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Head-to-head · Paywall Software

Pigeon vs Zephr

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Pigeon #1 in Paywall Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Pigeon
Zephr #4 in Paywall Software 8.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Zephr

Pigeon leads on 0 checks, Zephr on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePigeon · 9.4/10
  • Free planonly Pigeon
  • Most featuresPigeon · 4 of 4

Pigeon scores higher on our rubric for paywall software: 9.4 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

Pigeon is the better fit for publishers needing broad paywall control. Zephr is the better fit for enterprise publishers optimizing conversion.

  • Pigeon fits best

    Publishers needing broad paywall control

  • Zephr fits best

    Enterprise publishers optimizing conversion

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Pigeon 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Zephr 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.9
Ranking #1 in Paywall Software #4 in Paywall Software
Best for Publishers needing broad paywall control Enterprise publishers optimizing conversion
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price $99/mo Pricing on request
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Email, Docs Docs
Integrations 20 integrations 30+ integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Pigeon 4/4 · Zephr 0/4
Metered paywall ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Registration wall ✓ (best) Not checked yet
One-time payments ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Entitlement rules ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Included pageviews Not checked yet Not checked yet
Supported CMS WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, HubSpot, Magento, Wix, Squarespace, Concrete, Hugo, Gatsby, Jekyll, Eleventy, Nuxt.js, Next.js, Astro, custom CMS Not checked yet
Payment processors AlignPay, Authorize.net, Clover, Braintree, PayPal, Stripe Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Eight paywall modes, including hard, soft, metered, and time-based
  • Rules can use URLs, CMS categories, tags, and API parameters
  • Billing, entitlements, analytics, CMS, and payment integrations in one platform
  • AI-powered optimization across soft, metered, hard, and dynamic paywalls
  • Low-code rules, personalized offers, identity, and first-party data activation
  • Broad billing, CRM, marketing, CDP, API, SDK, and webhook integrations
Cons
  • The free Experiment plan does not allow transactions
  • Publishers plan charges 10% transaction fees
  • Enterprise pricing starts at $500 per month with variable transaction fees
  • Pricing requires a sales conversation
  • Platform coverage centers on web and API
  • Its enterprise publishing focus may exceed simpler paywall needs
Our verdict

Pigeon is a cloud-based paywall and subscription management platform for newspapers, magazines, blogs, education providers, and other digital content publishers. It supports hard, soft, metered, time-based, cookie, ads, newsletter, and…

Read the review →

Zephr is Zuora’s subscription experience platform for media companies, publishers, and other subscription businesses. It brings paywall configuration, personalized subscriber journeys, identity and access management, first-party data…

Read the review →
  1. PigeonPaywall Software 9.4Free plan
  2. ZephrPaywall Software 8.9Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Pigeon — where it wins

    • Eight paywall modes, including hard, soft, metered, and time-based
    • Rules can use URLs, CMS categories, tags, and API parameters
    • Billing, entitlements, analytics, CMS, and payment integrations in one platform

    Where it doesn't

    • The free Experiment plan does not allow transactions
    • Publishers plan charges 10% transaction fees
    • Enterprise pricing starts at $500 per month with variable transaction fees

  • Zephr — where it wins

    • AI-powered optimization across soft, metered, hard, and dynamic paywalls
    • Low-code rules, personalized offers, identity, and first-party data activation
    • Broad billing, CRM, marketing, CDP, API, SDK, and webhook integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires a sales conversation
    • Platform coverage centers on web and API
    • Its enterprise publishing focus may exceed simpler paywall needs
  • Pigeon9.4/10 · Free plan

    Broad paywall, entitlement, billing, and integration controls for digital publishers.

    Visit PigeonFull verdict →
  • Zephr8.9/10 · Pricing on request

    Zephr combines flexible paywalls, personalization, identity, and analytics for publishers.

    Visit ZephrFull verdict →

More comparisons

All paywall software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update