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Cloudflare’s pay per crawl service allows content owners to charge AI crawlers for access using HTTP 402 Payment Required responses with options to allow free access, charge configured prices, or block access entirely by using DNS proxying for functionality

July 7, 2025 //  by Finnovate

Cloudflare has launched a pay per crawl service for content creators and AI companies, offering a new mechanism to monetize digital assets. The service addresses concerns from publishers who want compensation for their contributions to AI training datasets. The system allows content owners to charge AI crawlers for access using HTTP 402 Payment Required responses, providing three options: Allow free access, Charge configured prices, or Block access entirely. The service operates through Cloudflare’s global network infrastructure and requires publishers to use Cloudflare’s DNS proxying for functionality. Applications accepted through a dedicated signup portal. The service addresses the binary choice between complete blocking or uncompensated access, creating a third monetization option for digital content creators. Cloudflare serves as the Merchant of Record, handling billing event recording when crawlers make authenticated requests with payment intent. The company aggregates events, charges crawlers, and distributes earnings to publishers, simplifying financial relationships for smaller publishers lacking individual negotiation leverage. The system anticipates future agentic applications where intelligent agents receive budgets for acquiring relevant content. Pay per crawl represents one solution in the expanding toolkit for content protection, as research indicates AI search visitors provide 4.4 times higher value than traditional organic traffic, creating economic incentives for controlled access rather than complete blocking. The development coincides with Google’s AI Mode expansion and enhanced content labeling requirements. Content creators interested in pay per crawl can apply for private beta access through Cloudflare’s signup portal.

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Category: AI & Machine Economy, Innovation Topics

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