How To Bypass Paywalls: 16 Free Ways to Get Around Paywalls (2024)

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We’ve all been there: we’re scrolling and come across a news article that grabs our attention. Curiously, we click the link only to be blocked by a paywall.

Suddenly you’re faced with the decision: subscribe, perform a Google search for a free version, or abandon reading it altogether. But there’s another option: bypassing those paywalls to read the content for free.

Whether you’re tech-savvy or a total novice, there are ways to bypass paywalls for all skill levels. We’ll show you how simple actions like using one of the best VPNs to avoid IP-based paywalls, installing Chrome extensions, and using archival sites that allow you to read the content you want without paying for a million subscriptions.

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In this article

16 ways to bypass paywalls for free
1. Use a virtual private network (VPN)
2. Open an Incognito window
3. Turn on Reader Mode
4. Delete your browser cookies
5. Use the Wayback Machine
6. Get access through your library
7. 12ft Ladder
8. Bypass Paywalls Clean app
9. uBlock Origin ad blocker
10. Bypass Paywalls extension
11. Create iOS Shortcuts
12. Use the Tor Browser
13. Check out Bardeen
14. The Facebook URL
15. Use a proxy
16. Try an iOS shortcut
How to bypass paywalls FAQs
Bottom line

16 ways to bypass paywalls for free

Not all paywalls are built the same. While some may track your IP address, others may use cookies to see how many times you’ve accessed content.

Whatever the situation, one of the methods below should be able to help you access the content you want without having to pull out your credit card.

1. Use a virtual private network (VPN)

Best for: Sites that limit the number of articles you can read

A VPN isn’t just for unblocking Netflix. Some paywalls, like The Washington Post and The Weather Channel, track your IP address to limit how many articles you can read each month for free. Using a VPN allows you to change up your IP address and read unlimited articles.

To do this, you’ll need to switch your VPN server when you’ve hit the limit on the current server’s IP address. It’s that simple.

This method should work for a lot of different paywalls, but if you run into one that isn’t tracking your IP, there are other methods you can try to access the content. If you want to give this a try but don’t have a VPN, consider using one of these options that come at a low cost and offer a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try them for free:

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Max # of connected devices10Unlimited7
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2. Open an Incognito window

Best for: Sites that track your usage with cookies

Incognito mode is not an anonymous way to browse the internet, but that’s a problem for another day.

It will allow you to bypass paywalls that track your usage with cookies. Opening your web browser in Incognito mode gives you a fresh start on the Internet. You can then navigate to the site you want to access without previous browsing cookies interfering with your content.

Once you’re done, you’ll need to close the browser window to reset, but this is a relatively simple and painless way to bypass the paywall.

What is a soft paywall?

A soft paywall allows you a certain amount of content for free before asking you to subscribe. You’ll often find this with online versions of newspapers or streaming sites. If you’re looking at a hard paywall with no free content, there are workarounds for those as well.

3. Turn on Reader Mode in your browser

It’s been rumored that you can get around certain soft paywalls by switching into reader mode in your browser. We tried this on The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal without success.

Reader Mode has been known to work with less high-profile sites, so before you take more extreme measures, try switching to the reader and see if you can get the entire piece. If it doesn’t work, then no harm is done.

To switch to Reader Mode in Mac Safari:

  1. Look at the address bar.
  2. Click the rectangle with lines in the address bar.
  3. Reader Mode should now be on.
  4. Repeat these steps to disable Reader Mode.

To switch to Reader Mode in iOS Safari:

  1. Look at the address bar.
  2. Locate Aa on the left side of the address.
  3. Tap Aa.
  4. Scroll until you find ShowReader and tap.
  5. Reader Mode should now be on.
  6. Repeat these steps to disable Reader Mode when you’re done.

To switch to Reader Mode in Microsoft Edge:

  1. Select Enter  Immersive Reader in the address bar.
  2. To exit, select Exit Immersive Reader.
  3. You may also use the keyboard shortcut F9 to access Immersive Reader.

To switch to Reader Mode in Chrome:

  1. In Chrome's address bar, type chrome://flags and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the Experiments page.
  3. Search for Reader Mode.
  4. Set to Enabled.
  5. Relaunch to activate Reader Mode.
  6. Open the page you want to read and click Reader Mode on the right side of the address bar.

