So you want to read the good stuff from The New York Times. But that paywall thing is just, well, it’s there. It is a fact that their reporting is often considered to be top-tier, which is why they ask for money for it. Getting past that subscription screen feels like a secret mission sometimes.
But it doesn’t have to be.
For 2025, there are still a bunch of ways, totally legitimate ways, to get your daily dose of the Gray Lady. You just need to know where to poke around.
This guide is for you, its for anyone who wants to stay informed without emptying their wallet. We are going to go through the best methods that actually work.
Some are super easy. Others take a little bit of setup. But all of them can get you behind the curtain to read the news, opinion pieces, and even the cooking recipes.
Let’s get into it.
Your Local Library: The Unsung Hero of Free News
This is the big one. Seriously. People always forget about their local library. It’s not just a dusty building with old books anymore you know.
Most public library systems have deals with big news publications. The New York Times is typically one of them. They pay for a big subscription so that you, a member of the community, can use it.
It’s all done online now. You get a special code or a login that gives you access for a set period, like 24 or 72 hours. When it runs out you just get another one.
It’s completely above board.
Getting Started with Your Library Card
First thing you need is a library card. If you don’t have one, it’s usually free to get. Just go to your local library’s website and sign up.
Once you have your card number, here is what you normally do.
Go to your library’s main website.
Look for a section called “Digital Resources,” “eResources,” or “Online Databases.”
Search for “The New York Times” in their list.
The link will usually ask for your library card number and PIN.
It will then give you a code or redirect you to a special NYT page to redeem your access pass.
You might need to make a free NYT account to link the pass to.
This whole thing takes maybe five minutes. And then you have full access.
What to Expect with Library Access
This isn’t some watered-down version. Typically you get almost everything.
You get unlimited articles on the NYT website and in their app. You get access to their archives. Sometimes, the deal even includes things like NYT Cooking or Games, but that depends on what your library paid for. The main thing is the news, and you get all of it.
Academic Access: Are You a Student or Educator?
If you are connected to a college or university, you’re probably in luck.
Most academic institutions have campus-wide subscriptions to major news sources. This is for students and faculty to use for research and to stay current. The New York Times is a standard part of these packages.
The way you get this is through your school’s library portal.
Just like with a public library, you’ll log in with your student or faculty ID. From there, you can find the link to the NYT. This kind of access is generally continuous for as long as you are enrolled or employed there.
It’s a really good perk that a lot of people don’t even know they have. Check your school’s library website to see what they have for you.
The ‘Sort-of-Free’ Methods and Loopholes
Okay so maybe you don’t have a library card or a school ID handy. There are other avenues. These are a bit more hit-or-miss, and they might change over time, but they’re worth knowing about for 2025.
The Incognito Mode Trick (Is It Dead?)
For years, the easiest trick was to just open an article in a private or incognito browser window. This cleared your cookies, so the website didn’t know you had already read your free articles for the month.
By 2025, this method is mostly gone. The NYT and other sites got smarter. They now use other ways to track visitors. It might work once in a while by a fluke, but don’t count on it. It’s a trick from the old days that just doesn’t have the same power.
Archive Websites
There are websites out there whose whole job is to take a snapshot of a webpage and save it forever. Sites like Archive.today (or Archive.is) are popular.
If you find an NYT article you want to read, you can sometimes copy the URL and paste it into one of these archive sites. Someone else may have already saved a copy of the page without the paywall.
This doesn’t work for brand new articles. It can also be a bit clunky. But for a piece that’s a few hours or a few days old, you can often find a clean, readable copy.
Browser Extensions
This is a gray area, for sure. There are browser add-ons and extensions made specifically for getting around paywalls. You can find them by searching on Google or the extension store for your browser.
These tools work in the background. When you land on a page with a paywall, they try a bunch of different tricks to remove it. Some block certain scripts from running, others try to present your browser as a search engine crawler.
The effectiveness of these tools changes a lot. The news sites are always trying to block them, and the developers are always trying to find new workarounds. Be careful what you install, some extensions can have security problems.
Limited Access: Getting a Taste for Free
If you don’t need to read dozens of articles a day, there are ways to get a little bit of NYT content without doing any work.
The first is their own system. The New York Times usually lets you read a very small number of articles for free each month before the paywall comes up. It used to be around 10, but now it’s much lower, maybe 3 or 5. It’s not much but it’s something.
Another way is through their email newsletters. Many of their top newsletters, like “The Morning” by David Leonhardt, are free. They send the top stories and some analysis right to your inbox. This is a good way to get the main points of the day’s news without ever hitting the website.
You’re not getting full access this way. But you are getting a curated summary written by their journalists. For a lot of people that’s enough to feel like they know what’s going on.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to use the library method to read The New York Times?
Yes, it is 100% legal and intended. The library pays The New York Times for a license that allows its patrons to read the content for free. You are not breaking any rules at all.
Can I get free access to the NYT mobile app?
Usually, yes. When you redeem a 24-hour or 72-hour pass from your library, it typically grants you full access on the website and the official mobile and tablet apps. Just log in to the app with the same NYT account you used to redeem the pass.
What about those websites that just re-post NYT articles?
You should be very careful with those. While they might give you the article you want, many of these sites are filled with aggressive ads, pop-ups, and potentially malware. Sticking to methods like the library or archive sites is generally safer.
Does sharing a “gift article” link still work?
Yes. NYT subscribers are often given a certain number of free “gift” links they can share each month. If a friend with a subscription sends you one of these links, you can read that specific article for free, no strings attached. It’s a way for them to get more people interested.
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Key Takeaways
Your Public Library is Best: This is the most reliable and complete way to get free NYT access. All you need is a library card.
Check Your School: If you’re a student or educator, your institution likely already pays for your subscription. Check the university library portal.
Archive Sites for Older Articles: Websites like Archive.is can be a good backup for articles that aren’t brand new.
Newsletters Give You the Gist: Signing up for free NYT email newsletters is a great way to get the day’s headlines and some analysis without a subscription.
Old Tricks are Fading: Relying on incognito mode or simple browser tricks is not a good strategy anymore as news sites have gotten better at blocking them.
