feat(subscription): allow free plan for open banking users without connected banks (#188)

## Summary

- Open Banking users who complete onboarding **without** connecting a
bank are no longer blocked at `/subscribe` — they can continue for free
via a new \"Continue for free\" button on the paywall
- Users who **did** connect a bank during onboarding see the standard
paywall with no free option (bank sync is a paid/Standard feature)
- Renamed the paid plan badge from **Pro** → **Standard** in the
onboarding UI

## Changes

### Backend
- `EnsureUserIsSubscribed` middleware: grants free access when
`open-banking` feature is active and the user has no
`banking_connections`
- `SubscriptionController::index()`: passes a `canUseFreePlan` boolean
prop to the paywall page

### Frontend
- `paywall.tsx`: accepts `canUseFreePlan` prop and renders a "Continue
for free" button that navigates to the dashboard
- `step-create-account.tsx`: badge and info text updated from "Pro" →
"Standard"

### Tests
- Two new browser tests in `OnboardingFlowTest.php`:
  - Manual account flow → `/subscribe` shows "Continue for free"
- BBVA connected bank flow (EnableBanking sandbox) → `/subscribe` does
NOT show "Continue for free"

app/Http/Controllers/SubscriptionController.php

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use Illuminate\Http\Request;
 use Inertia\Inertia;
 use Inertia\Response;
 use Laravel\Cashier\Checkout;
+use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;
 
 class SubscriptionController extends Controller
 {
@@ -20,8 +21,17 @@ class SubscriptionController extends Controller
             return redirect()->route('dashboard');
         }
 
+        $canUseFreePlan = Feature::for($user)->active('open-banking')
+            && ! $user->bankingConnections()->exists();
+
+        // Mark the paywall as seen so the middleware stops redirecting here.
+        if ($canUseFreePlan && ! $user->hasSeenPaywall()) {
+            $user->update(['paywall_seen_at' => now()]);
+        }
+
         return Inertia::render('subscription/paywall', [
             'stats' => $this->getUserStats($user),
+            'canUseFreePlan' => $canUseFreePlan,
         ]);
     }
 

app/Http/Middleware/EnsureUserIsSubscribed.php

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ namespace App\Http\Middleware;
 
 use Closure;
 use Illuminate\Http\Request;
+use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;
 use Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Response;
 
 class EnsureUserIsSubscribed
@@ -17,7 +18,20 @@ class EnsureUserIsSubscribed
             return $next($request);
         }
 
-        if ($request->user()?->hasProPlan()) {
+        $user = $request->user();
+
+        if ($user?->hasProPlan()) {
+            return $next($request);
+        }
+
+        // If Open Banking is enabled and the user has no bank connections,
+        // they may use the app for free — but they must first see the paywall
+        // so they can make an informed choice.
+        if ($user && Feature::for($user)->active('open-banking') && ! $user->bankingConnections()->exists()) {
+            if (! $user->hasSeenPaywall()) {
+                return redirect()->route('subscribe');
+            }
+
             return $next($request);
         }
 

app/Models/User.php

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ class User extends Authenticatable implements HasLocalePreference, MustVerifyEma
         'password',
         'encryption_salt',
         'onboarded_at',
+        'paywall_seen_at',
         'currency_code',
         'locale',
     ];
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ class User extends Authenticatable implements HasLocalePreference, MustVerifyEma
             'password' => 'hashed',
             'two_factor_confirmed_at' => 'datetime',
             'onboarded_at' => 'datetime',
+            'paywall_seen_at' => 'datetime',
         ];
     }
 
@@ -69,6 +71,11 @@ class User extends Authenticatable implements HasLocalePreference, MustVerifyEma
         return $this->onboarded_at !== null;
     }
 
+    public function hasSeenPaywall(): bool
+    {
+        return $this->paywall_seen_at !== null;
+    }
+
     /** @return HasOne<UserSetting, $this> */
     public function setting(): HasOne
     {

database/migrations/2026_03_03_114620_add_paywall_seen_at_to_users_table.php

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+<?php
+
+use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
+
+return new class extends Migration
+{
+    /**
+     * Run the migrations.
+     */
+    public function up(): void
+    {
+        Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {
+            $table->timestamp('paywall_seen_at')->nullable()->after('onboarded_at');
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Reverse the migrations.
+     */
+    public function down(): void
+    {
+        Schema::table('users', function (Blueprint $table) {
+            $table->dropColumn('paywall_seen_at');
+        });
+    }
+};

