusting?"
No. Frame it as your standard delivery process:
"My final deliverables are sent via a secure payment link. Once the payment is confirmed, you'll receive everything instantly. Here's your link: [paywall]"
Most professional clients have zero friction with this. They're used to paying for services. You're just automating the handoff.
If a client pushes back hard on "I need the files before I pay," that's valuable information about whether you want to work with them again.
Works for any type of creative delivery
Figma / design files
- Final UI files, brand kits, icon sets, illustration packages
- Set Figma to "view only", create paywall, send link
Google Drive deliverables
- Photo galleries, video files, document packages, audio files
- Upload to Drive, share folder as "anyone with link can view", create paywall
Written work
- Blog posts, ghostwritten articles, research reports, copywriting
- Drop in a Google Doc, set to view-only, create paywall
Commission art
- Final high-res file in Google Drive or Dropbox
- Create paywall > client pays > receives download link
Code repositories
- Public GitHub repos, CodeSandbox links, StackBlitz projects
- Create paywall with the repo link as destination
Consultation notes / session recordings
- Upload recording to Drive, create paywall for follow-up access
- Sell "post-session resources" package
Figma, Drive, Dropbox
Any shareable link works. Create the share URL, paste it into unseal.link, get your paywall.
Buyer gets it by email
The delivery URL lands in their inbox within 30 seconds of payment. No manual sending from you.
No platform fees on Figma/Drive
Your files live where they live. We charge 4.5% (not 10% like Gumroad), only when someone pays.
The mental shift: you're not being difficult
The old model assumed good faith from both parties and put all the risk on the creator. The new model uses payment infrastructure to remove the risk entirely.
You're not being suspicious of your clients. You're protecting both parties: they get a clear, simple payment experience, and you get paid before you expose your work.
The best clients don't care. They appreciate the professionalism. The clients who object loudly to "paying before receiving" are often the ones who would have ghosted you anyway.
Frequently asked
What if the client needs to review the work before final payment?
Create two versions: a low-res or watermarked preview shared freely for approval, and the final files behind the paywall. Approve first, pay, then unlock.
Can I do milestone payments this way?
Yes. Create a paywall for each milestone deliverable. Milestone 1 files > paywall 1. Milestone 2 files > paywall 2. Each one unlocks independently.
What if the client already paid a deposit?
Use the paywall for the balance. Set the price to the remaining amount owed. Client pays the balance, receives the final files.
Does this work for ongoing clients I trust?
You don't have to use it for everyone. Use it for new clients or one-off projects. Build trust with regulars, then decide.
What about international clients? Does Stripe work globally?
Stripe accepts cards from most countries worldwide. Your client doesn't need a Stripe account, just a credit or debit card.
Free to start. 4.5% per sale. No monthly fees.
Related guides