What The Week Magazine subscription includes
The Week is a weekly news digest published in print and digital formats. A subscription gives you access to the magazine's condensed reporting on politics, business, science, culture, and world events — typically delivered to your home or inbox depending on which plan you choose.
The magazine itself is about 50 pages per issue and arrives every Friday or Saturday, depending on your location and mail delivery. Each issue covers the same stories you would find in major newspapers and magazines, but The Week's editors select and summarize the most important pieces rather than printing full articles. The digital version is available through their website and mobile app, usually released on Thursday evening before the print edition arrives.
Most subscriptions include access to the full digital archive, meaning you can read past issues going back several years. Some subscription tiers also include access to The Week's daily email newsletter, which summarizes the day's news in a shorter format than the magazine itself.
Key Takeaways
- The Week offers both print and digital subscriptions, with print arriving weekly and digital available when ready online.
- Subscription costs vary depending on length of commitment and whether you choose print, digital, or both formats.
- You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time, though the terms depend on how you purchased it.
- The magazine is edited for readers who want news summaries rather than full articles, so it takes less time to read than a daily newspaper.
- Digital access includes the full archive of past issues, which you can search and read on demand.
Print vs. digital subscription options
The Week offers three main subscription paths: print only, digital only, or print plus digital combined. Print subscriptions arrive at your mailing address once per week. Digital subscriptions give you access to the website, mobile app, and email newsletters when ready after purchase, without waiting for physical delivery.
Print-only subscriptions cost more per year than digital-only, since The Week must pay for printing and postage. A combined print-plus-digital subscription costs more than either alone, but less than buying them separately. The exact prices change throughout the year and vary based on promotional offers, so the cost you see when you visit their website may differ from what another person sees or what you saw last month.
If you travel frequently or prefer reading on a phone or tablet, digital-only makes sense. If you like holding a physical magazine and reading offline, print is worth the extra cost. Many readers choose the combined plan so they can read the summary online when ready on Thursday evening, then read the full print edition more carefully over the weekend.
How to start and manage your subscription
You start a subscription by visiting The Week's website, selecting your plan (print, digital, or both), entering your payment information, and confirming your mailing address if you chose print. The process takes about five minutes. Digital access usually begins within a few hours; print delivery typically starts within one to two weeks, depending on when you order and your location.
Once your subscription is active, you can log in to your account on The Week's website to manage your settings. From your account page, you can update your mailing address, choose which newsletters to receive, read past issues, or pause your subscription temporarily. If you need to cancel, you can do so from the same account page without calling customer service.
If you purchased through a third-party service like Amazon or Apple News+, you manage the subscription through that service instead. Cancellation and pause options work the same way, but you contact that service's customer support rather than The Week directly.
What happens when your subscription ends
When your subscription period ends, you stop receiving new issues and your digital access closes. The Week will send you an email reminder a few weeks before your renewal date, giving you the option to renew at the current price or let it lapse. If you do nothing, your subscription straightforward ends and you are not charged further.
If you want to keep reading after your subscription ends, you can renew at any time by logging into your account or visiting their subscription page. Renewal prices are often lower than the initial subscription price, especially if you wait a few weeks after your subscription lapses — The Week frequently sends renewal offers to former subscribers at discounted rates.
If you purchased a multi-year subscription upfront, your renewal date is much further away. You can still cancel or pause before that date if you choose, though the refund policy depends on how long you have been subscribed and which plan you purchased.
Common issues and how to resolve them
The most common problem is print delivery delays. If your magazine does not arrive by the following Wednesday, check your account to confirm your mailing address is correct. If it is, contact The Week's customer service through their website — they can investigate the delay or send a replacement copy. Delivery times vary by region, so magazines in rural areas sometimes arrive a day or two later than those in cities.
Digital access problems usually stem from forgotten passwords or browser cache issues. If you cannot log in to the website, use the "Forgot Password" link to reset it. If the app is not loading articles, try logging out, clearing the app's cache (in your phone's settings), and logging back in. These steps resolve most digital access issues without contacting support.
If you are charged twice in one billing cycle or charged after you cancelled, contact customer service when ready with your order number and payment confirmation. The Week's support team can usually reverse duplicate charges or refund cancellation fees within a few business days.
How The Week compares to other news sources
The Week differs from daily newspapers because it publishes once per week instead of daily, and it summarizes stories rather than reporting them originally. This means you get a curated overview of the week's major news, but you do not get breaking news as it happens. If you need real-time updates on developing stories, you would use a news app or website alongside The Week.
Compared to news aggregator apps like Apple News or Google News, The Week provides human editorial judgment about which stories matter most, rather than algorithm-driven recommendations. The magazine also includes longer analysis pieces and cultural commentary that most news apps do not. However, news apps are free or cheaper, and they update constantly throughout the day.
Compared to other weekly magazines like The Economist or Time, The Week focuses more on summarizing existing reporting and less on original investigation. The Economist and Time publish longer, deeper articles; The Week prioritizes breadth and speed. The Week is also less expensive than The Economist but typically costs more than Time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pause my subscription without cancelling?
Yes. Log into your account on The Week's website and select "Pause Subscription." You can pause for up to three months, and your subscription will resume automatically on the date you choose. You are not charged during the pause period. If you purchased through a third-party service, check that service's app or website for pause options.
What if I move and need to change my mailing address?
Update your address in your account settings on The Week's website. Changes usually take effect within one to two weeks, so if you are moving soon, update it as soon as you know your new address. If you have already received an issue at your old address after moving, contact customer service to request a replacement sent to your new address.
Do I get access to past issues if I subscribe?
Yes, digital subscribers can access the full archive of past issues through the website or app, usually going back several years. Print subscribers do not receive physical copies of past issues, but they can read them digitally if they have a digital subscription. You can search the archive by topic, date, or keyword.
Is there a student or military discount?
The Week occasionally offers discounted rates for students and military members, but these offers change throughout the year. Check their website's subscription page or contact their customer service to ask about current discounts. You may need to provide proof of student or military status.
What if I want to give a subscription as a gift?
The Week offers gift subscriptions through their website. You select the length (usually 12 weeks, 6 months, or one year), enter the recipient's name and mailing address, and choose a delivery date for the gift notification. The recipient receives a card announcing the gift, and their subscription begins on the date you specify.