Feature Gating

<!-- @flowglad/​skill sources_reviewed: 2026-01-21T12:00:00Z source_files: - platform/​docs/​sdks/​feature-access-usage.mdx -->

Feature Gating

Abstract

Implement feature access checks using Flowglad's checkFeatureAccess method to gate premium features, create paywalls, and restrict functionality based on subscription status.

---

Table of Contents

1. Loading State Handling — CRITICAL
   • 1.1 Wait for Billing to Load
   • 1.2 Skeleton Loading Patterns
2. Server-Side Gating — HIGH
   • 2.1 Verify Access on Server
   • 2.2 API Route Protection
3. Feature Identification — MEDIUM
   • 3.1 Use Slugs Not IDs
4. Component Wrapper Patterns — MEDIUM
   • 4.1 Feature Gate Component
   • 4.2 Higher-Order Component Pattern
5. Redirect to Upgrade Patterns — MEDIUM
   • 5.1 Client-Side Redirect
   • 5.2 Server-Side Redirect

---

1. Loading State Handling

Impact: CRITICAL

The billing hook loads asynchronously. While loading, checkFeatureAccess is null (not a function). If you try to call it before loading completes, you'll get a runtime error or incorrect behavior. This causes premium users to see upgrade prompts or paywalls incorrectly.

Note: The flowglad() factory function used in server-side examples must be set up in your project (typically at @/​lib/​flowglad). See the setup skill for configuration instructions.

1.1 Wait for Billing to Load

Impact: CRITICAL (prevents flash of incorrect content)

Users with active subscriptions will see upgrade prompts flash briefly if you don't wait for billing to load before checking access.

Incorrect: checks access before billing loads

function PremiumFeature() {
  const { checkFeatureAccess } = useBilling()

  // BUG: checkFeatureAccess is null while loading!
  // This will throw: "checkFeatureAccess is not a function"
  if (!checkFeatureAccess('premium-feature')) {
    return <UpgradePrompt />
  }

  return <PremiumContent />
}

This crashes because checkFeatureAccess is null until billing data loads, not a callable function.

Correct: check both loaded and checkFeatureAccess

function PremiumFeature() {
  const { loaded, checkFeatureAccess } = useBilling()

  if (!loaded || !checkFeatureAccess) {
    return <LoadingSkeleton />
  }

  if (!checkFeatureAccess('premium-feature')) {
    return <UpgradePrompt />
  }

  return <PremiumContent />
}

Always check both loaded and checkFeatureAccess before calling the function to ensure billing data is available.

1.2 Skeleton Loading Patterns

Impact: CRITICAL (prevents layout shift)

Show appropriate loading states that match the expected content dimensions to prevent layout shift.

Incorrect: shows nothing or spinner

function Dashboard() {
  const { loaded, checkFeatureAccess } = useBilling()

  if (!loaded) {
    return null // Content disappears!
  }

  return <DashboardContent />
}

Correct: show skeleton matching content layout

function Dashboard() {
  const { loaded, checkFeatureAccess } = useBilling()

  if (!loaded || !checkFeatureAccess) {
    return (
      <div className="space-y-4">
        <div className="h-8 w-48 bg-gray-200 animate-pulse rounded" />
        <div className="h-64 bg-gray-200 animate-pulse rounded" />
      </​div>
    )
  }

  return <DashboardContent />
}

---

2. Server-Side Gating

Impact: HIGH

Client-side feature checks are for UI purposes only. Any sensitive operation or data access must verify subscription status server-side. Users can bypass client-side checks by modifying frontend code or using browser developer tools.

2.1 Verify Access on Server

Impact: HIGH (security requirement)

Never trust client-side access checks for operations that cost money, access sensitive data, or perform privileged actions.

Incorrect: trusts client-side check for sensitive operation

// API route
export async function POST(req: Request) {
  // Client could bypass this by modifying frontend code
  const { hasAccess } = await req.json()
  if (!hasAccess) {
    return Response.json({ error: 'No access' }, { status: 403 })
  }
  return performSensitiveOperation()
}

Correct: verify server-side

// API route
import { flowglad } from '@/​lib/​flowglad'
import { auth } from '@/​lib/​auth'

export async function POST(req: Request) {
  const session = await auth()
  if (!session?.user?.id) {
    return Response.json({ error: 'Unauthorized' }, { status: 401 })
  }

  const billing = await flowglad(session.user.id).getBilling()

  if (!billing.checkFeatureAccess('api-access')) {
    return Response.json({ error: 'Upgrade required' }, { status: 403 })
  }

  return performSensitiveOperation()
}

2.2 API Route Protection

Impact: HIGH (prevents unauthorized access)

Create a reusable pattern for protecting multiple API routes with feature checks.