4. Delete your browser cookies

Soft paywalls use cookies to track how many articles you’ve read in the allotted period. You can manually delete your cookies (or block them altogether) to help you thwart soft paywalls.

This will not work for subscription-based sites like The New York Times Cooking, but it should help you read more articles than your monthly allotted time from other sites that monitor cookies.

5. Use the Wayback Machine

This might be the most effective way to bypass paywalls. It’s a few extra steps, but the Wayback Machine allows you to read archived versions of websites from across the internet, whether they were behind a paywall or not. It’s worth noting this only works on sites that allow web crawlers, but seeing as web crawlers are how Google ranks pages, most sites you want to access should work.

We tested it on a recipe from The New York Times, and it worked perfectly. (We love supporting good content with subscription fees, but in the year we’ve been reading The New York Times recipe eNewsletter, we’ve only had the desire to look up one recipe.) If you’re the same, this will allow you to grab that single page without having to pay the subscription fee or bug a paying friend for a screenshot. (This may or may not be a real-life example.)

If you want to access the content regularly, consider supporting that site’s work with a subscription. Otherwise, enjoy the convenience of the Wayback Machine.

6. Get access through your library

This is why we love our library. Often your local library has archives of all the materials you want to read. It may even have a subscription or subscription-level access to the content you want.

You’ll need to check with your individual library, but the librarians can help you figure out what access you do or don’t have. You may also discover other cool things your library offers. For instance, Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) lets you borrow books on library-sharing apps like Hoopla, book museum admissions, rent hiking gear, and play the ukulele all for free.[1]

7. Use 12ft Ladder

Similar to how the Wayback Machine works, 12ft Ladder grabs cached, web-crawled versions of websites so you can view them without a paywall.

While this isn’t a foolproof way to view a site, it’s likely going to work. Sites allow web crawlers through the paywall so the site can be indexed properly and have a better chance of appearing in your search results. Because of this, using a site like 12ft Ladder lets you see the unrestricted content.

8. Try the Bypass Paywalls Clean browser extension

If doing mildly sketchy things makes you nervous, you may want to pass on this option. Bypass Paywalls Clean is a browser extension for Firefox that allows you to slip right by those paywalls.

Apparently, Mozilla received a copyright infringement notification requiring it to remove Bypass Paywalls Clean from its browser. Since the extension is open-source software, it’s still available online.

You can check out the instructions for Bypass Paywalls Clean and try it yourself. Just remember to be safe when downloading items from the Internet. Make sure your cybersecurity software is up-to-date, and don’t disable anything to allow a download.

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9. Use uBlock Origin ad blocker

Using uBlock Origin requires some finagling. However, following the instructions on this siteis easy, and you’ll feel like a technology rock star when you’re done.

Originally, we’d recommended using the Bypass Paywalls Clean extension, but it was recently removed from Firefox after Mozilla received a copyright notice. The guide walks you through the steps to create a custom uBlock Origin filter that will allow you to use the Bypass Paywalls Clean extension.

We should also mention that uBlock Origin is a great paywall blocker in general. It can block those annoying paywall pop-ups.

10. Bypass Paywalls extension

If you feel like getting fancy and installing a Chrome extension in developer mode, you may be able to bypass all paywalls without other tricks. This GitHub download provides you with instructions on how to install the extension.

While nothing downloaded from the internet is 100% safe, you can gauge the safety of a GitHub download by looking at how many people are working on the code, how many stars the download has, and if people are actively improving the code. This particular download checks those boxes with 55 people working on it, over 45,000 stars, and 33 product releases.

Again, we stress using good, up-to-date, reliable antivirus whenever you download anything from the internet.

11. Create iOS Shortcuts

Some subscription sites have a deal with social media sites to let users read links for free. You can turn this into an iOS shortcut on your iPhone or iPad (not your Mac) so you look like you’re coming from Facebook into the piece you want to view. You’ll need to set it up using these steps:

  1. First, go to the Bypass Paywall iCloud hub and click Get Shortcut. Refresh the page if it doesn’t work.
  2. Launch Safari on your iPhone or iPad and go to the paywall piece you want to read.
  3. When the payment pop-up shows, tap Share > Bypass Paywall.
  4. Choose Allow.
  5. Once Facebook opens, follow the blue button that says “You’re about to leave Facebook” and enjoy the article you want to read.

12. Use the Tor Browser

You’ll need the Tor Browser to make this work. Then, you’ll just need to visit the site with the soft paywall you want to circumvent.

