How-to
Step-by-step guides to reading a specific newspaper or magazine without a subscription, with what the paywall does and what to expect.
25 guides
How to Read The New Yorker Without a Subscription
The New Yorker uses a metered paywall that stops you after a few free articles a month. Here is how it works and how to read the full article for free.
How to Read The Times (UK) Articles Without Subscribing
The Times and The Sunday Times sit behind one of the strictest paywalls in British news. Here is why the article text is still reachable and how to read it in full.
How to Read Medium Member-Only Stories for Free
Medium limits non-members to a few member-only stories a month. Learn how the meter works, why the full text is still reachable, and how to read any story without a membership.
How to Get Around the Boston Globe Paywall
The Boston Globe has one of the strictest paywalls of any US regional paper. Here is how it works, what still gets through, and how to read a Globe story in full.
How to Read Time and Fortune Articles Without a Subscription
Time and Fortune both meter their websites and push hard for subscriptions. Here is how their paywalls work and how to read the full article, including long features.
Business Insider Paywall: How to Read Any Article for Free
Business Insider marks its best reporting as subscriber-only and meters the rest. Here is how the paywall works and how to read a full Insider article without paying.
How to Read Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy Without a Subscription
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy are essential reading for international relations, and both are metered. Here is how to read their long-form essays in full for free.
Wired and The Verge Paywalls: How to Read the Full Article
Wired meters every article and The Verge now gates some of its reporting. Here is how each tech site enforces its paywall and how to read the complete story for free.
How to Read Los Angeles Times Articles for Free
The Los Angeles Times meters its website and pushes for subscriptions after a few reads. Here is how the LA Times paywall works and how to read any story in full.
How to Read Vanity Fair, Vogue and GQ Without a Subscription
Condé Nast meters Vanity Fair, Vogue and GQ with the same system it uses on The New Yorker. Here is how the paywall works and how to read the full story on each site.
Independent Premium: How to Read Locked Independent Articles for Free
Most of The Independent is free, but its best comment and analysis sits behind Independent Premium. Here is how the lock works and how to read a Premium article in full.
How to Read The i Paper Without Subscribing
The i Paper meters its website and asks for a subscription after a few articles. Here is how the i paywall works and how to read its news and analysis in full for free.
How to Read The Irish Times Without a Subscription
The Irish Times has run a metered paywall since 2015 and locks most of its journalism after a few reads. Here is how it works and how to read any Irish Times article in full.
How to Read The Globe and Mail Without a Subscription
The Globe and Mail has metered its website since 2012 and locks most stories after a few reads. Here is how the Globe paywall works and how to read the full article for free.
National Post Paywall: How to Read Any Article for Free
The National Post and its Postmedia sister papers meter their websites. Here is how the Postmedia paywall works and how to read a National Post story in full without a subscription.
How to Read Scientific American Without a Subscription
Scientific American meters its website and limits free reads each month. Here is how the paywall works and how to read its features and news in full for free.
How to Read New Scientist Without a Subscription
New Scientist locks most of its website behind a metered paywall. Here is how it works, why the full text is still reachable, and how to read any New Scientist article for free.
MIT Technology Review Paywall: How to Read Articles for Free
MIT Technology Review meters its site and reserves its best features for subscribers. Here is how the paywall works and how to read a full Technology Review article without paying.
How to Read Slate Without a Slate Plus Membership
Slate meters its website and sells Slate Plus for unlimited access. Here is how the Slate paywall works and how to read its advice columns, politics and culture pieces in full.
New York Magazine Paywall: Read Intelligencer, Vulture and The Cut for Free
New York Magazine meters Intelligencer, Vulture, The Cut, Grub Street and the Strategist under one paywall. Here is how it works and how to read the full article on any of them.
How to Read The New Republic and The Nation Without a Subscription
The New Republic and The Nation both meter their websites. Here is how each paywall works and how to read their political essays and reporting in full for free.
How to Read The Seattle Times and Star Tribune Without a Subscription
The Seattle Times and the Minnesota Star Tribune are two of the strongest regional papers in the US, and both are metered. Here is how to read their stories in full for free.
How to Read The Herald (Scotland) Without a Subscription
The Herald in Glasgow meters its website and locks its columnists and long reads. Here is how the Herald paywall works and how to read any story in full for free.
How to Read Paywalled Articles on iPhone and Android
Half of all paywall hits happen on a phone. Here is the quickest way to open a locked article in a clean reader on iOS or Android, including a one-tap bookmark trick.
One-Click Paywall Bookmarklet for Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge
Set up a bookmarklet that opens any paywalled article in a clean reader with one click. Step-by-step instructions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge, no extension needed.