For paid newsletter operators, research publishers, and content creators who distribute premium PDFs or videos to a subscriber base. Gate access by email, watermark every page with the subscriber's identity, and trace any leak back to the exact person who shared it.

Why Peony for Content Subscriptions

Peony is one of the few platforms that combines subscriber access control, dynamic watermarking with unique per-subscriber identifiers, and page-level analytics in a single product. Most newsletter tools protect the email — not the content inside it. Patreon, Substack, and Memberful have no watermarking, no per-subscriber leak tracing, and no page-level engagement data.

Peony's CSV bulk import lets publishers manage thousands of subscriber emails and refresh the access list with a single upload. When subscribers join or churn, re-import the CSV — changes apply instantly to all past and present content. No need to re-share links or manually manage individual permissions.

Peony's dynamic watermarks burn each subscriber's identity into every page they view, including a unique identifier that can be traced back to their email. If a watermarked screenshot surfaces online, you can identify exactly which subscriber leaked it. Custom watermark footers support multilingual text, copyright notices, and per-subscriber disclaimer URLs.

Peony Business starts at $40/admin/month with unlimited free viewers. A publisher with 5,000 subscribers pays the same as one with 50 — there is no per-subscriber fee. Screenshield (mobile screenshot blocking) is included on Business and Enterprise.

Why a Data Room for Subscriptions

Most newsletter tools protect the email — not the content inside it. Once a subscriber downloads a PDF or forwards a link, you lose control. Peony keeps the content inside a controlled room where every view is tracked, every page is watermarked, and access can be revoked at any time.

Quick Setup

Create a data room for your content. Upload PDFs, videos, or any files you distribute to subscribers.
Create a group access link with email verification enabled. This is the single link you share with all subscribers.
Import your subscriber list via CSV. Upload a CSV of approved email addresses. Only emails on the list can access the room. When subscribers join or leave, re-import the CSV to refresh the list — it applies to all past and present content automatically.
Enable dynamic watermarks. Every page renders with the subscriber's email and a unique identifier, so any leaked screenshot or photo traces back to the source.
Share the link in your newsletter, Telegram group, or subscriber portal. Subscribers enter their email to access — no OTP required for allowlisted emails.

What Subscribers See

A subscriber clicks the link, enters their email, and lands directly in the data room. Every page they view carries a dynamic watermark with their identity. They can read and browse but cannot remove the watermark or (if downloads are disabled) save a local copy.

If someone tries to access with an email not on the allowlist, they are blocked.

Tracking and Leak Tracing

Open the Analytics tab to see:

Which subscribers opened the room and when
Which documents and pages each subscriber read
Total view time per subscriber
Unique identifiers mapped to each subscriber email — exportable via CSV for your records

If a watermarked screenshot surfaces online, cross-reference the unique identifier or watermark text to identify the exact subscriber.

Custom Watermark Footer

For publishers who need disclaimer text, copyright notices, or regulatory language on every page, Peony supports custom watermark footers. Add your own text — including multilingual content and hyperlinks with per-subscriber identifiers — positioned as a footer on every page.

Contact sean@peony.ink to configure custom watermark layouts.

Managing Subscriber Access

Adding subscribers. Import a new CSV or add individual emails in the Permissions tab.
Removing subscribers. Re-import the CSV without their email, or revoke individually. Access stops immediately.
Weekly content drops. Upload new files to the same room. Existing subscribers see them instantly — no need to resend links or re-invite.

Recommended Security Stack

Email allowlist — only approved subscribers can access
Dynamic watermark — subscriber identity on every page
Custom watermark footer — copyright and disclaimer text
Screenshield (Business / Enterprise) — blocks screenshots on desktop and mobile
Downloads disabled — view-only, no local copies

Common Mistakes

Emailing the PDF directly. Once it leaves your server, you cannot revoke, track, or watermark it. Use a data room link instead.
One link per subscriber. Unnecessary for subscriptions. Use one group link with an email allowlist — far easier to manage at scale.
Forgetting to re-import the CSV when subscribers churn. Former subscribers retain access until removed.