Locked articles, exclusive content, and premium subscriptions, paywalls are designed to keep you out unless you pay up. But what if you could peek behind the curtain without spending a dime? This article reveals iOS bypass paywall tricks, offering over 10 free hacks to access premium content. From tech-savvy solutions to user-friendly tools, we’ve got something for everyone!
What Is a Paywall? Why Do Brands Use Paywalls?
A paywall is a digital barrier that restricts access to online content, requiring users to pay a subscription fee, purchase a membership, or complete specific actions to view the material. This system is commonly used by news outlets, online magazines, and other content providers to monetize their content and sustain their business operations. Paywalls come in various forms, from fully restricting access to allowing limited free views before requiring payment.
Brands use paywalls to generate revenue, protect premium content, and create exclusive value for their paying audience. They also use this strategy to maintain a loyal customer base while offsetting the costs of content creation and distribution. With the growing demand for high-quality, original content, paywalls enable brands to deliver targeted and unique experiences while ensuring sustainable profitability.
Types of Paywalls
There are 4 types of IOS bypass paywall:
| Types | Overview | Pros | Cons |
| Hard Paywall | Completely restricts access to content unless the user subscribes or makes a payment | Maximizes revenue from subscriptions | May deter new or casual visitors |
| Soft Paywall | Allows limited free access to content before requiring payment (e.g., metered access) | Attracts new users and encourages trials | Conversion rates may vary |
| Freemium Paywall | Provides free access to basic content while locking premium content behind a paywall | Offers a taste of value to free users | Requires clear differentiation of content |
| Dynamic Paywall | Adjusts access based on user behavior and data analytics, creating personalized paywall experiences | Optimizes conversion rates | Implementation can be complex and costly |
Purpose of Paywalls
Paywalls are strategic tools designed to balance monetization, value delivery, and audience engagement.
- Revenue Generation: Paywalls provide a consistent and reliable income stream for businesses that rely on high-quality content.
- Value Creation: By restricting access to content, paywalls create a perception of exclusivity and premium value. Readers are more likely to associate paid content with higher quality, credibility, and unique insights.
- Audience Segmentation: Paywalls enable brands to identify and categorize their audience into different groups—casual readers, loyal followers, and paying subscribers.
- Sustainable Operations: Paywalls provide a financial model that supports sustainable operations, ensuring the brand can continue delivering valuable content without cutting corners.
- Building Brand Loyalty: Paywalls encourage a sense of commitment from subscribers, fostering deeper relationships between the brand and its audience.
10+ FREE Hacks To Bypass Paywalls On iOS/Android/PC
Then, how to get behind paywall?
Currently, many users are now seeking alternative ways of website bypasser to access content for free. Whether you’re on iOS, Android, or PC, there are several methods you can try. Let’s look at our recommended 10+ free hacks:
1. Use a VPN
A VPN is one of the most effective ways to bypass paywalls, especially those that restrict access based on geographical location. It works by masking your actual IP address and making it appear as though you’re browsing from a different location. By connecting to a VPN server in a country where the content is not paywalled, you can access the content freely.
Steps to Use a VPN for Bypassing Paywalls:
- Download and install Turis VPN – one of the best VPN for multiple devices.
- Open the VPN app and select a server location where the content is accessible without restrictions.
- Once connected to the VPN, visit the website with the paywall and refresh the page.
- You should now be able to access the content without encountering the paywall.
Best for: Websites that enforce paywalls based on region or country restrictions. Examples include The New York Times or The Guardian.
2. New Shortcut to Bypass Paywalls on iOS
On iOS devices, there’s a popular shortcut called “Bypass Paywall”, which can be added to your shortcuts app. This shortcut can strip away the paywall from certain websites.
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Search for the Bypass Paywall shortcut in the Gallery or from trusted online sources.
- Add the shortcut to your app.
- When browsing a paywalled website, tap the Share button and select the “Bypass Paywall” shortcut from the share sheet.
- The shortcut will open the page without the paywall.
Best for: Sites with hard paywalls like The New York Times, Washington Post, or Medium.
