How to read The Wall Street Journal for free

How the WSJ paywall works

Paywall type: Hard paywall

The Journal runs a hard paywall. Almost every article shows a headline and a paragraph or two to anyone who is not a subscriber, even on a first visit, so there is no free article count to reset.

Because the full text is never sent to your browser, tricks like private windows or reader mode do not help. What does help is a copy someone else saved while it was readable.

What works best for WSJ

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

1. Archive.today. The best first try. Popular WSJ stories are usually saved within hours. If there is no snapshot, press Save new copy and check back in a minute.
2. Wayback Machine. Good for older articles. Captures of WSJ pages are often cut off at the paywall, so check the date and length before you settle on one.
3. Find a syndicated copy. Markets and breaking news often come from wire services or Dow Jones Newswires and appear elsewhere. Searching the headline can turn up 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 WSJ

• Gift links. Subscribers can share a limited number of free articles each month. If a friend or colleague subscribes, ask them to send the article as a gift.
• Your library. Many public and university libraries give card holders free WSJ access or day passes. Check your library’s website under digital resources.
• Newsletters and podcasts. Several WSJ newsletters and podcasts are free and summarise the day’s main stories.

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

Questions about reading WSJ

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