Wattpad brings in new content model balancing free and paid access to stories

Online story platform Wattpad has introduced a new paid content model that balances free and paid access for readers and writers, called Wattpad Originals. The move marks Wattpad’s first major paid content update since launching Paid Content in 2019 with the aim of monetising online stories.

Featuring a catalogue of popular stories on the platform, the new model will replace Paid Stories to create "a better balance for readers and authors". Readers will be able to pay to read ahead or choose to wait to read for free.

The new model was put in place as a financially viable way of building more fandoms and reading communities. It is the latest in a series of moves from the company, aiming to help writers build global fandoms and monetise their work. 

As the Creator Economy continues to grow, platforms like Patreon have introduced a variety of new online models for authors. Wattpad also follows its sister platform WEBTOON, which has been using a similar model with "great success".

According to the company’s website, the paid content model will mean that "authors will no longer have to choose between monetisation and growing their free reading audience".