What you get with a New York Times digital subscription
A New York Times digital subscription gives you online access to articles, opinion pieces, audio journalism, and video content from nytimes.com and the New York Times mobile app. The subscription removes the paywall that limits how many articles you can read per month without paying. You also get access to the Times's games — the daily crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, and others — which are included with most subscription tiers.
The Times offers three main subscription levels: Digital, All Access, and a bundle that includes the print edition. The Digital plan is the entry-level option and covers everything online. All Access adds the print newspaper delivered to your home. A third option bundles digital access with the print edition and the Times Magazine. Each tier has a different monthly cost, and the Times frequently runs promotional rates for new subscribers.
You can read on any device — phone, tablet, or computer — and your subscription follows you across all of them. You can also read articles to read offline, which is useful if you travel or commute without reliable internet.
Key Takeaways
- A digital subscription removes the article limit and gives you full access to nytimes.com, the app, games, and audio content.
- The Times charges different prices for Digital, All Access (digital plus print), and bundles that include the magazine.
- New subscribers often see introductory rates that are lower than the standard monthly price, which increases after the promotional period ends.
- You can share your subscription with up to five household members through the Times's account-sharing feature, though the company has begun limiting this.
- Cancellation can be done online through your account settings at any time, and you keep access through the end of your current billing period.
How much a New York Times subscription costs
The New York Times does not publish a single fixed price. Instead, it offers introductory rates to new subscribers and charges different amounts depending on when you sign up, which plan you choose, and what promotions are running. A Digital subscription might start at $1 per week for the first four weeks, then move to a higher regular price. The All Access plan (digital plus print) typically costs more, often starting at a promotional rate and increasing after the initial period.
The standard monthly price for Digital access is higher than the introductory rate, but the exact amount varies. The Times adjusts its pricing regularly and may offer different rates to different readers. The best way to see the current price is to visit nytimes.com/subscribe and enter your information — the site will show you what rate you may have access to for before you commit.
If you already subscribe to another service — such as Apple News+, certain Verizon plans, or a college or university account — you may have New York Times access included at no additional cost. Check your existing subscriptions before purchasing a separate plan.
How to set up a New York Times digital subscription
Go to nytimes.com/subscribe and select the plan you want. You will enter your email address, create a password, and choose a payment method — credit card, debit card, or PayPal. The Times will charge your payment method on the date you set up the subscription and then on the same date each billing cycle (weekly, monthly, or annually, depending on your plan).
After you complete the purchase, you can log in when ready and start reading. If you are on a mobile device, read the New York Times app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, then sign in with the same email and password. Your subscription works across all devices automatically.
If you have a promotional code — sometimes offered through email, social media, or partner websites — enter it during checkout to explore the discount before you pay.
Account sharing and household access
The New York Times allows you to share your subscription with up to five household members through a feature called "Manage my account." Each person gets their own login and can customize their reading preferences, saved articles, and game scores. To add someone, go to your account settings, select "Manage household," and send them an invitation using their email address.
The Times defines "household" as people who live at the same address. The company has begun enforcing this rule more strictly and may ask you to verify your location if it detects logins from different cities or countries. If someone outside your household uses your account regularly, the Times may require them to purchase their own subscription.
If you remove someone from your household, they lose access when ready, even if they are in the middle of reading an article.
What happens when your subscription renews or ends
Your subscription renews automatically on the date it is set to renew — weekly, monthly, or annually, depending on what you chose. The Times will charge your payment method on that date. You will receive a confirmation email showing the charge and your new renewal date.
If you want to cancel, log into your account at nytimes.com, go to "Manage my account," and select "Cancel subscription." You will see options to pause temporarily or cancel permanently. If you cancel, you keep access through the end of your current billing period — if you paid for a month, you can read until that month ends. After that date, you will see the paywall again when you visit nytimes.com.
If your payment method fails or expires, the Times will attempt to charge a backup payment method if you have one on file. If all payment methods fail, your subscription will be suspended until you update your payment information.
Common issues and how to fix them
If you are seeing the paywall even though you have a subscription, try logging out and logging back in. Clear your browser's cache and cookies, then reload the page. If you are using the app, try closing it completely and reopening it. Sometimes the app needs to refresh your subscription status.
If you are on a shared household account and someone else's login is not working, check that they are using the correct email and password. If they have forgotten their password, they can reset it by clicking "Forgot password" on the login page. The Times will send them a reset link to their email.
If you are charged twice in one billing cycle, contact the Times's customer service through your account settings. You can also email them or call the number listed in your account. Keep your confirmation emails as proof of the duplicate charge.
If you signed up for a promotional rate and it increased sooner than expected, check your confirmation email to see when the promotional period was supposed to end. The Times sometimes extends promotional rates if you contact customer service before the increase takes effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read New York Times articles without a subscription?
Yes, but with limits. The Times allows you to read a certain number of articles per month without paying — usually around 5 to 10, depending on how you access the site. Once you hit that limit, you see a paywall. A subscription removes this limit entirely.
What is the difference between Digital and All Access?
Digital is online only — nytimes.com, the app, and games. All Access adds the print newspaper delivered to your home. All Access costs more per month. If you only read online, Digital is sufficient.
Can I pause my subscription instead of canceling?
Yes. When you go to cancel, the Times offers a pause option that suspends your subscription for up to three months. You will not be charged during the pause, and your subscription resumes automatically when the pause ends. This is useful if you know you will not have time to read for a while but want to keep your account active.
Do I need a separate subscription to play the New York Times games?
The daily crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, and other games are included with a digital subscription. You can play them on nytimes.com/games or in the app. Some games are free to play a limited number of times per day, but a subscription gives you unlimited access.
What happens to my saved articles if I cancel?
Your saved articles remain in your account, but you will not be able to read them after your subscription ends if they are behind the paywall. You can still access them if you log back in after you resubscribe, but you cannot read them during the time you are not subscribed.