diff --git a/lib/oli/delivery/paywall.ex b/lib/oli/delivery/paywall.ex
index 0306519f4a..8b0df09d79 100644
--- a/lib/oli/delivery/paywall.ex
+++ b/lib/oli/delivery/paywall.ex
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ defmodule Oli.Delivery.Paywall do
 
   def summarize_access(
         %User{id: id} = user,
-        %Section{slug: slug, requires_payment: true} = section
+        %Section{slug: slug, requires_payment: true, amount: amount} = section
       ) do
     if Sections.is_instructor?(user, slug) or Sections.is_admin?(user, slug) do
       AccessSummary.instructor()
@@ -45,19 +45,19 @@ defmodule Oli.Delivery.Paywall do
         if section.pay_by_institution do
           AccessSummary.pay_by_institution()
         else
-          case has_paid?(enrollment) do
-            true ->
+          if has_zero_cost?(amount) do
+            AccessSummary.has_zero_cost()
+          else
+            if has_paid?(enrollment) do
               AccessSummary.paid()
-
-            _ ->
-              case within_grace_period?(enrollment, section) do
-                true ->
-                  grace_period_seconds_remaining(enrollment, section)
-                  |> AccessSummary.within_grace()
-
-                _ ->
-                  AccessSummary.not_paid()
+            else
+              if within_grace_period?(enrollment, section) do
+                grace_period_seconds_remaining(enrollment, section)
+                |> AccessSummary.within_grace()
+              else
+                AccessSummary.not_paid()
               end
+            end
           end
         end
       end
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ defmodule Oli.Delivery.Paywall do
 
   def summarize_access(
         %User{} = user,
-        %Section{slug: slug, requires_payment: true} = section,
+        %Section{slug: slug, requires_payment: true, amount: amount} = section,
         user_role_id,
         enrollment,
         payment
@@ -90,13 +90,15 @@ defmodule Oli.Delivery.Paywall do
               AccessSummary.paid()
 
             _ ->
-              case within_grace_period?(enrollment, section) do
-                true ->
+              if has_zero_cost?(amount) do
+                AccessSummary.has_zero_cost()
+              else
+                if within_grace_period?(enrollment, section) do
                   grace_period_seconds_remaining(enrollment, section)
                   |> AccessSummary.within_grace()
-
-                _ ->
+                else
                   AccessSummary.not_paid()
+                end
               end
           end
         end
@@ -120,6 +122,10 @@ defmodule Oli.Delivery.Paywall do
     end
   end
 
+  defp has_zero_cost?(nil), do: true
+
+  defp has_zero_cost?(amount), do: Money.zero?(amount)
+
   defp within_grace_period?(nil, _), do: false
 
   defp within_grace_period?(_, %Section{has_grace_period: false}), do: false
diff --git a/lib/oli/delivery/paywall/access_summary.ex b/lib/oli/delivery/paywall/access_summary.ex
index 9eae169ac0..493e50f6e2 100644
--- a/lib/oli/delivery/paywall/access_summary.ex
+++ b/lib/oli/delivery/paywall/access_summary.ex
@@ -69,4 +69,12 @@ defmodule Oli.Delivery.Paywall.AccessSummary do
       grace_period_remaining: nil
     }
   end
+
+  def has_zero_cost() do
+    %AccessSummary{
+      available: true,
+      reason: :has_zero_cost,
+      grace_period_remaining: nil
+    }
+  end
 end