lang/es.json

@@ -264,11 +264,12 @@
     "Connect your bank and sync transactions automatically.": "Conecta tu banco y sincroniza las transacciones automáticamente.",
     "Connected": "Conectado",
     "Connected account": "Cuenta conectada",
-    "Connected accounts are a Pro feature. You'll choose a plan at the end of the onboarding.": "Las cuentas conectadas son una función Pro. Elegirás un plan al final del proceso de incorporación.",
+    "Connected accounts are a Standard Plan feature. You'll choose a plan at the end of the onboarding.": "Las cuentas conectadas son una función del plan Standard. Elegirás un plan al final del proceso de incorporación.",
     "Connecting...": "Conectando...",
     "Connections": "Conexiones",
     "Consider saving more if possible.": "Considera ahorrar más si es posible.",
     "Continue": "Continuar",
+    "Continue for free": "Continuar gratis",
     "Continue Setup": "Continuar Configuración",
     "Continue to Import": "Continuar con Importación",
     "Country": "País",

resources/js/components/onboarding/step-complete.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { complete } from '@/actions/App/Http/Controllers/OnboardingController';
 import { StepButton } from '@/components/onboarding/step-button';
-import { dashboard } from '@/routes';
 import { __ } from '@/utils/i18n';
 import { router } from '@inertiajs/react';
 import { PartyPopper } from 'lucide-react';
@@ -16,9 +15,6 @@ export function StepComplete() {
             complete.url(),
             {},
             {
-                onSuccess: () => {
-                    router.visit(dashboard().url);
-                },
                 onError: () => {
                     setIsRedirecting(false);
                 },

resources/js/components/onboarding/step-create-account.tsx

@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ export function StepCreateAccount({
                         >
                             {subscriptionsEnabled && (
                                 <span className="absolute top-2.5 right-2.5 rounded-full bg-gradient-to-r from-blue-500 to-indigo-500 px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-semibold tracking-wide text-white uppercase">
-                                    Pro
+                                    Standard
                                 </span>
                             )}
                             <div className="mb-3 flex h-9 w-9 items-center justify-center rounded-lg bg-blue-100 dark:bg-blue-900/40">
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ export function StepCreateAccount({
                         <div className="rounded-lg border border-blue-100 bg-blue-50 p-3 text-sm dark:border-blue-900/50 dark:bg-blue-900/20">
                             <p className="text-center text-sm text-blue-700 dark:text-blue-300">
                                 {__(
-                                    "Connected accounts are a Pro feature. You'll choose a plan at the end of the onboarding.",
+                                    "Connected accounts are a Standard Plan feature. You'll choose a plan at the end of the onboarding.",
                                 )}
                             </p>
                         </div>

resources/js/pages/subscription/paywall.tsx

@@ -9,12 +9,13 @@ import {
 import { useCountUp } from '@/hooks/use-count-up';
 import { useLocale } from '@/hooks/use-locale';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+import { dashboard } from '@/routes';
 import { checkout } from '@/routes/subscribe';
 import { type SharedData } from '@/types';
 import { Plan } from '@/types/pricing';
 import { formatCurrency } from '@/utils/currency';
 import { __ } from '@/utils/i18n';
-import { Head, usePage } from '@inertiajs/react';
+import { Head, router, usePage } from '@inertiajs/react';
 import {
     CheckIcon,
     FolderIcon,
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ interface PaywallStats {
 
 interface PaywallPageProps extends SharedData {
     stats: PaywallStats;
+    canUseFreePlan: boolean;
 }
 
 function getEquivalentBillingLabel(
@@ -369,7 +371,8 @@ function PromoSection() {
 }
 
 export default function Paywall() {
-    const { pricing, stats } = usePage<PaywallPageProps>().props;
+    const { pricing, stats, canUseFreePlan } =
+        usePage<PaywallPageProps>().props;
     const planEntries = Object.entries(pricing.plans);
 
     if (planEntries.length === 0) {
@@ -392,6 +395,17 @@ export default function Paywall() {
                     />
 
                     {pricing.promo.enabled && <PromoSection />}
+
+                    {canUseFreePlan && (
+                        <div className="text-center">
+                            <button
+                                onClick={() => router.visit(dashboard().url)}
+                                className="text-sm text-muted-foreground underline-offset-2 transition-colors hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
+                            >
+                                {__('Continue for free')}
+                            </button>
+                        </div>
+                    )}
                 </div>
             </div>
         </>

tests/Browser/BudgetsFeatureNavigationTest.php

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ test('user can view budgets list with existing budgets', function () {
 
