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Configure a content gate

A content gate shows a form over your publication on a page you choose. Visitors fill in the form to keep reading. Content gates are mostly used for lead generation, for content such as white papers, premium articles and magazines.


Visitors can read the pages before the gate for free, so those pages can tell them what the rest of the publication offers. The gate can use a Maglr form, or a Hubspot, Marketo or Pardot form.


A content gate is a lead-capture step, not access protection. To control who can open a project, use project security (a password or an automatically generated login link) or Single Sign-On on the domain. A content gate is meant for projects without security: if the project or its domain is secured, the Content gate tab asks you to turn the security off.


There are three ways to gate content:


  • Standard content gate: a ready-made overlay with a form.
  • Custom content gate: an overlay made from a page you design yourself, with a form on it.
  • Landing page with a redirect: a separate landing page with a form that sends visitors on to the publication.


Setting up a content gate


You set up a standard or custom content gate in the project settings in the dashboard.


  1. Open the project in the dashboard.
  2. Click Project settings in the left sidebar.
  3. Open the Content gate tab.
  4. Turn on Activate a gate.
  5. Under Select gate type, choose Overlay with form (Maglr, Hubspot, Marketo or Pardot) for a standard content gate, or Overlay micro content with a form included for a custom content gate.
  6. For a standard content gate, click Select form and choose the form. For a custom content gate, go to Choose a freeform page and pick the Publication, then the Page.
  7. Under Overlay options, set Activate overlay on to the page where the gate appears.
  8. Set And trigger after to 0, 1 or 2 seconds.
  9. Click Save.


The overlay options also include these optional settings:


  • Background overlay: the color behind the gate.
  • Visitor can manually close this overlay without submission: lets visitors close the gate without filling in the form. When you turn this on, you can also set the close button's color (Color close button).


Once the project is live, the tab also shows a Skip gate URL. This direct link opens the publication without the gate, for example for people who have already registered. Use Open or Copy next to it.


A content gate is meant for projects without security. If the project or its domain is secured, the tab shows "Turn off the security of this project to use this functionality."


Standard content gate


A standard content gate shows a form from the forms module as an overlay on top of the publication: a Maglr form, or a Hubspot, Marketo or Pardot form. In the gate settings, this option is called "Overlay with form (Maglr, Hubspot, Marketo or Pardot)". The overlay appears on a page you choose, after a delay of 0 to 2 seconds, and visitors fill in the form to keep reading.


Responses to a Maglr form are sent by email or to a webhook (for example Zapier). If you use a Hubspot, Marketo or Pardot form, responses go to that platform.


Set up a standard content gate


Custom content gate


A custom content gate uses a page you design yourself in the editor as the overlay. In the gate settings, this option is called "Overlay micro content with a form included." The page includes a form, which you place yourself, so you can show extra text or images next to it. Visitors fill in the form to keep reading.


Set up a custom content gate


Landing page with a redirect to the publication


With this option, you design a separate landing page and place a form on it. After a visitor submits the form, they are forwarded to the publication.


The landing page doesn't put a gate on the publication itself. Visitors who open the publication's direct link can read it without filling in the form, unless you also set a content gate on the project.


Gate a publication behind a landing page


Frequently asked questions


Why don't I see the Content gate tab?


The Content gate tab in Project settings only appears when the content gate is part of your account. Template projects never have this tab.


Can I use a content gate on a secured project?


Turn off the security first. If the project is secured with a password or a login link, or its domain is secured, the Content gate tab shows "Turn off the security of this project to use this functionality." A content gate is meant for projects without security.


Do visitors have to fill in the form again on their next visit?


Only in a new browser session. After a visitor submits the form, the gate stays unlocked for the rest of that browser session. If a visitor closes the gate without submitting the form (when that is allowed), the gate appears again when they reload the page or come back later.


Read more answers in the gated content FAQ

Updated on: 20/10/2026