How to read Bloomberg for free

How the Bloomberg paywall works

Paywall type: Hard paywall

Bloomberg uses a hard paywall for most news and Businessweek stories, and it is quick to block automated visitors. That is why some readers and proxies show a robot check or an empty page instead of the story.

Archives that already saved a copy are the most reliable way in. Brand new stories can take a little while to appear.

What works best for Bloomberg

The options most likely to work for bloomberg.com links, best first:

1. Archive.today. The best first try. If it shows a captcha, complete it and the snapshot loads.
2. Wayback Machine. Captures of Bloomberg pages are often blocked or cut short, but older Businessweek features tend to be saved in full.
3. Find a syndicated copy. Bloomberg stories are republished by many newspapers and sites through its news service. Searching the headline often finds a free version.

Results change as publishers and archives change. For a closer look at each option, see every method compared.

Legitimate free access to Bloomberg

• Republished stories. Bloomberg licenses its reporting to newspapers and portals, so the same story is often free elsewhere a few hours later.
• Your library or employer. Some libraries and many finance employers provide Bloomberg access.
• Newsletters. Several Bloomberg newsletters summarise the main stories for free.

If you read Bloomberg most days, a subscription is the most dependable option and supports the reporting.

Questions about reading Bloomberg

Guides for other sites

• The Wall Street Journal
• The New York Times
• The Financial Times
• The Economist
• The Atlantic
• Medium