Once you’ve read the article, hit the New Identity button to start a fresh browser session. If you ever run into a soft paywall again while on Tor, you just have to click New Identity, and you’ll get a fresh start to keep reading.

Using Tor is a great way to browse anonymously online, which only helps when wanting to read payment-restricted content.

13. Check out Bardeen

Bardeen is designed to help automate workflows, but through that capability also has the ability to bypass paywalls with one of its pre-built automations called playbooks.

There are a few methods for doing this, but our favorite is the web archive playbook that allows you to access a site by looking like a Google web crawler rather than a person who needs to pay. Best of all, you can sign up for a free account through Bardeen.

14. The Facebook URL

If the Facebook iOS shortcut doesn’t work for you, you can use the manual link to access the content. All you have to do is copy and paste https://facebook.com/l.php?u= before the link of any article. You’ll then be prompted to leave Facebook and be taken to the article. It’s simple and works on soft paywalls pretty well.

15. Use a proxy

A proxy server works similarly to a VPN with unblocking paywalls. Mostly you’ll get around a soft paywall with this option by using the proxy to create a new IP address.

The difference between a proxy server vs a VPN extends beyond paywalls, but for the purpose of today’s discussion, just know that a proxy and a VPN are both great ways to get a new IP address and circumvent paywalls.

16. Try an iOS Shortcut

If you're browsing the web on your iPhone and stumble upon a paywall, one of Apple's built-in features might get you past the digital bouncer and into the content party. You can use the iOS Shortcuts app plus Unpaywall.

We tried this with a few different sites like The Wall Street Journal, Medium, and The New York Times. It only worked with NYT.com, but that's not to say it won't work for your paywall problems, as it unblocked the NYT article like a charm.

1. Add Unpaywall by opening the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and searching for "Unpaywall."

2. Open the paywalled article you want to read.

How To Bypass Paywalls: 16 Free Ways to Get Around Paywalls (13)


3. Tap the Options button at the bottom of Safari and scroll down to choose Unpaywall.

How To Bypass Paywalls: 16 Free Ways to Get Around Paywalls (14)


4. You may need to tap "Allow" for the Unpaywall shortcut to work.

5. Once you've allowed the shortcut to work its magic, you should see a free, unblocked article.

How To Bypass Paywalls: 16 Free Ways to Get Around Paywalls (15)


Interested in learning about other methods for unblocking websites and accessing restricted content without using a VPN? Check out our guide on how to unblock websites.

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How to bypass paywalls FAQs

+

How do you get past paywalls for free?

There are a variety of free ways to get around a paywall. You can enable custom filters in your ad blockers, try Reader Mode, or use web crawler databases like the Wayback Machine or 12ft Ladder.

+

Is it illegal to bypass a paywall?

Technically, yes, it is illegal to bypass a paywall. This is a company providing a service for a fee and accessing the content without paying for it is a form of theft. There’s a lot of legalese around it defining exactly what protections it violates, but at its core bypassing a paywall is stealing.

+

How do I bypass paywalls in Chrome?

The Bypass Paywalls extension in Chrome is one way to circumvent paywalls. You can also use web crawler sites like the Wayback Machine and 12ft Ladder. Using a VPN is also a viable option to get around soft paywalls while you use Chrome.

Bottom line

No matter your reason for wanting to remove paywalls, you now have plenty of options to do it for free. Our favorites are archival and web crawler sites like the Wayback Machine, 12ft Ladder, and VPNs.

A VPN has many uses aside from paywall thwarting, like accessing geo-restricted content on streaming sites. You can choose the VPN that’s right for streaming from our best VPNs for Netflix review.

No matter what, once you’ve sampled the content on the site with these methods, consider subscribing to content you find valuable. It’s always worth supporting your favorite creators. Your support can only lead to more content, and who doesn’t love that?

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Author Details

Mary JamesAbout the Author

Mary is a seasoned cybersecurity writer with over seven years of experience. With a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University, she educates audiences on scams, antivirus software, and more. Her passion lies in educating audiences on helpful ways to protect their data.

How To Bypass Paywalls: 16 Free Ways to Get Around Paywalls (2024)

FAQs

Is removing paywalls illegal? ›

As paywalls proliferate to protect digital media, methods for circumventing those paywalls develop and propagate just as quickly. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) prohibits circumventing an effective technological means of control that restricts access to a copyrighted work.