Incorrect: duplicates check logic everywhere

// routes/​generate.ts
export async function POST(req: Request) {
  const session = await auth()
  const billing = await flowglad(session.user.id).getBilling()
  if (!billing.checkFeatureAccess('ai-generation')) {
    return Response.json({ error: 'Upgrade required' }, { status: 403 })
  }
  // ... generation logic
}

// routes/​export.ts
export async function POST(req: Request) {
  const session = await auth()
  const billing = await flowglad(session.user.id).getBilling()
  if (!billing.checkFeatureAccess('export')) {
    return Response.json({ error: 'Upgrade required' }, { status: 403 })
  }
  // ... export logic
}

Correct: create reusable middleware/​helper

// lib/​requireFeature.ts
import { flowglad } from '@/​lib/​flowglad'
import { auth } from '@/​lib/​auth'

export async function requireFeature(featureSlug: string) {
  const session = await auth()
  if (!session?.user?.id) {
    return { error: 'Unauthorized', status: 401 }
  }

  const billing = await flowglad(session.user.id).getBilling()

  if (!billing.checkFeatureAccess(featureSlug)) {
    return { error: 'Upgrade required', status: 403 }
  }

  return { userId: session.user.id, billing }
}

// routes/​generate.ts
export async function POST(req: Request) {
  const result = await requireFeature('ai-generation')
  if ('error' in result) {
    return Response.json({ error: result.error }, { status: result.status })
  }

  const { userId, billing } = result
  // ... generation logic
}

---

3. Feature Identification

Impact: MEDIUM

How you reference features affects code maintainability and environment portability.

3.1 Use Slugs Not IDs

Impact: MEDIUM (environment portability)

Feature IDs are auto-generated and differ between development, staging, and production environments. Slugs are stable identifiers you control.

Incorrect: hardcoding Flowglad IDs

// IDs change between environments!
if (billing.checkFeatureAccess('feat_abc123xyz')) {
  // Works in dev, breaks in production
}

Correct: use slugs

// Slugs are stable across environments
if (billing.checkFeatureAccess('advanced-analytics')) {
  // Works everywhere
}

Define feature slugs in your Flowglad dashboard and reference them consistently in code.

---

4. Component Wrapper Patterns

Impact: MEDIUM

Reusable patterns for gating components reduce boilerplate and ensure consistent behavior.

4.1 Feature Gate Component

Impact: MEDIUM (reduces boilerplate)

Create a declarative component for gating content.

Incorrect: repeats gate logic in every component

function AnalyticsDashboard() {
  const { loaded, checkFeatureAccess } = useBilling()

  if (!loaded || !checkFeatureAccess) return <Skeleton />
  if (!checkFeatureAccess('analytics')) return <UpgradePrompt feature="analytics" />

  return <Analytics />
}

function ExportButton() {
  const { loaded, checkFeatureAccess } = useBilling()

  if (!loaded || !checkFeatureAccess) return <Skeleton />
  if (!checkFeatureAccess('export')) return <UpgradePrompt feature="export" />

  return <ExportUI />
}

Correct: create reusable FeatureGate component

// components/​FeatureGate.tsx
import { useBilling } from '@flowglad/​nextjs'
import { ReactNode } from 'react'

interface FeatureGateProps {
  feature: string
  children: ReactNode
  fallback?: ReactNode
  loading?: ReactNode
}

export function FeatureGate({
  feature,
  children,
  fallback = <UpgradePrompt />,
  loading = <Skeleton />,
}: FeatureGateProps) {
  const { loaded, checkFeatureAccess } = useBilling()

  if (!loaded || !checkFeatureAccess) {
    return <>{loading}</>
  }

  if (!checkFeatureAccess(feature)) {
    return <>{fallback}</>
  }

  return <>{children}</>
}

// Usage
function AnalyticsDashboard() {
  return (
    <FeatureGate feature="analytics">
      <Analytics />
    </​FeatureGate>
  )
}

function ExportButton() {
  return (
    <FeatureGate feature="export" fallback={<LockedExportButton />}>
      <ExportUI />
    </​FeatureGate>
  )
}

4.2 Higher-Order Component Pattern

Impact: MEDIUM (alternative pattern for class components or full-page gates)

Use HOC pattern when you need to gate entire pages or components.

