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How to read The New York Times for free

Paste a nytimes.com link below to see every free option, ranked for NYT. Then read on for how its paywall works and the legitimate ways in.

By the Break Paywall team · Updated

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How the NYT paywall works

Paywall type: Hard paywall

The Times asks you to register or subscribe after very few articles, and many stories are locked from the start. Its pages load the article and then cover it, but it checks your account on its servers, so clearing cookies rarely helps for long.

Times stories are among the most archived on the web, which makes archives the most dependable route.

What works best for NYT

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

  1. Archive.today. The best first try. Most widely shared Times articles already have a snapshot.
  2. Wayback Machine. Works well for older Times stories. Some captures load without the article text, so try a different date if one looks empty.
  3. smry. Sometimes shows the text of a public Times page in a clean reader. Worth one click if the archives come up empty.

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

Legitimate free access to NYT

  • Gift articles. Times subscribers can gift a set number of articles every month, and anyone can open a gift link without an account.
  • Your library or school. Many public libraries, universities and high schools offer free Times passes. Search your library’s site for “New York Times”.
  • Free newsletters. The Morning and other Times newsletters are free with a free account and link to some open articles.

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

Questions about reading NYT

How do I read a New York Times article without a subscription?

Paste the link into Break Paywall to see archived copies, ask a subscriber for a gift link, or check whether your library or school offers free Times access.

Does a private window still work on the NYT?

Rarely. The Times now asks you to log in after very few articles and checks access on its servers, so a private window usually shows the same paywall.

Does this work for NYT Cooking and Games?

NYT Cooking and Games are separate subscriptions. For recipes, Reveal Recipe can often show just the ingredients and steps from a recipe link.