What a New York Times subscription costs and includes
The New York Times offers several subscription tiers, each with different access levels and prices. The most common option is the All Access subscription, which gives you unlimited articles on the website and the mobile app, plus the daily newspaper delivered to your home if you choose print. As of 2024, All Access costs roughly $17 per month for digital only, though the New York Times frequently runs promotional rates—often $1 per week for the first month or two. Print-only and print-plus-digital bundles cost more and vary by location.
Beyond All Access, the Times offers bundle subscriptions that pair the news subscription with other products: Games (crosswords, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed), Cooking (recipes and meal planning), or both. A bundle typically costs a few dollars more per month than the news subscription alone. The Times also sells individual subscriptions to Games or Cooking without the news, if you want only one product.
All subscriptions renew automatically each month or year, depending on which plan you choose. You can pause or cancel anytime through your account settings on the Times website—no phone call required. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access until the end of your billing period.
Key Takeaways
- The New York Times All Access subscription costs around $17 per month for digital, but promotional rates of $1 per week for the first month are common when you first sign up.
- You can bundle the news subscription with Games, Cooking, or both for a few dollars more per month than the news alone.
- Print delivery is available in some areas and costs more than digital-only; prices vary by location and whether you want print alone or print plus digital.
- Subscriptions renew automatically each month or year, and you can cancel or pause anytime through your account without contacting customer service.
- If you have a home delivery subscription to the printed newspaper, you may already have digital access included at no extra cost.
How to start a New York Times subscription
To begin, go to nytimes.com and click the "Subscribe" button, usually in the top right corner of the page. The Times will show you the available plans—digital only, print only, or print plus digital—and the current promotional rate if one is running. Select the plan you want and choose whether to pay monthly or annually (annual plans usually cost less per month).
Next, you will create an account with an email address and password, or sign in with Google or Apple if you already have one of those accounts. Enter your payment method (credit card, debit card, or PayPal) and billing address. If you choose a plan that includes print delivery, you will also enter your delivery address. The Times will confirm your order and send a confirmation email.
Digital access usually begins when ready. Print delivery typically starts within 5 to 7 business days, though this varies by location. You can log in to your account at any time to view your subscription details, update your payment method, or manage which products you receive.
Understanding the article limit and how it works
If you do not have a subscription, the New York Times allows you to read a limited number of articles per month for free—typically around 5 to 10 articles, depending on how you access the site. Once you hit that limit, you will see a message asking you to subscribe. This limit resets each month.
With a paid subscription, this limit disappears entirely. You can read as many articles as you want, whenever you want, on the website and the mobile app. The limit applies only to the web browser and the official Times app; some third-party apps or email newsletters may have different rules.
If you reach the free article limit and do not want to subscribe, you can sometimes clear your browser cookies to reset the counter, though the Times actively works to prevent this. The most straightforward approach is to subscribe at the promotional rate if one is available.
Accessing your subscription on different devices
Once you have a subscription, you can read the Times on any device where you log in with your account. read the New York Times app on your phone or tablet from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, then sign in with your email and password. The app works offline—you can read articles to read later without an internet connection.
On a computer, straightforward go to nytimes.com and log in. You do not need to read anything. If you use multiple browsers or computers, you can log in on all of them; there is no limit to the number of devices you can use, though the Times does limit simultaneous streams (you cannot share your login with many people at once).
If you have trouble logging in, check that you are using the email address associated with your account. If you forgot your password, click "Forgot password?" on the login page and follow the reset link sent to your email.
What happens when your subscription renews
Your subscription renews automatically on the same date each month or year, depending on which plan you chose. A few days before renewal, the Times sends an email reminder to the address on your account. The charge appears on your credit card or payment method on the renewal date.
If your payment method is expired or declined, the Times will attempt to charge a backup payment method if you have one on file. If all payment methods fail, your access will be paused until you update your billing information. You can do this in your account settings under "Manage your subscription."
If you want to change your plan—for example, switching from monthly to annual, or adding Games to your subscription—you can do so anytime in your account settings. Changes take effect on your next renewal date.
Pausing or canceling your subscription
You can pause your subscription for up to 12 weeks without losing your account or payment history. When you pause, you will not be charged, and your access will be suspended. After the pause ends, your subscription automatically resumes and you will be charged again. To pause, log into your account, go to "Manage your subscription," and select "Pause subscription."
To cancel permanently, go to the same "Manage your subscription" page and select "Cancel subscription." The Times will ask why you are leaving and may offer you a discounted rate to stay. If you decline, your access ends at the end of your current billing period. You will not be charged again, and you can resubscribe anytime.
If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store instead of directly through the Times website, you must cancel through that app store, not through the Times website. Open the app store, find your subscriptions, and cancel from there.
Getting a subscription through your employer or library
Some employers, universities, and public libraries offer free or discounted New York Times subscriptions to their members. Check with your employer's benefits office or your local library to see if they have a partnership with the Times. If they do, they will provide you with a code or a special sign-up link.
If you sign up through an employer or library, your subscription is usually free or heavily discounted, but it may end when you leave the organization or when your library membership expires. The terms depend on the specific partnership.
You can also check whether you already have access. If you have a home delivery subscription to the printed New York Times newspaper, your account may already include digital access at no extra cost. Log in at nytimes.com to see what you have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my New York Times login with family members?
The Times allows you to share your login with people in your household, but not with people outside your home. The company monitors for unusual activity and may ask you to verify your location if it detects logins from different cities or countries. For families who want separate accounts, the Times offers a "Family Plan" in some regions, though availability varies.
What if I want to cancel but keep reading some articles?
After you cancel, you will return to the free article limit—usually 5 to 10 articles per month. You can read that many articles for free each month indefinitely. If you hit the limit and want to read more, you can resubscribe anytime, often at a promotional rate.
Does the New York Times subscription include the Sunday paper?
If you have a print subscription, the Sunday edition is included. If you have digital-only, you do not receive the printed Sunday paper, but you can read all Sunday content on the website and app. Some people subscribe to print only for the Sunday paper and read digital content free during the week.
Why am I being charged a different amount than I expected?
Promotional rates usually last for a set number of weeks or months, then the price increases to the regular rate. Check your confirmation email or account settings to see when your promotional period ends. You can also contact New York Times customer service through your account to ask about the charge.
Can I get a refund if I cancel mid-month?
The Times does not refund unused portions of your subscription. However, you keep access until the end of your billing period, so you are not losing access when ready. If you were charged in error or have a billing dispute, contact customer service through your account settings.