Post Access

Ghost membership gating affects two separate experiences on a post:

1. Reading access (content gating) Whether the visitor can read the full post content.

2. Commenting access Whether the visitor can view/leave comments, and what CTA is shown instead.

Crimson implements both:

• A Content CTA when the post is restricted (locked content).

• A Comments area that either shows comments or shows the correct Comments CTA, based on:

  • Ghost’s site-wide “Who can comment?” rule

  • the visitor’s membership/access

  • and the post’s own access restriction

Post Access Levels (per-post visibility)

Every Ghost post can be set to one of these access levels:

A) Public

• Anyone can read the full post.

B) Members Only

• Only logged-in members (free + paid) can read the full post.

C) Paid Members Only

• Only paid members (any paid plan) can read the full post.

D) Specific Tiers

• Only members subscribed to the required tier(s) can read the post.

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How Crimson reacts (content gating)

When a visitor does not have access to the post, Crimson shows:

1. A sneak peek (partial content), followed by

2. A Content CTA explaining what’s required to unlock the rest.

Content CTA messaging adapts to the restriction

Crimson’s messaging changes based on the post’s access level:

• Members Only post

  • Prompts the visitor to become a free member (or sign in).

• Paid Members Only post

  • Prompts the visitor to subscribe to a paid plan.

• Specific Tiers post

  • Prompts the visitor to subscribe to one of the required tiers

  • The required tier names are listed in the CTA.

Content CTA also adapts to visitor state

Crimson changes the CTA depending on whether the visitor is already a member:

• Logged out

  • CTA encourages sign up / subscribe

  • Also offers a Sign in link

• Logged in but insufficient access

  • CTA thanks them for being a member

  • Asks them to upgrade (or switch tier) to unlock the rest

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Comments settings

Ghost provides a global admin setting: Who can comment on posts?

• All Members

• Paid Members Only

• Nobody

In theme terms, this maps to two site-level signals:

• Comments enabled/disabled (overall switch)

• Comments access mode: all, paid, or off

Key rule: global comments rules can only restrict, never expand

Crimson follows this principle:

• If the site-wide setting is Nobody (or comments are disabled):

  • Comments are hidden entirely.

  • No CTA is shown in place of comments.

• If comments are allowed site-wide (All Members or Paid Members Only):

  • The visitor must satisfy the site-wide rule and

  • The visitor must also have access to the post

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Commenting requires BOTH locks to be open

Crimson treats commenting as gated by two locks:

Lock A) Site-wide permission

• All Members vs Paid Members Only vs Nobody

Lock B) Post access (“Can you read this post?”)

• Public / Members / Paid / Specific Tier

Result:

Even if someone is a paid member, they still must have access to the post. Example: a tier-restricted post requires the correct tier to read → and therefore to comment.

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What appears in the Comments area (exact behaviors)

Below is an accurate “what renders” matrix for the comments area.

A) Global comments setting = Nobody (or comments disabled)

Result

• ✅ Comments section is completely hidden

• ✅ No comments CTA is shown

This is the most restrictive mode and overrides everything else.

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B) Global comments setting = All Members

If the visitor HAS access to the post

• Logged-in member (free or paid): ✅ Comments are shown.

• Logged out: 🚧 Comments CTA is shown: “Sign up to join the discussion” (plus sign-in link)

If the visitor does NOT have access to the post

Crimson shows a comments CTA aligned with the post restriction:

• Members Only post: 🚧 CTA prompts to sign up / sign in to join the discussion.

• Paid Members Only post: 🚧 CTA indicates comments are for premium members and prompts to subscribe/upgrade.

• Specific Tiers post: 🚧 CTA indicates comments are for selected tiers and points toward tier-based membership options.

Interpretation Even though the site allows “All Members,” the post’s restriction still controls who can comment, because it controls who can access/read the post.

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C) Global comments setting = Paid Members Only

If the visitor HAS access to the post

• Paid member: ✅ Comments are shown.

• Free member or logged out: 🚧 CTA indicates comments are for premium members only and prompts to subscribe/upgrade.

If the visitor does NOT have access to the post

Crimson still respects both locks and shows the more appropriate premium/tier messaging:

• Members Only post: 🚧 Still shows premium-only comments CTA (because site-wide paid-only is more restrictive than “members”)

• Paid Members Only post: 🚧 Premium-only comments CTA (consistent)

• Specific Tiers post: 🚧 “Selected tiers only” style CTA pointing toward membership options for the required tiers

Interpretation When the site is paid-only for comments, being a free member is never enough to comment—regardless of whether the post itself is “Members Only.”

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The CTAs you’ll see (by scenario)

A) Content CTA (shown when post is locked)

• Public: no content CTA

• Members Only: “Remaining content is for members only…” → become a free member / sign in

• Paid Members Only: “Remaining content is for paid members only…” → subscribe to any paid plan

• Specific Tiers: “Remaining content is for members on [Tier A / Tier B]…” → subscribe to one of these tiers

B) Comments CTA (shown when comments are allowed but user can’t comment)

Common situations:

• Logged out + comments require membership: “Sign up to join the discussion”

• Free member + comments require paid: “Access to comments is for premium members only” → upgrade prompt

• Tier-restricted post + insufficient tier: “Comments are for selected tiers only” → tier-focused messaging

C) Nothing shown (comments fully hidden)

• Global comments setting = Nobody

• OR comments disabled site-wide

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Practical examples (sanity checks)

Example 1

Post: Public Global comments: All Members

• Anyone can read

• Only logged-in members can comment

• Logged-out visitors see a comments CTA

Example 2

Post: Paid Members Only Global comments: All Members

• Only paid members can read

• Only members with access can comment → effectively paid members only

• Logged-out/free members see CTA aligned with paid access

Example 3

Post: Members Only Global comments: Paid Members Only

• Free members can read

• But only paid members can comment (global is more restrictive)

• Free members see premium comments CTA

Example 4

Post: Specific Tier Global comments: Paid Members Only

• Paid member on the wrong tier cannot read → cannot comment

• Correct-tier paid members can read + comment

• Wrong-tier paid members see tier-focused CTA

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Troubleshooting

People say the post is locked but it’s supposed to be public

Check the post’s visibility:

• Open post → Post settings (⚙️) → Access/Visibility Ensure it’s set to Public.

Comments disappeared completely

Check your global comments setting:

• If set to Nobody, Crimson hides comments and shows no CTA (by design).

• Also confirm comments aren’t disabled site-wide.

A paid member can’t comment

Two common reasons:

1. Global comments is Paid Members Only and they’re actually on a free plan

2. The post is Specific Tier and they don’t have the required tier (they may be paid, but not the right tier)

The comments CTA doesn’t match what I expected

Remember the two-lock rule:

• Global comments setting can only restrict

• Post access can still block both reading and commenting