Last updated: September 23, 2026
Answers to the most common questions about Paywall Hero. Can't find what you need? Email support@coolapps.llc.
Paywall Hero is a Chrome extension and mobile app that helps you read online articles that are behind paywalls. It gives you four tools — Hero Clear, Hero Window, Hero Search, and Hero AI Summary — and the Chrome extension also removes common subscription pop-ups automatically as pages load. It is made by Cool Apps LLC.
Paywall Hero works on desktop Chrome through the Chrome extension, on Android through the Paywall Hero app on Google Play, and on iPhone as a web app at paywall-hero.com. One account works on all of them, and your credits are shared across every device you sign in to.
Step-by-step instructions are on the install page.
Yes. A free account is needed to use the tools, and it's what holds your credits. Sign up with an email address and password, then confirm your email using the link we send you. No credit card is required.
Hero Clear clears the cookies for the site you're on and reloads the page. Many sites count how many free articles you've read using cookies, so clearing them often resets that count. Hero Clear is available in the desktop Chrome extension only.
Hero Window opens the article in a private browsing window, as a fresh visitor with no history on that site. It works well on sites that show a paywall only after you've visited a few times.
Hero Search looks for the same story published on other websites that you can read freely. It works especially well for news stories that are syndicated to many outlets.
Hero AI Summary writes an original summary of the article's topic, drawn from publicly available coverage, with the key facts, names, and figures, plus a list of key points. It works even on articles locked behind a hard paywall. Summaries are written by AI and can occasionally be incomplete or wrong, so they aren't a substitute for the original article.
Every site is different, so it's worth trying the tools in order: Hero Clear first on desktop, then Hero Window, then Hero Search. If none of those work, Hero AI Summary almost always will.
The Chrome extension removes common subscription pop-ups and overlays as pages load, so you can often keep reading without clicking anything. It's free, uses no credits, and runs entirely in your browser — it doesn't collect or send any information about the pages you visit.
Each tool uses credits from your balance when you use it:
Your balance is shown in the Chrome extension and on the Usage screen of the app.
Paywall Hero is free to install, and every new account gets 100 free credits with no credit card required. That's enough for 8 AI Summaries or 40 uses of the other tools, in any mix. When they run out, you can buy more or earn 100 more through the referral program.
Credits come in four packs:
Larger packs cost less per credit. You can buy them on the buy page. Payments are processed securely by Stripe.
No. There is no subscription and nothing renews. You're only charged when you choose to buy a credit pack.
No. Credits never expire. They stay in your account until you use them.
All credit purchases are final and no refunds are issued, except where required by law. Credits have no cash value and can't be transferred to another account.
You're only charged for a real summary. If Hero AI Summary can't produce one — for example, if it can't identify the article — the 12.5 credits go back to your account automatically.
Share your personal referral link, found on the Referrals screen of the app. When 20 different people click it, 100 free credits are added to your account automatically.
Yes. Leave a review for Paywall Hero on the Chrome Web Store and you'll need only 10 clicks instead of 20. iPhone users qualify at 10 clicks automatically.
Once per account. It's available whether or not you've bought credits. Clicks must come from real, different people — clicks you generate yourself don't count.
Try the next tool. Sites use different kinds of paywalls, and each tool handles a different kind. If Hero Clear, Hero Window, and Hero Search all fail, Hero AI Summary is the most reliable option. Websites change often, so no tool can be guaranteed to work on every site.
Check your spam, promotions, and updates folders. The email help page shows how to make sure our emails reach your main inbox. If it still hasn't arrived, contact us.
Use the “Forgot your password?” link on the sign-in screen. We'll email you a link to set a new one.
Credits are added as soon as Stripe confirms the payment, which usually takes a few seconds. Reopen the extension or refresh the app to see the new balance. If it still hasn't changed after a few minutes, contact us with the email address on your account.
Your email address, your credit balance and transaction history, and your referral data. We never store which articles you read, and payment details are handled entirely by Stripe. The full details are in our Privacy Policy.
Email support@coolapps.llc from the address on your account with the subject line “Delete my account.” We'll delete your account and data within 30 days. Any unused credits are forfeited and aren't refunded.
Every product email has an unsubscribe link, and unsubscribing takes effect immediately. Emails you need for your account, like password resets and purchase confirmations, still arrive.
Email support@coolapps.llc and include the email address on your account, and we'll get back to you.