For a Ghost post set to Paid-members only, free members see the content above the public preview divider. That rule applies both on the website and in the email newsletter. Paid members with an active subscription can read the full post.
Ghost calls this feature the public preview divider. It marks the point where public preview content ends and protected content begins. The divider works with the post’s access setting; it does not set access by itself.
Ghost’s public preview documentation describes the same behavior for posts, pages, and email newsletters. That matters when you write a paid edition: the opening needs to stand on its own for free members, while the rest can serve paid readers.
The divider controls the visible preview
You can add the public preview divider from the editor’s card menu, or type /paywall on a new line. Ghost also lets you drag the divider to another position in the content.
Its placement decides how much content free members can read. A divider after one opening paragraph creates a short preview. A divider after a worked example, a chart explanation, or a few sections creates a longer preview.
The divider does not decide who may read the post. The post access setting does that work. Ghost uses the access setting together with the divider to determine what visitors and members see on the web and in their inboxes.
Here is a fictional layout for a paid newsletter:
| Content position | What the section could contain | Visibility for free members |
|---|---|---|
| Above the divider | The subject, a short explanation, and one fictional example | Visible in email and on the web |
| Public preview divider | The boundary between preview and protected content | Marks the cutoff |
| Below the divider | Detailed analysis, templates, or the rest of the fictional example | Reserved for paid members under paid-members-only access |
The example is only a content-planning model. Ghost does not require a fixed number of paragraphs, headings, or words above the divider.
What free members see with paid-members-only access
The key setting is Paid-members only. Ghost states that paid members can view the full post, while free members see only the content above the preview line. This rule applies in two places:
- in the emailed newsletter;
- on the website.
A free member therefore receives access to the preview portion you placed before the divider. The paid portion remains below that line. The same person sees the preview on the web when viewing the paid-members-only post as a free member.
This gives the opening a specific job. It should identify the subject and give the reader enough context to understand the paid material’s scope. A vague teaser can leave a reader unsure what the post covers. A complete opening can state the practical question, show the first step, then stop before the material reserved for subscribers.
For example, a fictional newsletter about editorial planning could place a short overview and one sample decision above the divider. The detailed calendar, full selection criteria, and downloadable template could sit below it. The free preview shows the topic and the first useful idea. The paid section contains the rest of that fictional edition.
Nothing in Ghost’s documentation says that a preview guarantees upgrades or conversions. The divider controls visibility. It does not promise a business result.
What paid members see
Ghost defines paid-members-only content as content available to members who have an active subscription in Stripe. For that access level, paid members can read the full post content rather than stopping at the preview divider.
That distinction is easy to miss when drafting the email. The public preview divider is not merely a web-page design element. Ghost says it follows the post access settings on the site and in the email newsletter. A paid member’s reading experience therefore includes the content above and below the divider when the post is set to paid-members-only.
This also means that moving the divider changes the free preview without changing the underlying access category. Put the divider earlier, and the preview becomes shorter. Put it later, and free members can read more before the protected section begins. The post remains paid-members-only until you change that setting.
The access setting still comes first
Ghost supports several post access levels, including Public, Members only, Paid-members only, and access limited to specific tiers. The divider behaves according to the selected level.
With Members only access, Ghost’s example says logged-out visitors see only the content above the preview on the web, while logged-in members can see the full post. With Paid-members only access, the documented distinction is between free members and paid members: free members see the preview, and paid members see the full post.
That difference matters because a divider alone does not turn an article into paid content. If a post remains public, its access setting still makes it visible to anyone visiting the site. If the goal is to reserve the full edition for paying subscribers while showing free members a preview, choose Paid-members only and then place the divider where the preview should end.
Ghost’s protected-content documentation also describes three membership models: Free, Paid only, and Free + paid. Your site’s model and signup configuration shape who can become a free member or a paid member. The individual post setting still determines the access level for that post.
A practical editing check before sending
Read the content above the divider as a complete short piece. Does it name the subject? Does it give enough context for a free member to understand what follows? Does it stop at a natural point?
Then check the post access setting. A well-placed divider cannot compensate for the wrong setting. For a paid newsletter preview aimed at free members, the documented combination is Paid-members only access plus a public preview divider.
Finally, check the material below the line. It should contain the part you intend paid members with an active subscription to receive in full. That simple separation keeps the email and web views aligned with Ghost’s documented rules.
Where does your paid edition become useful enough to preview, yet specific enough to reserve for subscribers? Does the first section explain the subject before the divider?
