12 Best Methods to Bypass Paywall and Read Premium Articles for Free

We’ve all been there—eagerly clicking on a headline, only to be stopped in our tracks by an unexpected paywall. It’s frustrating, especially when all you want is to read a single article without committing to a pricey subscription. But what if I told you there are simple, effective ways to bypass these paywalls and access premium content for free?

In this article, I’ll walk you through 12 reliable methods that will help you unlock articles from major news sites and magazines without breaking the bank. Whether you want to catch up on business news, stay informed on world events, or read in-depth analysis, these methods will give you access to the content you need—without the barriers. Let’s dive into how you can start reading freely today!

Method 1: Use ProReader.io

ProReader.io is one of the most straightforward tools for bypassing paywalls on major news sites and magazines. It’s designed to make reading premium content easier by unlocking articles that would otherwise be hidden behind a paywall. With its user-friendly interface, you can quickly access full articles from sites like Forbes, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post without needing to subscribe.

How to Use

Follow these simple steps to use ProReader and access your desired content:

1. Copy the URL of the paywalled article you want to read.
2. Visit ProReader.io in your browser.
3. Paste the article URL into the provided search box on the ProReader.io homepage.
4. Click "Submit" or the equivalent button, and ProReader.io will retrieve the full article for you, bypassing the paywall.

You’ll have full access to the article, including all text and media content, without any restrictions.

Best For

ProReader.io works exceptionally well on some of the biggest news and magazine sites, including:

• Forbes
• The New York Times
• Wall Street Journal
• Washington Post

Whether you're researching, staying informed, or catching up on your favorite topics, ProReader.io is an effective solution to unlock premium articles from these platforms.

Method 2: Use a VPN

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a powerful tool that can help you bypass region-specific content restrictions on news sites. Many websites limit access based on geographic location, meaning that certain articles or entire publications might be unavailable in your country. A VPN works by masking your real IP address and allowing you to appear as though you’re browsing from a different country, granting access to content restricted in your area.

By changing your virtual location with a VPN, you can unlock articles that may be behind paywalls or region-blocked, giving you access to premium content from around the world.

How to Use a VPN:

1. Choose a Trusted VPN: Select a reliable VPN service like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark. These VPNs are known for their speed, security, and ease of use.
2. Download and Install the VPN: Visit the VPN provider’s website, download the application, and install it on your device (available for desktop, mobile, or browser extensions).
3. Open the VPN App: Launch the VPN app and sign in with your credentials.
4. Select a Different Region: Choose a location where the article or content is accessible. For example, if a news site restricts access to users in the U.S., you can connect to a server in the U.S. through your VPN.
5. Access the Website: Once connected to the VPN, visit the news site and read the article without region-based restrictions.

Best For

Using a VPN is especially helpful for accessing region-specific content on news sites. It’s ideal for international readers who want to bypass geo-restrictions and read articles that are otherwise unavailable in their country.

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Method 3: Use Google Cache

Google Cache is a powerful tool that stores snapshots of web pages at a specific point in time. This includes pages that might later become paywalled or restricted. When you access a cached version of a page, you're viewing a saved copy that Google stored during its last indexing of the site, which often bypasses the paywall since it’s a previous, open version of the page.

While this method isn’t guaranteed to work on every site, it’s highly effective for soft paywalls—sites that only track the number of articles you’ve viewed or require a login after a few free reads.

How to Use:

Here’s how you can access cached versions of paywalled articles using Google Cache:

1. Search for the Article: Go to Google and enter the title or URL of the paywalled article you want to access.
2. Find the Cached Link: Next to the search result, you’ll often see a small green arrow or three vertical dots. Click on this to reveal the “Cached” option.
3. Click on Cached: Clicking on the "Cached" link will open the snapshot version of the page, allowing you to view the full article as it appeared when Google last indexed it.
4. Read the Article: The cached version will display without the paywall, and you can read the full article without any restrictions.

