The 7 ways an AI-built paywall breaks, and how to check yours in 20 minutes
Before you start
- Switch your app to Stripe test mode.
- Open a private browser window.
- Use Stripe's test card 4242 4242 4242 4242 (any future date, any CVC).
Sign-up works. Create a brand-new account.
✕ Broken if you can't sign up, or you land on a paid page without paying.
A good payment goes through. Pay with 4242 4242 4242 4242.
✕ Broken if you see an error, or Stripe shows nothing.
A declined card is handled. Try the decline card 4000 0000 0000 0002.
✕ Broken if the app unlocks anyway or shows a blank screen.
Paid features unlock. After a good payment, refresh, then log out and back in.
✕ Broken if still locked. This is the failure we found most often in public reports, and it is often the webhook.
Cancel works. Find the cancel option yourself, as a customer would.
✕ Broken if there's no way to cancel without emailing you.
Access ends when it should. In your Stripe test dashboard, open the test subscription and advance time past the period end (or cancel immediately).
✕ Broken if the customer still has paid access.
No free way in. Log out, then paste a paid page's address straight into the browser. Try it with a new unpaid account too.
✕ Broken if you can see paid content.
Fail any of these? Each one has a fix you can paste into your AI builder.
Want us to run all 7 and send the evidence and fixes? Rescue $199 (24h) · Pre-Launch $129 (48h).
Launch week: orders placed before Tue 6 Oct, 9:00 AM ET start their 24h/48h delivery clock at 9:00 AM ET on Tue 6 Oct.