diff --git a/test_paywall_api.py b/test_paywall_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..01b71de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_paywall_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+"""Quick test: verify Substack public API returns paywall metadata."""
+import requests
+import json
+
+test_cases = [
+    ("daveshap", "the-merits-of-doing-things-the-hard"),
+    ("natesnewsletter", "i-surveyed-100-ai-tools-that-launched"),
+]
+
+for pub, slug in test_cases:
+    url = f"https://{pub}.substack.com/api/v1/posts/{slug}"
+    try:
+        r = requests.get(url, headers={"Accept": "application/json", "User-Agent": "substack2md"}, timeout=10)
+        print(f"\n{pub}/{slug}: HTTP {r.status_code}")
+        if r.status_code == 200:
+            d = r.json()
+            audience = d.get("audience")
+            title = d.get("title", "???")
+            post_type = d.get("type")
+            print(f"  title: {title}")
+            print(f"  audience: {audience}")
+            print(f"  type: {post_type}")
+            print(f"  is_paid (our logic): {audience == 'only_paid'}")
+        else:
+            print(f"  response: {r.text[:300]}")
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"  error: {e}")
+
+# Also test fetch_paywall_status directly
+print("\n--- Testing fetch_paywall_status() ---")
+import sys
+sys.path.insert(0, ".")
+from substack2md import fetch_paywall_status
+
+for pub, slug in test_cases:
+    result = fetch_paywall_status(pub, slug)
+    print(f"{pub}/{slug}: {result}")
+
+print("\nDone.")