Best For

Google Cache works best for websites with soft paywalls, which track your reading history through cookies. It may not be effective for hard paywalls (those requiring login or payment before access), but for many popular news sites, cached pages can be an easy workaround.

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Method 4: Use Incognito Mode

Incognito Mode (or Private Browsing) is a simple yet effective way to bypass soft paywalls. Many news websites track your reading habits through cookies, which limit the number of free articles you can access. When you browse in Incognito Mode, the browser doesn’t save cookies, meaning websites can’t track how many articles you’ve read. As a result, you can reset your free article limit and continue reading without hitting the paywall.

However, Incognito Mode is typically only effective for soft paywalls, where sites monitor free views using cookies. It won’t work on hard paywalls that require login credentials or subscriptions to access content.

How to Use Incognito Mode

Here’s how to open Incognito Mode on different browsers:

Google Chrome:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the browser window.
3. Select New Incognito Window (or press Ctrl+Shift+N).
4. Navigate to the article and enjoy unlimited reads!

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
3. Select New Private Window (or press Ctrl+Shift+P).
4. Visit the news site and read the content without restrictions.

Safari (macOS & iOS):

1. Open Safari.
2. Click on File in the top menu and select New Private Window (or press Command+Shift+N).
3. Go to the paywalled article and access it freely.

Limitations

While Incognito Mode helps bypass soft paywalls by resetting the cookie limits, it won’t work on websites with hard paywalls that require you to log in or subscribe before accessing content. For these, you may need to try other methods like ProReader.io or Google Cache.

Method 5: Use Archive.today

Archive.today (also known as Archive.is) is a service that saves permanent snapshots of web pages, including paywalled content. By archiving these pages, it allows you to access the article in its entirety, bypassing any paywall restrictions. This method works by retrieving a saved version of the web page from Archive.today’s database, offering you a free version of the content, even if the current version is paywalled.

This method is particularly useful for accessing older articles or frequently visited pages that have been archived before the paywall was implemented.

How to Use Archive.today

1. Copy the Article URL: Go to the paywalled article you want to read and copy its URL.
2. Visit Archive.today: Open a new tab and go to the Archive.today website (https://archive.ph/ or https://archive.is/).
3. Paste the Article URL: In the search box on the Archive.today homepage, paste the URL of the article you want to read.
4. Retrieve the Archived Version: If the article has already been archived, the snapshot will load, allowing you to read the full content without any paywall restrictions. If it hasn’t been archived yet, Archive.today will create a new snapshot for you.

Best For

Archive.today is especially effective for articles that have been frequently visited or previously archived. It’s a great solution if you’re trying to access older content or articles that are often shared and accessed online.

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Method 6: Use 12ft.io

12ft.io is a handy web tool designed specifically to remove paywall elements from articles, allowing users to access premium content for free. It works by removing JavaScript-based restrictions that are often used by soft paywalls to block access to content after a few free reads. The tagline for 12ft.io is clever: “Show me a 12ft ladder to get over this 10ft wall,” reflecting its purpose of bypassing those barriers.

12ft.io is particularly effective on soft paywalls—those that limit access based on the number of free articles you’ve read, rather than fully blocking content.

How to Use 12ft.io

1. Copy the URL: Navigate to the paywalled article you want to read and copy the article’s URL.
2. Go to 12ft.io: Open a new tab and go to the website (https://12ft.io/).
3. Paste the URL: Paste the article URL into the search box on the homepage and press enter or click "Show me the article."
4. Read the Full Article: 12ft.io will load the article without any paywall, letting you read the entire piece for free.

Best For

12ft.io is best for websites that use JavaScript-based soft paywalls, such as those that display a paywall after a few free reads. It may not work for harder paywalls that require login or subscription for access.

Method 7: Use Google Translate

Google Translate is a clever workaround for bypassing paywalls on many websites. By translating a paywalled article into another language using Google Translate, you can often access the full content without the paywall being displayed. Since Google Translate loads the full web page for translation, the paywall script is usually bypassed, allowing you to view the article in its entirety.

