In many cases, it happens to users that an article from a media outlet that they access through a Google search or that they find on a social network has a limit of monthly views or is premium content available only by subscription. To overcome that restriction, it is usually necessary to subscribe to the service and pay to access the exclusive content.
In this article I am going to explain several ways to avoid that closure of content in the year 2025. All of the ways explained below are valid and do not violate any rules or are illegal.
BlBlock Javacript
On many occasions the paywall is activated by using Javascript. JavaScript is a language that web pages use to execute actions. If you access a page that has subscription content, press the F12 key or right-click on the browser and then INSPECT. Then click on the ADJUSTMENT wheel and then look for the DISABLE JAVASCRIPT option.
Archive.is, online content archiver
Archive.is works as an archiving service that instantly generates a static copy of any web page, storing its HTML code, images, and associated resources in a snapshot independent of the original server. In this way, it ensures the immutable preservation of the content even if the source changes, is deleted, or access is restricted. Unlike other continuous archiving services like the Wayback Machine, Archive.is operates on-demand and offers a permanent URL that acts as verifiable proof of how the page was displayed at any given time. To activate it, you need to type https://archive.is/ and then the URL of the page you want to view.
Use Incognito Mode
This trick is one of the easiest to get around the payment barrier and works on most websites. You can see how to do this in Mozilla and Chrome.
Use a VPN or just TOR
A VPN (virtual private network), as the name suggests, creates a private network that changes locations. Those sites that allow you to read some articles that can be 10 or 15, keep the records by tracking the details of the IP, the address through which the Internet is browsed. If you use a VPN, it will happen that you will get a different IP, even from another country and this will allow you to read thousands of articles for free and avoid the paywall.
Tor is a browser for private use that works similar to a layered onion. Once you open the browser you connect to a circuit of three computers as can be seen in Fig. 1. The first computer, the protection node, knows who you are. Then there are two other layers of onion which are servers two and three, which know what you are browsing, but not where you are coming from.
Reset your browser cookies
There are certain websites that allow you to read some articles for free without any account or trial plan, but then ask you to pay to read more articles. This is because they are tracking the number of articles that are read, and this is done using cookies. Each browser has a different way of deleting cookies. In Mozilla Firefox it is very simple, click on the padlock to the left of the URL and then CLEAR COOKIES AND SITE DATA.
Search for the article in case it is duplicate
The Internet is a wild and wonderful place at the same time. There are websites that directly copy articles from well-known publications and publish them on their own site. There are also agencies that sell the same news to other media and there may be media that publish it by subscription and others free-to-air. The content of the news is the same as it comes from an agency. To avoid having to subscribe, you can copy the title of the article by subscription and then do a search by putting that title in quotation marks (» «).
Summary
Access to information is essential in a globalized world where the same news item is commented on on a multitude of websites. The policy of viewing content by subscription allows many websites to be maintained, although they lose readers.
This article discusses different methods for viewing digital media content without the need to formalize a paid subscription. Alternatives based on the consultation of cached copies or available in web archiving services are analyzed, which allow access to the information without directly resorting to the subscription system implemented by the provider.
