🚀 Getting Started
Welcome to VaultReader!
VaultReader is a secure PDF distribution platform that helps you protect and monetize your ebooks. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
🔒 Secure Distribution
Protect your PDFs with watermarking, device limits, and anti-piracy features.
💳 Multiple Payment Options
Accept payments through Stripe, PayPal, Gumroad, Paddle, or LemonSqueezy.
📊 Analytics
Track views, downloads, and customer engagement in real-time.
⚡ Easy Setup
Upload your PDF, configure payment, and share your link in minutes.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Visit https://your-site.netlify.app/customer-dashboard.html
Click "Sign Up" and enter your email and password. You'll receive a verification email.
Check your inbox and click the verification link.
Return to the dashboard and log in with your credentials.
📤 Upload Your Ebook
Preparing Your PDF
- File format: PDF only
- Maximum size: 50 MB
- Recommended: Optimize your PDF for web viewing
Upload Process
In your dashboard, click the upload button.
- Title: Your ebook name
- Description: Brief description (optional)
- Price: Your selling price
- Category: Select category (optional)
Click "Choose File" and select your PDF.
- Watermarking: Enable/disable (recommended: ON)
- Device Limit: Max devices per purchase (default: 3)
- Allow Download: Enable/disable PDF download
- Allow Print: Enable/disable printing
Wait for the upload to complete. You'll see a progress bar.
💳 Payment Setup
VaultReader supports 5 payment processors. Choose the one that works best for you:
| Processor | Fees | Best For | Setup Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 2.9% + $0.30 | Professional, Global | 10 min |
| Gumroad | 3.5% + $0.30 | Creators, Simple | 5 min |
| PayPal | 2.9% + $0.30 | Trusted, Familiar | 15 min |
| Paddle | 5% + $0.50 | SaaS, EU VAT | 15 min |
| LemonSqueezy | 5% + $0.50 | Digital Products | 10 min |
Option 1: Stripe Setup
Go to stripe.com and sign up.
Dashboard → Products → Add Product
- Name: Your ebook name
- Price: Your selling price
- Type: One-time payment
After creating, copy the Price ID (starts with price_)
In your ebook settings:
- Payment Processor: Stripe
- Product ID: price_1234567890abcdef
Option 2: Gumroad Setup
Go to gumroad.com and sign up.
Dashboard → Products → New Product
- Name: Your ebook name
- Price: Your selling price
- Type: Digital product
From the product URL: gumroad.com/l/YOUR-PRODUCT-ID
In your ebook settings:
- Payment Processor: Gumroad
- Product ID: your-product-id
Share Your Ebook
After configuring payment, you'll get a unique unlock URL:
Share this link with your customers. They'll:
- Purchase through your payment processor
- Receive an order number/license key
- Enter it on the unlock page
- Access the PDF instantly
📊 Analytics & Reporting
Dashboard Overview
Your dashboard shows real-time statistics:
📚 Total Ebooks
Number of ebooks you've uploaded
👁️ Total Views
How many times your ebooks have been viewed
💰 Revenue
Total earnings (tracked through payment processors)
📈 Growth
Month-over-month growth trends
Per-Ebook Analytics
Click on any ebook to see detailed analytics:
- Views: Total number of views
- Unique Customers: Number of unique purchasers
- Devices: Devices used to access
- Geographic Data: Where your customers are located
- Access Times: When customers view your ebook
- Average Read Time: How long customers spend reading
Export Data
Export your analytics data as CSV for further analysis:
In the analytics section
Choose the period you want to export
Open in Excel or Google Sheets
💎 Pricing Plans
Choose the plan that fits your needs:
| Plan | Price | Ebooks | Views/Month | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | 1 | 100 | 10 MB |
| Starter | $29/month | 10 | 1,000 | 100 MB |
| Pro | $79/month | 50 | 10,000 | 500 MB |
| Business | $199/month | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2 GB |
Upgrade Your Plan
Click "Settings" in your dashboard
Choose your desired plan
Enter payment details (Stripe checkout)
Your limits are updated immediately
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
A: We use multiple layers of protection:
- Dynamic watermarking with customer info
- Device limiting (max 3 devices per purchase)
- Print/download controls
- Screenshot prevention
- DevTools blocking
A: While they can share the order number, each PDF is watermarked with the purchaser's email and order number. This discourages sharing and helps track piracy.
A: We support 5 major processors:
- Stripe
- Gumroad
- PayPal
- Paddle
- LemonSqueezy
A: No! You only pay your chosen payment processor's fees. VaultReader charges a flat monthly subscription based on your plan.
Technical Questions
A: Currently, only PDF files are supported. Maximum file size is 50 MB.
A: Yes! Use our embed code:
A: Check your analytics for:
- Unusual access patterns (many devices from one order)
- Geographic anomalies
- Watermark reports from customers
A: Yes, refunds are handled through your payment processor. When you issue a refund, the customer's access is automatically revoked.
Billing Questions
A: Yes! Cancel anytime from your settings. You'll retain access until the end of your billing period.
A: You'll receive an email notification. You can either upgrade your plan or wait until next month. Existing customers can still access their purchases.
A: Yes! Annual plans save 20% (pay for 10 months, get 12).
Support
A: Contact us at:
- Email: support@vaultreader.com
- Live Chat: Available in dashboard
- Documentation: docs.vaultreader.com
A: Yes! Contact us for enterprise plans with custom features, white-labeling, and dedicated support.
✨ Best Practices
Maximize Your Sales
📝 Clear Descriptions
Write compelling descriptions that highlight the value of your ebook.
💰 Competitive Pricing
Research similar ebooks and price competitively.
🎨 Professional Cover
Use an eye-catching cover image for marketing.
📢 Marketing
Share your unlock link on social media, email lists, and your website.
Security Recommendations
- Always enable watermarking
- Set device limit to 3 or less
- Disable download for sensitive content
- Monitor analytics for unusual patterns
- Report piracy immediately
Customer Experience
- Provide clear instructions for accessing the ebook
- Respond quickly to support requests
- Offer refunds for legitimate issues
- Keep your ebooks updated
- Engage with customer feedback