What a USA Today subscription includes

USA Today offers a digital subscription that gives you access to news articles, opinion pieces, sports coverage, and lifestyle content on their website and mobile app. The subscription removes the paywall that limits how many articles you can read each month without paying. You read on your own schedule through any web browser or the USA Today app on your phone or tablet.

The subscription is digital only — you do not receive a printed newspaper. If you want the print edition delivered to your home, USA Today offers a separate print subscription with different pricing and terms. Some subscribers choose both digital and print together, which costs more than either alone.

Your subscription is personal to one account. You can read on multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer) as long as you log in with the same username and password. USA Today does not allow you to share your login with other people in your household, though the company's enforcement of this rule varies.

Key Takeaways

  • A USA Today digital subscription removes the article limit and gives you full access to their website and app, with pricing that changes based on promotions.
  • You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings, and you will not be charged for paused months.
  • Print and digital subscriptions are separate products with different costs, and combining them usually costs less than buying each one alone.
  • USA Today frequently offers discounted introductory rates for the first few months, so the price you see advertised may not be what you pay long-term.

How to start a digital subscription

Go to usatoday.com and look for a "Subscribe" button, usually in the top right corner of the page or at the bottom. Click it and you will see the current subscription options and prices. USA Today changes these prices regularly and runs different promotions depending on the time of year, so what you see may differ from what someone else sees on the same day.

You will need to enter an email address, create a password, and provide a payment method (credit card, debit card, or PayPal). USA Today will charge your payment method on the date you choose, and then again on the same day each month or year, depending on which plan you picked. Check your email for a confirmation message with your subscription details and login information.

After you subscribe, log in to your account on usatoday.com or open the USA Today app and sign in with the same email and password. The paywall should disappear and you should see all articles without a limit. If you still see the paywall, try logging out and logging back in, or clear your browser's cache and cookies.

Introductory rates and long-term pricing

USA Today almost always advertises a discounted price for your first few months — often something like $1 per month for the first three months, or $3 per month for the first year. After that introductory period ends, your subscription renews at the regular price, which is higher. The regular price varies but is typically $10 to $15 per month or $100 to $150 per year, depending on what USA Today is charging at the time of renewal.

You will receive an email before your introductory period ends, telling you the new price and when the charge will happen. At that point you can cancel if you do not want to pay the higher amount, or you can keep the subscription and be charged the regular price. If you forget to cancel and do not want to continue, you can cancel within a few days of the charge and request a refund for that month.

Pausing and canceling your subscription

You can pause your subscription for up to three months at a time through your account settings on usatoday.com. When you pause, you will not be charged during that time, but your subscription will resume automatically when the pause period ends. Pausing is useful if you know you will not read the news for a while but want to keep your account active.

To cancel, go to your account settings, find the subscription section, and select "Cancel Subscription." USA Today will ask why you are canceling and may offer you a discounted rate to stay. If you decline, your subscription will end at the end of your current billing period. You will not be charged again, but you will lose access to the full site when that date arrives.

If you cancel within a few days of being charged, you can request a refund for that month. USA Today's refund policy allows refunds for recent charges if you contact customer service, though they may ask you to cancel through your account first. Contact USA Today through the "Contact Us" link on their website or through the app.

Combining digital and print subscriptions

USA Today offers a bundle that includes both digital access and home delivery of the printed newspaper. The bundle price is less than buying a digital subscription and a print subscription separately. Print delivery is available in most areas of the United States, but not everywhere — you can check whether your address qualifies during the sign-up process.

If you already have a digital subscription and want to add print, you can upgrade through your account settings. If you already have print and want to add digital, you can do the same. The price difference will be prorated based on how much time is left in your current billing period.

Troubleshooting access problems

If you are still seeing the paywall after you subscribe, the most common cause is that you are not logged in. Make sure you are using the same email address and password you used when you signed up. If you forgot your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page to reset it.

If you are logged in but still cannot read articles, try clearing your browser's cookies and cache, then log out and log back in. If you are using the USA Today app, try logging out, closing the app completely, and opening it again. If the problem continues, contact USA Today customer service through their website.

If you subscribed on one device but are trying to read on another, make sure you log in on the new device with the same email and password. Your subscription is tied to your account, not to a specific device, so you should have access everywhere once you are logged in.

What happens to your account if you do not use it

USA Today does not cancel inactive subscriptions. If you subscribe and then never log in again, you will continue to be charged every month or year until you cancel. The company sends reminder emails before each charge, so you have a chance to cancel if you realize you are not using it.

If you have been charged for months you did not use, contact USA Today customer service and explain the situation. They may refund recent charges if you ask, though there is no may provide. The best practice is to cancel or pause your subscription as soon as you know you will not be reading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my USA Today login with family members?

USA Today's terms of service say subscriptions are for personal use only and should not be shared. The company does not actively monitor for sharing, but they reserve the right to block accounts they believe are being shared. If you want multiple family members to have access, each person should have their own subscription.

What is the difference between USA Today's digital subscription and their free articles?

USA Today allows you to read a limited number of free articles each month without subscribing. Once you hit that limit, you see a paywall. A subscription removes the limit and gives you unlimited access to all articles. The free limit resets each month.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind after subscribing?

USA Today allows refunds for charges made within the last few days if you contact customer service and request one. If more than a week or two has passed, refunds are less likely. Your best option is to cancel through your account settings right away if you want to stop being charged.

Does USA Today offer a student discount?

USA Today does not currently offer a dedicated student discount. However, they run frequent promotions with discounted introductory rates that are open to anyone. Check their website for current offers, or sign up during a promotional period to get a lower starting price.

What payment methods does USA Today accept?

USA Today accepts major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards, and PayPal. You enter your payment information during sign-up, and USA Today stores it securely to charge you each billing period. You can update your payment method in your account settings at any time.