The paper examines the process of exploring and implementing paywall of digital newspapers in recent years, and generalizes the holistic characters of paywall studies in the United States in 2010-2012. The paper points out that scholars have focused their studies mainly on subjects of paywall models, paid contents, audiences and advertising business, etc. The study finds that U.S. newspapers paywall is in the parallel period of theoretical research and practical exploration, and the newspapers’ practices such as the New York Times breaks the pessimistic conclusion that the paywall will make readers further to give up newspapers. Finally, a forward-looking analysis of future research is prospected.