Accessing protected web resources using cloud paywall system

The present technology provides publishers of digital content and services with a convenient way of restricting access and monetizing web resources, and allows users to access these web resources with minimal effort. A system registers a protected web resource identified by a uniform resource locator (URL) and hosted on a publisher server. The system determines a fee charged for accessing the protected web resource, based on registration data provided by the publisher of digital content and services. The system displays access fee to the user. The system receives a request to access the protected web resource from the client, such as, for example, a web browser. In some embodiments, the system interacts with the publisher server to generate authorization data and provides the authorization data to the client. In some embodiments, the system interacts with the publisher server to generate authorization data, and accesses requested web resource directly, and provides the requested web resource to the client.