Incorrect: duplicates page-level checks

// pages/​analytics.tsx
export default function AnalyticsPage() {
  const { loaded, checkFeatureAccess } = useBilling()

  if (!loaded || !checkFeatureAccess) return <PageSkeleton />
  if (!checkFeatureAccess('analytics')) {
    // Using redirect() in a client component - this won't work!
    redirect('/​pricing')
    return null
  }

  return <AnalyticsDashboard />
}

Correct: create withFeatureAccess HOC

'use client'

// lib/​withFeatureAccess.tsx
import { useEffect } from 'react'
import { useRouter } from 'next/​navigation'
import { useBilling } from '@flowglad/​nextjs'
import { ComponentType } from 'react'

export function withFeatureAccess<P extends object>(
  WrappedComponent: ComponentType<P>,
  feature: string,
  redirectTo = '/​pricing'
) {
  return function WithFeatureAccess(props: P) {
    const { loaded, checkFeatureAccess } = useBilling()
    const router = useRouter()

    useEffect(() => {
      if (loaded && checkFeatureAccess && !checkFeatureAccess(feature)) {
        router.push(redirectTo)
      }
    }, [loaded, checkFeatureAccess, router])

    if (!loaded || !checkFeatureAccess) {
      return <PageSkeleton />
    }

    if (!checkFeatureAccess(feature)) {
      // Show skeleton while redirecting
      return <PageSkeleton />
    }

    return <WrappedComponent {...props} />
  }
}

// Usage
function AnalyticsDashboard() {
  return <div>Analytics content</​div>
}

export default withFeatureAccess(AnalyticsDashboard, 'analytics')

Note: For better UX without flash, prefer server-side gating (see Section 5.2) when possible.

---

5. Redirect to Upgrade Patterns

Impact: MEDIUM

When users lack access, redirect them to upgrade rather than showing error states.

5.1 Client-Side Redirect

Impact: MEDIUM (better UX than error states)

Redirect users to pricing/​upgrade page when they try to access gated features.

Incorrect: shows error message

function PremiumPage() {
  const { loaded, checkFeatureAccess } = useBilling()

  if (!loaded || !checkFeatureAccess) return <Skeleton />

  if (!checkFeatureAccess('premium')) {
    return <div>Error: You don't have access to this feature</​div>
  }

  return <PremiumContent />
}

Correct: redirect to upgrade with context

'use client'

import { useEffect } from 'react'
import { useRouter, usePathname } from 'next/​navigation'
import { useBilling } from '@flowglad/​nextjs'

function PremiumPage() {
  const { loaded, checkFeatureAccess } = useBilling()
  const router = useRouter()
  const pathname = usePathname()

  useEffect(() => {
    if (loaded && checkFeatureAccess && !checkFeatureAccess('premium')) {
      // Redirect with return URL so user comes back after upgrade
      router.push(`/​pricing?upgrade=premium&returnTo=${encodeURIComponent(pathname)}`)
    }
  }, [loaded, checkFeatureAccess, router, pathname])

  if (!loaded || !checkFeatureAccess || !checkFeatureAccess('premium')) {
    return <Skeleton />
  }

  return <PremiumContent />
}

5.2 Server-Side Redirect

Impact: MEDIUM (prevents page flash)

For server components or middleware, check access server-side before rendering.

Incorrect: client-side check causes flash

// Page loads, then redirects - user sees flash
export default function PremiumPage() {
  return (
    <ClientSideGate feature="premium">
      <PremiumContent />
    </​ClientSideGate>
  )
}

Correct: check in server component or middleware

// app/​premium/​page.tsx (Server Component)
import { redirect } from 'next/​navigation'
import { auth } from '@/​lib/​auth'
import { flowglad } from '@/​lib/​flowglad'

export default async function PremiumPage() {
  const session = await auth()
  if (!session?.user?.id) {
    redirect('/​login')
  }

  const billing = await flowglad(session.user.id).getBilling()

  if (!billing.checkFeatureAccess('premium')) {
    redirect('/​pricing?upgrade=premium')
  }

  return <PremiumContent />
}

Or using middleware for multiple routes:

// middleware.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/​server'
import type { NextRequest } from 'next/​server'

const PREMIUM_ROUTES = ['/​analytics', '/​export', '/​api-access']

export async function middleware(request: NextRequest) {
  const { pathname } = request.nextUrl

  // Check if this is a premium route
  if (PREMIUM_ROUTES.some((route) => pathname.startsWith(route))) {
    // Note: Full billing check requires server-side call
    // For middleware, you might check a session flag or JWT claim
    // set during login that indicates subscription tier
    const session = await getSession(request)

    if (!session?.isPremium) {
      return NextResponse.redirect(
        new URL(`/​pricing?returnTo=${pathname}`, request.url)
      )
    }
  }

  return NextResponse.next()
}

export const config = {
  matcher: ['/​analytics/:path*', '/​export/:path*', '/​api-access/:path*'],
}

Note: Full Flowglad billing checks in middleware require additional setup. For most cases, server component checks (pattern above) are simpler and recommended.