Paywalls and subscriptions in Spanish digital newspapers: exploratory scoping review

Abstract

Paywalls and subscriptions have become one of the main sources of funding for digital media in Spain. However, their recent widespread implementation raises questions about their profitability in a context where readers have become accustomed to free content. This study conducts a scoping review by analyzing articles published on the subject between 2021 and 2025, in order to establish a state of the art that outlines the thematic trends of the study, the most relevant results, the research gaps, and the methodologies used. The research reveals the financial viability of the model and its effects as the main areas of study, as well as a series of subscription dynamics and proposals for improvement. Added to these are the observation of a predominant use of qualitative methods and various gaps in exploration related to transparency and paywall evasion, among others. Furthermore, as significant findings based on the available evidence, it is noted that no universal model of economic sustainability can be identified for every online newspaper. At the same time, it is observed that companies maintain key elements in their attempts to get readers to pay their content, such as the added value or quality of their journalistic pieces, although it is not confirmed whether social perceptions in this regard have remained the same over the years. However, despite these factors, it is clear that the percentage of those who pay remains below 20%.