Cloakd vs LaunchPass: Crypto-Native Telegram Paywall vs Stripe-Based Access
Last updated 2026-07-14 · Facts checked against public sources
LaunchPass turns a Telegram (or Discord/Slack) channel into a paid community using Stripe as the payment engine: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and — through Stripe's partners — some cryptocurrencies. It's built for creators who want multi-tier membership levels, coupons, and a branded signup page, and are comfortable connecting a bank account through Stripe to get paid.
Cloakd approaches the same problem — a paid Telegram channel — from the opposite direction: crypto is the native rail, not a bolt-on. Payments settle directly to your own wallet, there's no Stripe account or bank-account KYC to complete, and payers can pay with any of 200+ tokens across 45+ chains while you receive the coin you chose. The trade-off is that Cloakd currently supports one price per paywall, not LaunchPass's multi-tier membership levels.
Cloakd vs LaunchPass at a Glance
| Feature | Cloakd | LaunchPass |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant setup | Connect a wallet, run /paywall — live in ~2 minutes | Connect a Stripe account with bank details; Stripe identity verification required for payouts |
| Custody | Non-custodial — settles straight to your wallet | Funds route through Stripe to your connected bank account |
| Fees | 1% per transaction, free to set up, no monthly fee | Free plan (limited) or $29/mo Premium + 3.5% platform fee, plus Stripe's own ~2.9% + 30¢ card fee |
| Coins accepted | 200+ tokens across 45+ chains, cross-chain swap built in | Cards, Apple/Google Pay, and a limited set of cryptocurrencies via Stripe's partners |
| Access types | One-time, lifetime, monthly, 3-month, yearly, plus optional free trial | One-time and recurring (weekly/monthly/yearly), free trials, coupons |
| Membership tiers | One price per paywall | Multiple tiered membership levels per community |
| Renewal handling | 3-day reminder, 24-hour grace period, auto-removal | Automated recurring billing via Stripe, auto-kick on cancellation |
| Sales caps | None | None on Premium, but Basic plan is feature-limited |
When LaunchPass is the better fit
- You want multiple membership tiers (e.g. Bronze/Silver/Gold) inside a single community — Cloakd currently supports one price per paywall.
- Your audience pays overwhelmingly by card, and you're fine with Stripe's onboarding and payout verification.
- You already run communities across Discord and Slack too, and want one dashboard covering all three platforms.
- You want built-in coupon codes for promotions.
When Cloakd is the better fit
- You don't want to connect a bank account or complete Stripe's identity verification just to get paid.
- You want funds settling directly to your own wallet, not routed through a processor.
- Your buyers hold many different tokens — Cloakd's cross-chain swaps mean they can pay with whatever they have, not just what your gateway lists.
- You want to avoid stacking a monthly platform fee on top of a per-transaction fee — Cloakd is 1% and nothing else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does LaunchPass require KYC?
LaunchPass itself doesn't run its own KYC, but it pays out through Stripe Connect, and Stripe requires identity verification (and a bank account) before it will release funds to you — a standard requirement for any Stripe-based payout, not unique to LaunchPass. Cloakd never requires merchant identity verification.
Is LaunchPass cheaper than Cloakd?
The free Basic plan has no LaunchPass fee but is feature-limited. Premium is $29/month plus a 3.5% LaunchPass fee, and Stripe adds roughly 2.9% + 30¢ per card charge on top of that — well above Cloakd's flat 1% with no monthly fee.
Can LaunchPass accept crypto payments?
LaunchPass lists cryptocurrency support through Stripe's payment partners, but the platform is built around Stripe billing and bank-account payouts. Cloakd is crypto-native end to end: payment, settlement, and payout all happen on-chain to your own wallet.
Which is better for multi-tier communities?
LaunchPass — it supports multiple membership levels (e.g. different price tiers with different perks) inside one community. Cloakd currently supports a single price per paywall, so if tiering is essential, LaunchPass fits better today.
Try Cloakd in Two Minutes
No account, no KYC, nothing to install. Create a payment link, or set up merchant checkout for your store.