This method is especially helpful for soft paywalls, and although the text may be translated, it provides a simple way to access premium content.

How to Use Google Translate

1. Copy the URL: Go to the article you want to read and copy its URL.
2. Go to Google Translate: Open Google Translate (https://translate.google.com) in a new tab.
3. Paste the URL: Paste the article’s URL into the left-hand box of Google Translate.
4. Choose a Language: On the right side, select a language other than the one in which the article is written (e.g., translate from English to Spanish).
5. Click the Translated Link: Google will provide a clickable translated link. Click it, and it will open the article with the content fully displayed and translated.

Note

• The article formatting may be slightly altered during translation.
• You can also switch back to the original language using the translation bar at the top of the page.

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Method 8: Try Reader Mode

Reader Mode is a feature available in most modern browsers that simplifies web pages by removing unnecessary elements, such as ads, sidebars, and sometimes even paywalls. By stripping away these additional elements, Reader Mode can often bypass soft paywalls, allowing you to view the full article without distractions. This method works particularly well on websites that rely on page elements or scripts to enforce paywalls.

How to Use Reader Mode

Here’s how to enable Reader Mode in the most common browsers:

Google Chrome:

1. In the address bar, type chrome://flags/#enable-reader-mode and press Enter.
2. Locate Enable Reader Mode and set it to Enabled.
3. Relaunch Chrome.
4. Once on the article page, click the Reader Mode icon in the toolbar to strip the page down to its essentials.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open the article you want to read.
2. Click the Reader View icon on the right side of the address bar (it looks like an open book).
3. The article will load in a simplified format, often bypassing paywall restrictions.

Safari (macOS & iOS):

1. Open Safari and navigate to the article.
2. In the address bar, click the Reader Mode icon (a series of horizontal lines) or hold down the AA button.
3. Safari will display the page in Reader Mode, simplifying the content and removing paywall elements.

Best For

Reader Mode is ideal for soft paywalls, which rely on scripts or page elements to block content after a few free articles. However, it may not be effective against hard paywalls that require a login or subscription.

Method 9: Delete Cookies

Many news websites enforce paywalls by tracking how many articles you've read using cookies. Cookies are small data files stored by your browser that remember your activity on the site, including how many free articles you've accessed. By deleting these cookies, you can reset your free article count, allowing you to bypass the paywall and continue reading content without limits.

This method is effective against soft paywalls, which track free reads via cookies, but may not work on harder paywalls that require a subscription or login.

How to Use: Deleting Cookies in Browsers

Here’s how you can clear cookies for specific sites in popular browsers:

Google Chrome:

1. Open Chrome and click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
2. Navigate to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
3. Click on See all cookies and site data.
4. Search for the website with the paywall (e.g., nytimes.com).
5. Click on the trash can icon next to the site to delete the cookies.
6. Refresh the page and you should be able to access the article again.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox and click on the three-line menu in the top-right corner.
2. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll down to Cookies and Site Data and click Manage Data.
4. Find the site in question (e.g., forbes.com) and click Remove Selected.
5. Reload the page to reset the article limit.

Safari (macOS & iOS):

1. Open Safari and go to Preferences from the Safari menu.
2. Click on the Privacy tab and select Manage Website Data.
3. Search for the site, then click on it and hit Remove.
4. Refresh the article page to access it again.

Best For

Deleting cookies is an ideal solution for bypassing soft paywalls that track the number of articles you've read. It’s not effective for hard paywalls that require authentication or payment.

Method 10: Use Paywall Reader

Paywall Reader is an online tool designed specifically to help users bypass paywalls on various news websites. It works by stripping away the JavaScript-based paywall elements that block access to content. This allows you to view the full article without the need for a subscription or login. It’s a simple and quick solution for readers who want unrestricted access to premium news content.