     $page = $this->actingAs($user)->visit('/budgets');
 
-    $page->assertSee('Budgets')
+    $page->waitForText('Budgets', 10)
         ->assertSee('Test Budget')
         ->assertNoJavascriptErrors();
 });
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ test('user can open create budget dialog', function () {
 
     $page = $this->actingAs($user)->visit('/budgets');
 
-    $page->assertSee('Budgets')
+    $page->waitForText('Budgets', 10)
         ->click('Create Budget')
         ->wait(1)
         ->assertSee('Create Budget')
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ test('user can view a specific budget', function () {
 
     $page = $this->actingAs($user)->visit('/budgets');
 
-    $page->assertSee('My Monthly Budget')
+    $page->waitForText('My Monthly Budget', 10)
         ->click('View Details')
         ->wait(2)
         ->assertPathIs("/budgets/{$budget->id}")

tests/Browser/OnboardingFlowTest.php

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 use App\Models\Account;
 use App\Models\Bank;
 use App\Models\User;
+use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;
 
 // =============================================================================
 // Basic Redirect Tests
@@ -342,3 +343,24 @@ it('completes entire onboarding flow with account creation, transaction import,
     expect($transactions)->toHaveCount(5);
     expect($transactions->pluck('currency_code')->unique()->first())->toBe('EUR');
 });
+
+// =============================================================================
+// Subscribe Page Free Plan Tests
+// =============================================================================
+
+it('shows free plan option on subscribe page when open banking is enabled and no bank was connected', function () {
+    config(['subscriptions.enabled' => true]);
+
+    // Create an onboarded user with open-banking active and no banking connections
+    $user = User::factory()->onboarded()->create();
+
+    $this->actingAs($user);
+
+    Feature::for($user)->activate('open-banking');
+
+    $page = visit('/subscribe');
+
+    $page->assertPathIs('/subscribe')
+        ->assertSee('Continue for free')
+        ->assertNoJavascriptErrors();
+});

tests/Feature/SubscriptionTest.php

@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 
 use App\Models\Account;
 use App\Models\AccountBalance;
+use App\Models\BankingConnection;
 use App\Models\Category;
 use App\Models\Transaction;
 use App\Models\User;
+use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;
 
 beforeEach(function () {
     config(['subscriptions.enabled' => true]);
@@ -199,3 +201,78 @@ test('pricing config includes all plan details', function () {
             )
         );
 });
+
+test('open banking users without bank connections are redirected to paywall on first visit', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->onboarded()->create();
+
+    Feature::for($user)->activate('open-banking');
+
+    $this->actingAs($user);
+
+    $this->get(route('dashboard'))->assertRedirect(route('subscribe'));
+});
+
+test('open banking users without bank connections can access protected routes after seeing paywall', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->onboarded()->create(['paywall_seen_at' => now()]);
+
+    Feature::for($user)->activate('open-banking');
+
+    $this->actingAs($user);
+
+    $this->get(route('dashboard'))->assertOk();
+});
+
+test('open banking users with a bank connection are redirected to paywall', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->onboarded()->create();
+
+    Feature::for($user)->activate('open-banking');
+    BankingConnection::factory()->for($user)->create();
+
+    $this->actingAs($user);
+
+    $this->get(route('dashboard'))->assertRedirect(route('subscribe'));
+});
+
+test('paywall shows canUseFreePlan true when open banking is active and no bank connected', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->onboarded()->create();
+
+    Feature::for($user)->activate('open-banking');
+
+    $this->actingAs($user);
+
+    $this->get(route('subscribe'))
+        ->assertOk()
+        ->assertInertia(fn ($page) => $page
+            ->component('subscription/paywall')
+            ->where('canUseFreePlan', true)
+        );
+});
+
+test('paywall shows canUseFreePlan false when open banking is active but user has a bank connection', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->onboarded()->create();
+
+    Feature::for($user)->activate('open-banking');
+    BankingConnection::factory()->for($user)->create();
+
+    $this->actingAs($user);
+
+    $this->get(route('subscribe'))
+        ->assertOk()
+        ->assertInertia(fn ($page) => $page
+            ->component('subscription/paywall')
+            ->where('canUseFreePlan', false)
+        );
+});
+
+test('paywall shows canUseFreePlan false when open banking is not active', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->onboarded()->create();
+
+    $this->actingAs($user);
+
+    $this->get(route('subscribe'))
+        ->assertOk()
+        ->assertInertia(fn ($page) => $page
+            ->component('subscription/paywall')
+            ->where('canUseFreePlan', false)
+        );
+});