What is the URL to pass paywalls? ›

Bypass paywalls using Wayback Machine

Just start from https://web.archive.org/ and with a bit of luck, you'll be reading the article in a few minutes. The great thing about the Wayback Machine is that if it works, it doesn't matter if you're dealing with a server-side, client-side, soft, or hard paywall.

How to access paid articles for free? ›

16 ways to bypass paywalls for free
  1. Use a virtual private network (VPN) ...
  2. Open an Incognito window. ...
  3. Turn on Reader Mode in your browser. ...
  4. Delete your browser cookies. ...
  5. Use the Wayback Machine. ...
  6. Get access through your library. ...
  7. Use 12ft Ladder. ...
  8. Try the Bypass Paywalls Clean browser extension.
May 31, 2024

What is 12ft paywall? ›

12ft.io is a website that allows to selectively browse any site with JavaScript disabled. It also allows some online paywalls to be bypassed. It is currently owned by its creator Thomas Millar. 12ft.

Is spaywall legal? ›

Legally read news and research papers for free, on any device. Spaywall News & Research is the original browser extension that helps you LEGALLY avoid paywalls by searching online archives and redirecting you to a paywall-free version.

Do paywalls make money? ›

Using this model The New York Times garnered 224,000 subscribers in the first three months. While many proclaimed their paywall a success after it reported a profit in the third quarter of 2011, the profit increase is said to be "ephemeral" and "largely based on a combination of cutbacks and the sale of assets."

How do I add bypass paywall to Chrome? ›

Installation Instructions

In Chrome/Edge go to the extensions page ( chrome://extensions or edge://extensions ). Enable Developer Mode. Drag the bypass-paywalls-chrome-master folder anywhere on the page to import it (do not delete the folder afterwards).

How to read FT for free? ›

To use this bypass, go to FT.com, click on any article, and then click the bookmark. You will be redirected to a Google search of the article. Click the corresponding search result, and you will now have access to the article. This works because of web crawlers and content indexing.

What website lets you access articles for free? ›

Unpaywall: An open database of 20 million free scholarly articles. An open database of 50,936,096 free scholarly articles. We harvest Open Access content from over 50,000 publishers and repositories, and make it easy to find, track, and use.

How to use unpaywall? ›

Access millions of research articles, instantly.

Unpaywall users read 52% of research papers for free. Here's how: when you browse to a paywalled paper, we check to see if there's a free copy in our database. If there is, you'll see a green tab on your screen...just click, and read!

How do I access paywall papers? ›

Here are some ways you can access paywalled research papers that will help you nurture your professional network:
  1. Contacting the author(s). All papers, including paywalled papers, display the contact information for the corresponding author on the page. ...
  2. Obtaining alumni access. ...
  3. Getting a courtesy appointment.

What is a paywall blocker? ›

PayWall Blocker: PayWall Blocker is a Chrome extension that hides web articles behind a paywall on the overview pages. Wayback Machine: The Wayback Machine provides access to archived versions of websites, whether or not they were originally behind paywalls.

What is a hard paywall? ›

Though website visitors may get a small 'sneak peek' of your content, they'll be invited to subscribe to gain unfettered access. Hard paywalls are straightforward because they establish a definitive binary. If you're not a subscriber, you won't be able to access anything. If you are, you can access everything.

What has happened to the 12ft Ladder? ›

Why has 12ft Ladder gone down? Visitors to 12ft Ladder's website started noticing that it was offline late last week. It appears that it was taken down after its website-hosting provider received complaints from disgruntled businesses.

Is sharing paywalled content illegal? ›

Typically, you do not need to get permission to post a link on your website. The exception to this rule is if an asset or piece of content is gated or behind a paywall. Sharing a link that is meant for paying customers can result in legal trouble.

Do paywalls hurt SEO? ›

So, Does Paywalling Harm SEO? No. At least, it doesn't have to. Sure if you put up a solid paywall around all your content and put no effort into SEO, you next to no chance of ranking highly and getting traffic through Google.

Why are articles locked behind a paywall? ›

In essence, hard paywalls restrict access to all content, requiring a subscription to view any content. This model is seen as the most restrictive, limiting audience growth to maximize subscription revenue. They work best for publishers with unique, high-value content.

What does it mean to be locked behind a paywall? ›

A hard paywall is the most common; this completely blocks users from accessing any content until they pay for a membership or subscription.

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