Paid content typically refers to one of two concepts dealing with online or digital media. The term often refers to content on a website which must be paid for to access or use by visitors. This can indicate materials that may not otherwise be accessed without payment or content that can be viewed but not downloaded without paying. Paid content can also be content generated for a website by someone who is paid for those materials.
The exact meaning of “paid content” often depends on the context in which it is used, though in general it typically relates to content found on a website or other digital media. One of the most common uses of the term is to refer to any type of content that is found on a website, and which someone must pay a fee to access. This is usually found on websites that charge subscription rates, though other methods of payment may also be utilized. Someone may be able to freely access a website that hosts video files, for example, but may have to pay for individual files he or she wishes to download or license.
This type of paid content can be found on a number of different websites, which often allow free browsing prior to charging fees for paid content. A website might allow guests to view samples of materials hosted on that site, but charge a fee for full versions of those materials. Similarly, some sites may allow guests to access the content of a site, but those who pay can view those materials without viewing advertisements. Some websites that host files may allow guests to download those files, but they are available for download without limitation and bandwidth restrictions only as paid content.
Paid content can also refer to content generated for a website as part of a paid arrangement. Some websites host content that is created free of charge, usually created by the administrator of that site or by members of the website. Other sites require content created by others, which may be created for payment by the site owner or administrator. This is typically referred to as paid content as well, and the context in which the phrase is used can distinguish between the two meanings of the term.