Have you ever come across a juicy headline story but when you click on it you cannot access the full details because you have not subscribed to the host website? In such a case, what you are encountering is a paywall.
A paywall is a system that prohibits users from accessing specific web content. The system is often used to ensure that only those who pay or subscribe to a service have access to the content on the page.
However, sometimes you just want to get information about a particular story rather than having to subscribe to a service that you will hardly ever use again. In such a situation, you may end up frustrated.
But the good news is that certain websites allow you to bypass paywalls and gain access to whatever information you are after.
Read on.
Best Paywall Bypass Websites
1. RemovePaywall
RemovePaywall is an excellent website you can turn to when you need to bypass paywalls. It is a web-based solution meaning you’ll not have to download any other software.
Another impressive thing about this website is that its online search tool is available completely free of charge. You can use it to search for as many articles as you like without having to deal with any restrictions.
To use it, copy the URL of the web page with the paywall, and then paste it into the search box on the website. Hit the enter button and allow the website to scan through the internet for archived versions of the article.
Archived articles are often hosted on independent websites and that means the article you are reading will be the version that is stored on the third-party website and not the primary source.
There is also a Chrome extension version of this tool which makes it even more convenient. Once you install the extension, all you have to do is visit the page with the paywall and it will be removed automatically.
It is important to note that you’ll need to pay a one-time fee to access the Chrome extension version.
2. PayWall Blocker
PayWall Blocker is a web extension you can install on your browser and start reading articles that would otherwise be inaccessible. It is compatible with a variety of modern browsers including Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and Opera Mini.
This extension works in a unique way because instead of getting rid of the paywall itself, it hides the overview articles first. But when you move the cursor over the article for a second time, everything will be visible just like on a normal web page.
PayWall Blocker comes in a small file size and installs in a few seconds. Additionally, it utilizes a fraction of the system’s resources which is why you can be sure to continue enjoying fast loading speeds.
This extension is ideal for opening magazines, newspapers, and news websites. It is available free of charge so you can download and start using it immediately.
3. Wayback Machine
Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine is a digital archive that searches through the internet and creates copies of pages on websites. It was created in 1996 but was made available for public use in 2001.
Since then, it has become a reliable resource for individuals who are looking for information that was once available on the World Wide Web. This site can be a good place to go when you have difficulty getting through paywalls.
It creates copies of web pages without retaining the paywalls. That means if you enter the URL of the page you are trying to access, chances are that you will get a copy of it on the Wayback Machine.
This website has a simple interface making it easy for just about anyone to navigate. The site also provides the date and time of the exact moment that it created the copy of the original web page.
Wayback Machine displays the content of the paywalled page precisely as it appeared on the original site. It does not provide a copy of every web page on the internet but it has one of the largest databases so it’s worth giving it a shot.
Explore the best alternatives to Wayback Machine here.
4. Unpaywall
A visit to the official Unpaywall website will reveal a handy extension that is likely to help you overcome the difficulty of getting through paywalls. The extension comes in a small file that downloads and installs fast.
What’s more, the extension works in the background while also utilizing a fraction of your system’s resources and that means you won’t even notice a change in loading speeds.
Unlike most solutions on this list, Unpaywall mainly focuses on availing scholarly content to its users. A notable thing to keep in mind is that it is a non-profit entity which is why you can expect to access the content you need without paying anything.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Unpaywall is an open-source software meaning that anyone with some programming understanding can access the source code and make slight adjustments to suit their specific needs.
Unlike some paywall bypass solutions, Unpaywall redirects users to legal articles that are hosted on public or governmental websites. That means the extension does not necessarily grant you access to the original web page.
Instead, it looks for other websites with the same information but without the paywall.
5. The Free Internet Plugin
The Free Internet Plugin is a plugin specially designed to work on Chrome browsers. It is a free and open source software so anyone can access its source code and make adjustments or make suggestions for improvement.
The developers behind this plugin believe that the internet should be a space where people go to get free information. Accordingly, they believe that paywalls interrupt the smooth flow of information and force users to subscribe or pay for things that should be readily available.
Instead of removing paywalls from websites, the tool filters your searches in such a way that all the results will be sites without paywalls. That means any site that has a paywall will not appear on your search results.
Keep in mind that sometimes you waste a lot of time opening websites only to end up getting frustrated because you cannot read through the entire page. This plugin is quite convenient because once you install it you do not have to do anything else.
Just search for whatever you want and you’ll get results that grant access to all content on the site.
