> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.outpost.pub/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Gated Downloads
> Offer downloadable PDFs, ebooks, and files on your Ghost site that require a free signup or paid subscription to access.
Gated Downloads let you offer downloadable files — reports, guides, ebooks, templates — to anyone, exclusively to free and paid members, or only to paid members. For the Free and Paid access levels, visitors must sign up or upgrade before they can access the file, so Gated Downloads work as both a lead-generation tool and a paid-subscriber benefit.
You can embed these in any post, even one available to everyone, and the protections still work.
## How it works
1. You upload a PDF or ePub file
2. You choose the access and delivery requirements in Outpost
3. You choose what these look like, including a Card version
4. Outpost generates an embed code you paste into a Ghost post or page
5. Readers see a download button (if qualified) or a subscribe/upgrade prompt
6. On download for qualified users, Outpost lets them view the file immediately, get it emailed to them as an attachment or link, or both.
7. Outpost tracks signups, upgrades, and downloads per file
## Setting up a Gated Download
Go to **CTAs/Buttons/Popups → Gated Download** and click **New Gated Download +**.
### Settings tab
| Field | Description |
| -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Internal Name** | A name for your reference (not shown to readers) |
| **Slug** | URL-friendly identifier, unique per site |
| **Button Text** | The button label readers see (e.g., "Download the 2025 Trends Report") |
| **Header Text** / **Description Text** | Headline and supporting text shown on Card and Box display styles |
| **Download Available for** | Who can download (see below) |
| **PDF/ePub file** | Upload your PDF or ePub file |
The **display style** (Button, Card, or Box) is chosen when you create the download from the "Select base model" dialog and shown as an icon on the download list.
### Access levels
| Label | Stored value | Who can download |
| ----------------------------- | ------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Everyone** | `all` | Anyone — no login required (not truly "gated") |
| **Free and paid subscribers** | `free` | Free members and above, which requires at least a free signup for an unknown member |
| **Only paid members** | `paid` | Paid and complimentary members. This requires an active paid subscription. Complimentary members (including group subscribers, institutional subscribers, and members on passes) are treated as paid and have access. |
### Delivery tab
Configure what happens after a reader subscribes to access the file:
| Field | Description |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Delivery method** | How the file is sent after signup. The default is **Send as Email Attachment**, which attaches the file directly to the delivery email. **Send Link to File in Email** includes a secure download link instead of an attachment. **Send as Attachment with Link** includes both. All delivery methods send the file via email. |
| **Confirmation Message Header** | Popup title shown after successfully getting the file. Defaults to "Success". |
| **Confirmation Message Text** | Popup body text after signup. Defaults to "Please check your email." |
| **Email subject** | Subject line for the delivery email |
| **Email Text** | Email content — supports variables: `%SITE_NAME%`, `%PDF_URL%`, `%EMAIL_FROM_NAME%`, `%SITE_LOGIN_URL%`, `%ACCOUNT_LINK%` |
### Labeling tab
This lets you automatically apply member labels when someone downloads a Gated Download.
| Field | Description |
| ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Labels for new subscribers** | Labels applied to readers who sign up specifically to download this file |
| **Labels for existing subscribers** | Labels applied to existing members who download the file |
These labels are useful for building segments and triggering [Basic Autoresponder](/features/basic-autoresponder) actions — for example, sending a follow-up email to everyone who downloaded a specific report.
### Design tab
Settings auto-default to site settings, but if you'd like to customize the gated download cards just uncheck the default site settings and the design palette will pop up:
| Field | Description |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Use default design** | This inherits site styling from the [Default Design](/features/cta-library#default-design) settings |
| **Custom design** | Override colors, fonts, and styling for this specific download |
## Display styles
| Style | Description |
| ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Button** | A simple download button — minimal, inline |
| **Card** | A product card with header text, description, and download button |
| **Box** | A larger box format with more visual presence |
## Embedding in Ghost
Each Gated Download has a **Copy HTML** button. Click it to copy the embed code, then paste it into a Ghost post or page using an HTML card (Post Editor → **+** → Raw HTML).
## Subscribe and upgrade popups
When an unqualified reader tries to download, they see a popup:
* **Unknown visitors** see a subscribe popup (customizable in [Auto Display → Gated Download slot](/features/cta-slots#gated-download))
* **Free members** trying to access a paid-only file see an upgrade popup
The style of these popups is configured in the Auto Display Slots → Gated Download tab.
## Tracking
Each Gated Download shows stats in the list view:
| Metric | Description |
| ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **Signed up for free** | Readers who created a free account to download |
| **Signed up for paid** | Readers who started a paid subscription to download |
| **Existing members downloaded** | Members who already had access and downloaded |
The aggregate stats appear in a blue summary box at the top of the page.
## Download URLs
Download links are hosted by Outpost. If keeping the file out of casual reshares matters, choose a delivery method that sends the PDF as an email attachment.
## Library and Auto Display
The **Library** tab (under [Auto Display](/features/cta-library#library)) shows the subscribe and upgrade popup templates that are shown when unqualified readers attempt to access a Gated Download. You can customize the popup headline, body text, and button text from the Auto Display section in the Gated Downloads tab.
## Use cases
Gate a free ebook behind email signup to grow your free member list
Offer exclusive reports or templates as a perk for paid subscribers
Add a downloadable companion resource to specific posts
If you have PDF versions of your site, you can use these cards to build a PDF archive page in Ghost.
## Frequently asked questions
A Gated Download protects a specific downloadable file (PDF, ebook, template) that requires signup or a paid subscription to access. A paywall limits how many posts someone can read before being prompted to subscribe. Gated Downloads protect individual files; paywalls meter access to your articles.
Yes. "Free and paid subscribers" means free members and above. Paid members already exceed that requirement, so they can download it too.
They see a subscribe popup prompting them to sign up. The popup style is configured in Auto Display Slots under the Gated Download tab. Once they subscribe, they can access the file.
Yes — this is one of the primary use cases. Set access to "Free and paid subscribers," configure labels to tag new signups, and set up a [Basic Autoresponder](/features/basic-autoresponder) action triggered by that label. Visitors provide their email to download, growing your free member list.
The embed code itself will render in your post, but the subscribe and upgrade popups for unqualified readers are part of the Auto Display system. If Auto Display is off, those popups won't appear and unqualified readers can't sign up through the download prompt.
***
## Related features
Configure the subscribe/upgrade popups shown for Gated Downloads
Use download-triggered labels for segmentation and automation