Helium
Premium paywall UI screens designed for a powerful AI-driven research assistant.
Helium is an AI-powered research assistant that helps users find, analyse, and synthesise information faster. The team had built a product their power users loved and were ready to monetise — without breaking the trust they'd earned.
Design paywall screens that communicate premium value without interrupting the research flow. Conversion matters, but so does respecting an audience that's allergic to manipulative growth tactics.
What we did
A dark, premium aesthetic
We anchored the paywall system in Helium's existing dark, focused brand identity. The upgrade surface should feel like a continuation of the product, not a marketing interruption.
Contextual, not punitive
Feature-gated prompts surface at moments of value, not friction. The paywall meets the user where their need is highest, instead of pulling them out of flow with hard walls.
Onboarding upgrade path
A separate, clean upgrade flow during onboarding lets users opt into Pro early — when they're already in setup mode and willing to make decisions about how they'll use the product.