6. AdBlock with Link Intelligence
Adblock with Link Intelligence is another impressive solution to use when dealing with paywall websites. It is another free and open-source extension so you don’t have to worry about spending money to enjoy its benefits.
Instead, all you have to do is download and install it on your Chrome browser. Once activated, it will put a red line under any website that has a paywall.
You can then hover your cursor over the website to find more information regarding the kind of paywall it has. For instance, you can get to know if the website has an aggressive or metered paywall before you click on it.
This extension is not limited to paywalls. Instead, it also underlines sites that have things like clickbait or potentially dangerous malware.
Another advantage of using this extension is that it blocks all forms of adverts. What’s more, it prevents trackers from monitoring or gathering information about your online activity.
7. 12ft Ladder
12 Foot Ladder is another website you can visit when you need to bypass a paywall. The website works seamlessly on almost all modern browsers.
To get rid of a paywall, copy the URL of the page you want to access and then paste it into the search box in 12ft Ladder. Hit the enter button and watch as the site does its magic.
Alternatively, you can use this technique to get rid of the paywall – https://12ft.io/<URL>. This website is accessible to people from all over the world.
It is also available to use free of charge. It works by accessing cached copies of web pages from Google.
This site’s developer believes that the internet should be a place where people access free information without having to sign up for services that they are probably never going to use.
Find out the best alternatives to 12 Foot Ladder here.
8. Readium
Next up on this list of the best paywall bypass websites is Readium. It is an extension that allows you to gain access to articles that would otherwise require you to sign up or pay a fee.
It is popularly used to gain access to sites such as The New York Times, Business Insider, Medium, Bloomberg, and Toward Data Science. To start using this tool, you’ll need to visit the main website and locate the Readium button.
Once you find it, click and hold it, and then drag it to your bookmarks section and drop it. After you do that, you’ll be ready to start using it since you can simply go to the website with the paywall and open the page you wish to read.
If the page does not open automatically, click on the Readium bookmarklet and it will open the content automatically. This is another open-source solution to bypassing paywalls so you can modify it or make suggestions on how it can be improved.
It is also available completely free of charge and is easy to use.
9. Postlight Reader
Postlight Reader is an extension that is designed to clear the clutter on any website. Luckily, it also considers soft paywalls as clutter and for that reason, you are likely to get through and read articles that would otherwise be inaccessible.
This extension was primarily designed to support Google Chrome but today it works seamlessly with Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox. Once you download and install it on your browser, all you have to do is activate it whenever you run into a site with a paywall.
The extension removes pop-up ads that may end up causing distractions while you are reading. It also allows you to adjust the fonts and sizes of texts on any page.
As if that wasn’t enough, you can toggle between light and dark modes depending on your preference. Postlight Reader is available to install and use completely free of charge.
10. uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin is another browser extension that is compatible with Chrome and Firefox and does an exceptional job of bypassing paywalls. It is a CPU and memory-efficient wide-spectrum content blocker.
Once you install it on your browser, you can be sure to enjoy smooth access to web pages that utilize soft paywalls. Additionally, it helps in blocking advertisements that may end up causing distractions.
uBlock Origin is also known for preventing trackers from collecting your online data. It can also help block coin miners, anti-blockers, and malware sites.
This extension is unique because it has a long list of things you can block or unblock by simply clicking on a button. It is available to use free of charge.
11. ChatGPT
Another way for you to get around paywalls is by signing up for a ChatGPT account and then using it to get the information you need.
Once you have an account, all you have to do is copy the URL of the article you are trying to access, paste it into ChatGPT, and ask it to summarize the article.
After a short moment, you will see a summarized version of the article that you could not access on the original site. In case you want to know more, simply ask for more details and the chatbot will find more information about the article.
Check out the best alternatives to ChatGPT in this post.
12. Reader Mode
Reader Mode is a Chrome extension that is meant to make your online reading experience pleasant. It works by removing clutter including things like paywalls, ads, and other forms of distractions.
With this extension, not only do you get rid of paywalls, but you also get to annotate pages, turn text into speech, and generate citations based on the article you are reading.
The extension has a free version with limited features and functionality. In case you want to unlock its full potential, you’ll have to subscribe to one of its premium versions.
Wrapping Up
While it may not be possible to bypass hard paywalls, the websites and tools detailed above can be an excellent way for you to bypass soft paywalls.
Options such as Incoggo and Remove Paywall are quite effective and should work on a majority of websites.
Extensions such as Postlight Reader and Readium not only help get rid of paywalls but also include features such as font adjustments and ad blocking which results in a pleasant reading experience.
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