Paste a paywalled link. Get every free way to read it.
We check the link and line up the archives and readers most likely to have a free copy, in the order that works best for that site.
Try these, in order
Nothing there? Press Save new copy on Archive.today or the Wayback Machine, give it a minute, then open it again.
How it works
One link in, a ranked list out
Paste the link
Copy the address of the article from your browser or app. Short links and links with tracking tags are fine; we clean them up.
We pick the order
Hard paywalls like the WSJ or the FT are best served by archives. Metered paywalls often open through Google's translator. Medium stories need a Medium reader. The list adapts.
Open, or fall back
Each option opens in a new tab. If the first one has no copy, the next is one click away, and you can ask an archive to save a fresh copy.
Know your paywall
Which method works for which paywall
Not every paywall is built the same way, so no single trick works everywhere. Here is what to reach for first.
| Paywall type | What you see | Try first | Then |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard paywall | Only a headline and a paragraph, even on your first visit. Common at the WSJ, FT, Bloomberg and The Economist. | Archive.today | RemovePaywall, Wayback Machine |
| Metered (soft) paywall | A few free articles a month, then a pop-up. Common at news sites and magazines. | Archive.today | Google Translate proxy, Wayback Machine |
| Registration wall | "Create a free account to keep reading." | Wayback Machine | Archive.today, smry |
| Medium member-only | A star next to the date and a "Member-only story" label. | Freedium | Archive.today |
| Breaking news | Published in the last hour or two, so no archive has it yet. | Find a syndicated copy | Save a new Archive.today copy |
Shortcuts
Use it without opening this page
Bookmarklet
Drag this button to your bookmarks bar. On any paywalled article, click it to jump straight to your options.
Type it in front
In the address bar, put breakpaywall.com/ in front of the article link and press Enter:
breakpaywall.com/https://www.example.com/story
Share from your phone
On Android, open this site in Chrome and choose Add to Home screen. Break Paywall then shows up in the share menu of any app. On iPhone, copy the link and tap Paste here.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is Break Paywall?
Break Paywall is a free web tool. You paste the link to a paywalled article and it lists the public archives and readers most likely to have a free copy, such as Archive.today and the Wayback Machine, in the order that tends to work best for that site. It does not host, copy or alter any article.
Is Break Paywall free?
Yes. There is no account, no subscription and no limit. The site is supported by ads.
Is it legal to use?
Break Paywall only links to public services such as the Internet Archive and Archive.today. It does not store or change articles. Whether reading an archived copy is allowed can depend on where you live and on the publisher's terms, so check if you are unsure. If you read a publication often, a subscription is the best way to support its journalism.
Why didn't it work for my article?
Usually because nobody has archived that article yet, or the publisher blocks archives. Use the Save new copy button next to Archive.today or the Wayback Machine, wait a minute, then open it again. For very new articles, also try the Find a syndicated copy option, since wire stories are often republished free elsewhere.
What happened to 12ft.io?
12ft.io (12 Foot Ladder) was taken offline in 2025 after action by the News/Media Alliance. Break Paywall works differently: instead of fetching pages itself, it sends you to established archives and readers, and it lists several so you have a fallback when one fails. More on 12ft.io alternatives.
Do you store the links I paste?
No. The tool runs in your browser and the link is only sent to the service you choose to open. Our analytics record which method was clicked, never the article address.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. On Android you can add Break Paywall to your home screen and then share links straight to it from any app. On iPhone, copy the link, open breakpaywall.com and tap Paste.