Explainer
How news paywalls work, which kinds can be read around and which cannot, and why the difference matters.
16 guides
Metered vs Hard Paywalls: Why Some Can Be Skipped and Others Can't
Not all paywalls are built the same. Learn the difference between metered, freemium and hard paywalls, and why The New Yorker can be read for free while the Financial Times cannot.
Is It Legal to Bypass a Paywall? What You Should Know
Reading a paywalled article through a reader tool sits in a grey area of terms of service rather than criminal law. Here is a plain-English look at the legal and ethical questions.
The Best Ways to Read Paywalled Articles for Free in 2026
A practical comparison of every common method for reading paywalled news for free, from incognito windows and reader mode to archives, libraries and server-side readers, with what works where.
Paywalls You Cannot Skip: NYT, FT, WSJ, Bloomberg and What to Do Instead
Some paywalls genuinely cannot be read around. Here is why The New York Times, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and The Economist fail in every reader tool, and the legitimate free routes that remain.
How Skip the Paywall Works: Complete Guide and Troubleshooting
Everything about using Skip the Paywall: what it does, which sites work, what each error message means, and how to fix the common problems when an article will not load.
Every News Site and Magazine You Can Read for Free With Skip the Paywall (2026 List)
The complete, tested list of newspapers and magazines whose paywalls Skip the Paywall can read around, grouped by country and type, with links to the guide for each one.
What Is a Paywall? Types, Examples and Why News Sites Use Them
A plain-English explanation of what a paywall is, the difference between hard, metered and freemium paywalls, why newspapers adopted them, and what it means for readers.
12ft.io Alternatives in 2026: What Still Works for Reading Paywalled Articles
12ft.io has been offline for long stretches and no longer works on many sites. Here are the alternatives that still read paywalled articles in 2026, and how each one compares.
Archive.ph Not Working? How to Read Archived Paywalled Articles in 2026
Archive.ph and archive.today often fail to load, show endless captchas or refuse to resolve. Here is why, how to fix the common problems, and what to use when the archive is down.
New York Times Paywall: Why Bypass Tools Fail and How to Read It Free Legitimately
No reader tool opens The New York Times in 2026. Here is why, what the NYT paywall actually does, and the genuine free routes: library passes, gift articles and free sections.
Wall Street Journal Paywall: Why It Cannot Be Bypassed and How to Read WSJ Free
The Wall Street Journal runs a true hard paywall that no reader tool opens. Here is what WSJ actually sends non-subscribers, and the real free routes: libraries, gift links and syndication.
Financial Times Paywall: Why No Tool Opens the FT and How to Read It Free
The Financial Times runs one of the strictest paywalls in journalism and no reader tool opens it. Here is what the FT sends non-subscribers and the real free routes: libraries, gift links and schools.
Washington Post Paywall: Why Readers Only Get a Teaser and How to Read It Free
The Washington Post sends non-subscribers only the first paragraphs of a story, so reader tools show a fragment. Here is why, and the real free routes: libraries, gift articles and eligible free accounts.
Telegraph Paywall: Why Reader Tools Are Blocked and How to Read It Free
The Telegraph blocks automated access to its site, so no reader tool can fetch its articles. Here is how the Telegraph paywall works, why tools fail, and the legitimate free routes.
The Economist Paywall: Why Tools Only Get a Teaser and How to Read It Free
The Economist enforces its paywall on the server, so reader tools get a few paragraphs at most. Here is what The Economist sends non-subscribers and the real free routes: libraries, Espresso and gift links.
The Atlantic Paywall: Why Reader Tools Fail and How to Read It Free
The Atlantic meters its site but blocks automated access, so no reader tool can fetch its articles. Here is how the Atlantic paywall works, why tools fail, and the legitimate free routes.