How to Use Paywall Reader

1. Copy the Article URL: Navigate to the paywalled article you want to read and copy its URL.
2. Go to Paywall Reader: Open a new tab and visit the Paywall Reader website.
3. Paste the URL: In the provided search box, paste the article URL you copied earlier.
4. Click Submit: After pasting the URL, hit the "Submit" button, and Paywall Reader will unlock the article, giving you access to the full content.
5. Read the Full Article: You’ll now be able to read the article without any paywall restrictions.

Best For

Paywall Reader is particularly effective for websites that use JavaScript-based restrictions, as it works by removing these scripts to grant access to the content. It’s an ideal tool for users who frequently encounter soft paywalls on popular news sites.

Method 11: Use PaywallReader

PaywallReader is a helpful tool that not only removes paywalls but also presents a clean, distraction-free version of articles. By stripping away unnecessary elements like ads and clutter, it allows you to focus on the content. This tool is great for users who want a simple way to read premium articles without having to deal with paywall barriers.

How to Use PaywallReader

1. Copy the Article URL: Find the paywalled article you want to access and copy its URL.
2. Visit PaywallReader: Open a new browser tab and navigate to PaywallReader’s website.
3. Paste the URL: In the designated search box, paste the article’s URL.
4. Generate the Article: Hit the "Submit" button, and PaywallReader will process the link, presenting the article without any paywall.
5. Read Distraction-Free: The tool will display the article in a clean, distraction-free format for you to enjoy without interruptions.

Note:

While PaywallReader works well for a variety of websites, it might not be effective for hard paywalls that require login or subscriptions for access. For those, other methods may be more suitable.

Method 12: Use Browser Extensions

Browser extensions like "Bypass Paywalls" are a convenient way to automate the process of removing paywalls from websites. These extensions are designed to work in the background, stripping away paywall elements when you visit premium news sites, making the content freely accessible without requiring manual steps. Extensions like these are especially useful for frequent readers who encounter multiple paywalled sites daily and want a seamless experience.

How to Use Browser Extensions

1. Choose a Browser Extension: Popular options include "Bypass Paywalls" for Chrome or Firefox. You can search for these in your browser's extension store.
2. Install the Extension: Once you've selected your preferred extension, click on the "Add to Browser" button to install it. Follow the installation prompts.
3. Activate the Extension: Once installed, the extension will appear as an icon in your browser toolbar. You may need to toggle it on for specific websites or allow it to run automatically.
4. Visit Paywalled Sites: Navigate to any news site with a paywall, and the extension will automatically bypass it, giving you free access to the article.

Best For

Browser extensions are ideal for frequent readers who want an easy, automated solution for accessing premium articles on various news websites without having to rely on manual tools or methods. They are best for people who regularly encounter soft paywalls and want a set-it-and-forget-it option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will ProReader.io work on all news websites?

ProReader.io is highly effective on many major news and blog websites. However, some sites with stricter security measures or harder paywalls might not be accessible using this tool. It’s always a good idea to try different methods listed in the article for tougher paywalls.

Can I access region-blocked content with a VPN?

Yes, using a VPN is an effective way to bypass region-specific restrictions. By changing your virtual location, you can access content that’s only available in certain countries. It’s particularly useful for global news platforms with location-based restrictions.

How do cookies track my article views, and how can deleting them help?

Cookies are small data files stored in your browser that keep track of your activity, including how many articles you’ve read on a site with a soft paywall. Deleting these cookies resets your count, allowing you to view more articles without triggering the paywall.

Are browser extensions safe for bypassing paywalls?

Many browser extensions, like "Bypass Paywalls," are safe if downloaded from trusted sources like the official Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons. However, always be cautious and check reviews before installing to ensure the extension doesn’t compromise your security or privacy.

Will using Google Translate affect the formatting of the article?

Yes, using Google Translate to bypass paywalls may slightly alter the article’s formatting. While the content will still be readable, you may notice differences in layout or images, but the full text should still be accessible.