The New York Times Games subscription costs $6.99 per month or $40 per year

The New York Times Games subscription is a separate paid service from the main New York Times news subscription. You get access to the daily crossword puzzle, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and other word games through the New York Times website and mobile app. The monthly plan costs $6.99, and the annual plan costs $40 — which works out to about $3.33 per month if you pay upfront.

You do not need a New York Times news subscription to buy the Games subscription. They are two separate products, and you can have one without the other. If you already subscribe to the full New York Times (which includes news, cooking, and games), you already have Games included and do not need to pay again.

The subscription renews automatically each month or year, depending on which plan you chose. You can cancel anytime through your account settings on the New York Times website.

Key Takeaways

  • The Games subscription costs $6.99 per month or $40 per year and includes the daily crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and other puzzles.
  • You can start a Games subscription without buying a news subscription, and the two do not overlap in price.
  • If you already have a full New York Times subscription, Games are included at no extra cost.
  • You can cancel the subscription at any time through your account page on nytimes.com.
  • The subscription renews automatically, so you will be charged again unless you cancel before the renewal date.

Which games are included in the subscription

The subscription includes the daily crossword puzzle (the one most people know about), Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, Quordle, and Connections. New York Times also rotates in other games periodically. You get access to the current day's puzzle and the archive of past puzzles going back several years, so you can solve old ones whenever you want.

Some games like the mini crossword and the Spelling Bee have a free version with limited puzzles per day. The subscription removes those limits and gives you the full archive. The exact number of free puzzles per day varies by game — for example, you might get one free Spelling Bee per day but need a subscription to play more.

How to start a Games subscription

Go to nytimes.com/games on your computer or open the New York Times app on your phone. Look for the Games section and select any puzzle. If you are not logged in, you will be asked to create or sign into a New York Times account. After a few free puzzles, you will see a prompt to subscribe.

Click the subscription offer and choose between the monthly ($6.99) or annual ($40) plan. Enter your payment method — credit card, debit card, or Apple ID if you are on an iPhone. Your subscription will start when ready, and you will have full access to all games and the archive.

If you subscribe through the New York Times app on iPhone or Android, the price may be slightly higher because Apple and Google take a cut of in-app purchases. Subscribing through the website (nytimes.com) often costs less.

What happens if you already have a New York Times news subscription

If you pay for a New York Times news subscription (the one that gives you unlimited articles), Games are included at no extra charge. You do not need to buy a separate Games subscription. Log into your New York Times account, go to the Games section, and start playing.

If you have a news subscription but want to cancel it, you will lose access to Games unless you buy the Games subscription separately. The two subscriptions are linked to your account but billed separately, so you can have one without the other.

How to cancel your Games subscription

Log into your New York Times account on nytimes.com. Go to your account settings (usually found by clicking your name or profile icon in the top right). Look for "Subscriptions" or "Billing" and find the Games subscription listed there. Click the option to cancel or manage the subscription.

You will see the date your subscription renews. If you cancel before that date, your access will end on the renewal date — you will not be charged again, but you can still play until that day arrives. If you cancel after the renewal date has passed, your next charge will be for the following month or year.

If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store instead of the website, you need to cancel through that app store, not through New York Times. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions and find the New York Times Games subscription. On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, go to Subscriptions, and cancel from there.

Comparing Games subscription to other puzzle services

The New York Times Games subscription is one option for daily puzzles, but other services exist. The Washington Post offers a Games subscription for $10 per month that includes crosswords, Spelling Bee-style games, and others. Some people subscribe to both because the puzzles are different and the difficulty levels vary.

Standalone crossword apps like Crosswordle or Wordscapes have their own pricing models, ranging from free with ads to $5 to $10 per month. The New York Times Games subscription is competitive in price and includes a large archive, which appeals to people who want to solve older puzzles or catch up on ones they missed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I try the Games subscription before I pay?

Yes. You can play a limited number of free puzzles each day without paying. After you hit the limit, you will see a subscription offer. You can also visit nytimes.com/games to see what games are available and try them free before deciding to subscribe.

Will I be charged if I forget to cancel before my renewal date?

Yes. The subscription renews automatically on the date shown in your account settings. If you do not cancel before that date, you will be charged for the next month or year. Check your renewal date in your account settings and cancel a few days early if you do not want to be charged again.

Can I pause my subscription instead of canceling it?

The New York Times does not offer a pause option for Games subscriptions. You can only cancel or keep it active. If you want to stop paying temporarily, you will need to cancel and then resubscribe later.

What if I subscribed through my phone app and want to cancel?

You must cancel through the app store where you subscribed, not through the New York Times website. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions. On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile, select Subscriptions, and find the New York Times Games subscription there.

Does the Games subscription work on all devices?

Yes. You can play on the New York Times website (nytimes.com/games) on any computer, and on the official New York Times app on iPhone and Android. Your progress and saved games sync across devices as long as you are logged into the same account.