What you get with a Financial Times subscription

The Financial Times offers three main subscription tiers: a digital-only plan, a print-plus-digital plan, and a print-only plan. Each one gives you access to different combinations of the FT's news content, analysis, and tools. The digital plan costs the least and works on any device with a web browser or the FT app. The print-plus-digital plan bundles a physical newspaper with full digital access. The print-only plan is the least common option and is typically offered to existing print subscribers who do not want digital access.

Pricing varies depending on whether you pay monthly, annually, or use a promotional rate. The FT frequently runs discounted introductory offers — often around £1 per week for the first few months — before the price rises to the standard rate. Standard rates change periodically and differ by country; UK subscribers pay in pounds sterling, US subscribers in dollars, and so on. You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time, though some promotional rates require you to complete a minimum term before cancelling without penalty.

Key Takeaways

  • The Financial Times offers digital-only, print-plus-digital, and print-only subscriptions, with digital-only being the lowest-cost option.
  • Introductory rates are typically much lower than standard rates and last for a set number of weeks or months before the full price takes effect.
  • You can manage your subscription, pause it, or cancel it through your FT account settings without contacting customer service.
  • The FT's paywall allows you to read a limited number of free articles per month before requiring a subscription.
  • Student and institutional subscriptions are available at different rates and terms than individual consumer plans.

Digital-only subscription: access on all devices

A digital-only subscription gives you unlimited access to FT.com and the Financial Times app on phones and tablets. You can read articles, watch video content, use the FT's tools like the markets data and company research pages, and save articles to read later. The digital plan works across multiple devices — you can log in on your phone, tablet, and computer simultaneously. You do not receive a printed newspaper with this plan.

Digital subscriptions renew automatically on a monthly or annual basis, depending on which billing cycle you chose at sign-up. You can change your billing frequency or pause your subscription through your account settings. If you cancel, your access ends at the end of your current billing period; you are not charged again, but you also cannot read articles after that date.

Print-plus-digital subscription: newspaper and online access

The print-plus-digital plan includes a printed Financial Times newspaper delivered to your address, plus full digital access to FT.com and the app. Delivery frequency varies by country and subscription type — some plans deliver Monday through Saturday, others deliver daily including Sunday. You choose your delivery address during sign-up, and you can update it through your account at any time.

Print subscriptions typically cost more than digital-only and are billed monthly or annually. Delivery times depend on your location; UK subscribers usually receive the paper the morning of publication, while international delivery can take several days. If you travel or want to skip a week, you can pause your print delivery through your account without pausing your digital access. When you cancel a print subscription, your final newspaper is delivered at the end of your billing period.

How the FT paywall works and when you need a subscription

The Financial Times uses a metered paywall, which means you can read a limited number of articles for free each month before hitting a limit. The exact number of free articles changes, but it is typically between 10 and 15 per month. Once you reach the limit, you see a message asking you to subscribe. You can still read some content without a subscription — breaking news, some opinion pieces, and certain data pages are sometimes free — but most in-depth reporting and analysis requires a subscription.

If you clear your browser cookies or use a private browsing window, the counter resets, but this is a workaround rather than a permanent solution. The FT tracks your reading across devices if you are logged in, so logging in to your account counts against your monthly limit on all your devices at once. Subscribing removes the paywall entirely and gives you unlimited reading.

Promotional rates and how they work

The Financial Times regularly offers introductory rates to new subscribers — commonly £1 per week, $1 per week, or similar low amounts in other currencies. These rates typically last for 12 weeks, though the length varies by offer. After the introductory period ends, your subscription automatically renews at the standard rate unless you cancel. You can see the standard rate before you complete your purchase, so you know what you will pay after the promotion ends.

Some promotional offers require you to stay subscribed for a minimum period — often 12 weeks — before you can cancel without being charged the standard rate for the remainder of that period. Others allow you to cancel at any time. The terms are shown during sign-up. If you cancel during a promotional period that has a minimum term, you may be charged the difference between what you paid and what the standard rate would have been. Always read the cancellation terms before signing up.

Student and institutional subscriptions

Students at accredited universities can often access the Financial Times through their institution's library subscription or through a student discount program. Some universities include FT access as part of their library databases; you log in through your university account to read. Other universities offer students a discounted individual subscription rate. Contact your university library to find out what is available to you.

Institutions — universities, corporations, and libraries — can purchase group subscriptions that give multiple users access to FT content. Institutional subscriptions are billed differently than individual plans and often include additional features like usage analytics and dedicated support. If you work at an organization that might benefit from institutional access, you can contact the FT's sales team for a quote.

Managing your subscription and making changes

Once you have a subscription, you manage it through your FT account. You can update your payment method, change your billing frequency from monthly to annual or vice versa, pause your subscription for a set period, or cancel entirely. Pausing is useful if you are traveling or temporarily do not want to be charged; your subscription resumes on the date you choose. Cancelling ends your access at the end of your current billing period.

If you have a print subscription and want to add digital access, or vice versa, you can upgrade or downgrade through your account. The price difference is prorated based on the time remaining in your current billing period. If you forget your password or have trouble logging in, the FT offers a password reset option on the login page; you do not need to contact customer service for basic account issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read Financial Times articles without a subscription?

Yes, you can read a limited number of articles per month for free — usually between 10 and 15 — before the paywall stops you. Some content like breaking news and certain data pages may be free even after you hit your limit. A subscription removes the paywall and gives you unlimited reading.

What happens to my subscription if I cancel?

Your access ends at the end of your current billing period. You are not charged again after you cancel, but you cannot read articles after that date. If you have a print subscription, your final newspaper is delivered at the end of your billing period.

Can I pause my subscription instead of cancelling?

Yes. You can pause your subscription for a set number of weeks through your account settings, and it will resume on the date you choose. During the pause, you are not charged. This is useful if you are traveling or temporarily do not want access.

Do I have to pay the standard rate after my introductory offer ends?

Yes, unless you cancel before the introductory period ends. Some promotional offers have a minimum term, meaning you cannot cancel without penalty until that term is up. Always check the cancellation terms before signing up so you know what you are agreeing to.

Can I use my subscription on multiple devices at the same time?

Yes. You can log in to your FT account on your phone, tablet, and computer and read simultaneously. Your login is tied to your account, not to a single device, so you can switch between devices freely.