Accessing news behind paywalls can be frustrating. Here are several methods to bypass them and read articles without a subscription:
Table of contents
VPN and Limited Free Articles
Some sites, like The Washington Post, offer a limited number of free articles per month. Using a VPN to change your IP address can trick the site into granting more free access. This works with both free and paid VPNs.
Postlight Reader Extension
The Postlight Reader extension simplifies articles. Install it from Postlight Reader. Then, open the desired article and select “Open in Postlight Reader” from the extensions menu.
Textise
Copy the URL of the paywalled article and paste it into Textise. Click “Textise” to extract and display the article’s text. Note: This method doesn’t provide interactive media or images.
News Aggregators and Databases
Resources like ProQuest Newsstream aggregate news databases, including U.S., Canadian, and International Newsstreams. U.S. Major Dailies database offers access to major U.S. newspapers.
Other methods
There are others methods, but they are not described.
The “Bypass Paywalls” Browser Extension
This is a popular, though sometimes ethically debated, browser extension available for Chrome and Firefox. It automatically attempts to bypass paywalls on many popular news sites. Installation is straightforward, but be aware of the terms of service and potential security implications before using any browser extension.
Google News & Search Tricks
Sometimes, simply searching for the article headline on Google News or Google Search can lead you to a cached version of the article or a different site that has republished the content for free. Try searching with quotes around the exact title of the article to narrow down the results.
Archive.today
Archive.today is a website archiving service. Before hitting a paywall, try copying the article’s URL into Archive.today and see if someone has already archived a free version. You can also use it to archive the page yourself for future access.
Library Access
Many public libraries offer free access to online news databases and digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines. Check your local library’s website for available resources. You may need a library card to access these services.
Social Media Sharing (and Asking Nicely)
Sometimes, people will share articles they’ve accessed through subscriptions on social media. Keep an eye out for shared links or politely ask your friends or followers if they have access to a specific article you want to read. Some platforms may also allow you to view a limited preview of an article before hitting the paywall.
Important Considerations:
- Ethical Concerns: Bypassing paywalls can impact the revenue of news organizations, which rely on subscriptions to fund their journalism. Consider subscribing to the news sources you value most.
- Legality: While generally not illegal, bypassing paywalls can violate a website’s terms of service.
- Security: Be cautious when installing browser extensions or using third-party websites to bypass paywalls. Ensure the sources are reputable to avoid malware or privacy risks.
Ultimately, the best approach is to support quality journalism by subscribing when possible. However, these free methods can be helpful for accessing occasional articles behind paywalls.
