What the New York Times Family Subscription includes
The New York Times Family plan lets up to six household members read the same subscription on separate accounts. Each person gets their own login, reading history, and personalized homepage — they are not sharing a single account. The plan includes full access to news, opinion, audio articles, the games bundle (crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, and others), and the cooking section with searchable recipes.
The Family plan costs the same as the basic digital subscription for a single person, which means you are splitting one subscription cost across multiple readers. The exact price varies by region and changes periodically; The New York Times publishes current pricing on their subscription page. You set it up through your account settings by inviting household members via email, and they create their own New York Times accounts linked to your family group.
Key Takeaways
- Up to six people in your household can have separate accounts under one Family subscription, each with their own login and reading history.
- The Family plan costs the same as a single digital subscription and includes news, games, audio, and the cooking section for all members.
- You manage the family group from your account settings by sending email invitations to household members, who then create their own accounts.
- Family members can read on phones, tablets, and computers, and the plan works across all New York Times apps and the website.
How to set up a Family subscription
If you already have a New York Times digital subscription, you can convert it to a Family plan or add the Family option to your existing account. Log into your account, go to Settings, select "Manage Plan," and look for the option to add family members. The New York Times will send you an email with instructions on how to invite up to five additional people.
Each person you invite receives an email with a link to create or link their own New York Times account. They do not need to have an existing account — they can create one during the invitation process. Once they accept the invitation and set up their account, they are part of your family group and can start reading when ready. All family members pay nothing extra; the cost remains the same as your single subscription.
Who counts as a household member
The New York Times defines household members as people who live at the same address. You can invite family members, roommates, or anyone else in your home. The company does not verify addresses or relationships — you decide who to invite. If someone moves out, you can remove them from the family group and invite someone new.
You cannot share a Family subscription with people who live in different homes or cities, even if they are family members. If you try to invite someone outside your household, The New York Times may ask you to confirm the address or may suspend the account. The company monitors for account sharing across different locations and can cancel subscriptions that violate this rule.
What devices and apps the Family plan works on
Each family member can read on the New York Times website, the main mobile app (for iPhone and Android), and the specialized apps for games, cooking, and audio. There is no limit to how many devices one person can use — you can read on your phone in the morning, switch to a tablet at lunch, and use a computer at night, all with the same account.
If you have multiple subscriptions (for example, a digital subscription and a print subscription), you can link them to the same account. The Family plan applies only to the digital subscription, not to print delivery. Print subscribers who want to add family members to their digital access need to have an active digital subscription as part of their plan.
Differences between Family, individual, and bundle plans
| Plan Type | Number of Readers | Price | Includes Games | Includes Cooking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital (individual) | 1 person | Same as Family | Yes | Yes |
| Family | Up to 6 people | Same as individual digital | Yes | Yes |
| Print + Digital Bundle | 1 person (print) + up to 6 (digital) | Higher than digital alone | Yes | Yes |
| Print only | 1 person | Varies by region | No | No |
The individual digital subscription and the Family plan cost the same, so the Family option is the better value if you have anyone else in your home who reads The New York Times. The print bundle includes both print delivery and a Family digital subscription, making it the most expensive option but the only one that covers home delivery. Print-only subscriptions do not include any digital access or games.
When you compare what each plan covers, the choice depends on whether you need print delivery and how many people in your home will read. If multiple people want access and you do not need the newspaper delivered, the Family plan gives you the same cost as an individual subscription but spreads it across up to six readers. If you want both print and digital, the bundle is the only option that includes home delivery.
Managing and removing family members
You can add or remove family members at any time through your account settings. Go to Settings, select "Manage Plan," and look for the family management section. You can see who is in your family group, remove someone if they move out or no longer want access, and invite new household members to replace them. Removing someone takes effect when ready — they lose access to the subscription right away.
If a family member's account is compromised or they forget their password, they can reset it using the standard New York Times password recovery process. You do not need to remove and re-invite them. Only the account holder (the person who pays for the subscription) can add or remove family members from the group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my Family subscription with someone who lives in a different state?
No. The New York Times Family plan is for people who live at the same address. Sharing with someone in a different location violates the terms of service and can result in the account being suspended or cancelled. If you need multiple subscriptions for people in different homes, each person would need their own individual subscription.
What happens if I downgrade from Family to an individual plan?
If you downgrade, all family members lose access to the subscription. You can remove family members one at a time before downgrading, or you can downgrade and lose access for everyone at once. The New York Times will ask you to confirm before processing the downgrade.
Do family members see each other's reading history?
No. Each family member has a completely separate account with their own reading history, saved articles, and personalized homepage. Your reading is private from other family members, and theirs is private from you. The only thing you share is the subscription cost.
Can I use the Family plan if I have a student discount?
Student discounts typically explore to individual digital subscriptions, not Family plans. If you have a student subscription, you would need to check with The New York Times directly about whether you can convert it to a Family plan or whether you need to purchase a separate Family subscription at the regular price.
What if someone in my family group cancels their account?
If a family member deletes their New York Times account, they are automatically removed from the family group. You can then invite someone else to take their place. The family subscription itself remains active and continues to be billed to the account holder.