3. Use Reader Mode in Your Browser
Many modern browsers come with a built-in Reader Mode feature that strips out unnecessary elements from a webpage, such as ads, images, and sometimes, paywalls. Paywall reader mode often displays only the text of an article.
- Open your browser (Safari, Chrome, or Firefox).
- Visit the website with the paywall.
- Enable Reader Mode by tapping the reader icon in the address bar (on Safari) or in the menu (on Chrome and Firefox).
- The page will reload without ads or distractions, and in some cases, the paywall will also be removed.
Best for: News websites or blogs that employ paywalls that can be bypassed with simple layout changes, such as TechCrunch, The Atlantic, and The New York Times (soft paywalls).
4. Open an Incognito Window
Opening an Incognito or Private Browsing window prevents your browser from saving cookies, history, and cached data, which can help you get the website bypasser. This method works best for websites that track the number of articles you’ve viewed and apply restrictions after a set limit of free articles.
Best for: News websites with soft paywalls, such as The Washington Post, The Guardian, or NY Times (limited free articles).
5. Clear Your Browser Cookies
Some websites track your browsing behavior and use cookies to limit the number of free articles you can view. Through clearing your browser cookies, you can reset your browsing session.
Best for: News websites that have limited free articles per day and restrict access based on cookies, such as Washington Post or NY Times.
6. Use Ad Blocker like uBlock Origin
Ad blockers like uBlock Origin can help bypass paywalls by blocking the ads and scripts that websites use to trigger these barriers. Many paywalls rely on specific scripts, and ad blockers can prevent them from loading.
Best for: Websites with ad-supported paywalls, such as The Guardian and HuffPost.
7. JavaScript Blocker Extensions
Certain JavaScript blocker extensions, like NoScript or ScriptSafe, prevent the execution of scripts that are used to enforce paywalls.
Best for: Websites with dynamic paywalls or those that use scripts for popup paywalls, such as Forbes and Business Insider.
8. Use a Proxy
A proxy server works similarly to a VPN by acting as an intermediary between your device and the website. By routing your traffic through a different server, you can access content without revealing your real IP address.
Best for: News outlets or region-locked paywalls, such as The Wall Street Journal and BBC News.
9. Use the Tor Browser
The Tor Browser is a privacy-focused web browser that allows you to browse the internet anonymously by routing your traffic through multiple nodes. It can help bypass paywalls by masking your real IP address and location.
Best for: Highly restricted websites with regional paywalls or stringent IP tracking, such as Netflix (for geo-blocked content).
10. Use Bypass Paywalls Alternatives like Wayback Machine and 12ft Ladder
Websites like the Wayback Machine and 12ft Ladder store cached versions of pages and allow you to view content from earlier dates. These tools archive web pages that may not have paywalls or allow access to previous versions of paywalled content.
Best for: Archived content or older articles that may no longer have paywalls, such as NY Times.
11. Manually Use the Facebook URL
Certain websites may allow you to bypass paywalls by using a Facebook link. If an article is shared on Facebook, the URL may not trigger the paywall when accessed from the social media platform.
Best for: Articles that are shared frequently on Facebook and accessible through social media links.
What Are The Risks of Bypassing Paywalls?
While bypassing paywalls may seem like a quick way to access premium content for free, it comes with several risks that can have significant consequences for both users and content creators.
- Legal and Ethical Issues: Many websites use paywalls as part of their business model, and accessing content without paying or subscribing may violate the site’s terms of service. This can result in legal action, including potential fines or being banned from the site.
- Undermining Content Quality: Content creators, journalists, and publishers rely on revenue from subscriptions and paywalls to fund their work. When users bypass these paywalls, it diminishes the financial support for high-quality, investigative journalism and professional content.
- Increased Risk of Malware and Data Privacy Issues: Many paywall-bypassing tools pose security threats, like malware or data breaches. Using unverified methods can expose users to identity theft and privacy violations.
- Access Restrictions: Frequent bypassing of paywalls can result in access restrictions or blacklisting from websites.
Why Is TurisVPN The Best Choice To Bypass Paywalls?
TurisVPN stands out as one of the most reliable and secure VPN services for bypassing paywalls. It allows users to connect to servers in multiple countries, giving them the flexibility to bypass region-specific paywalls. Moreover, using TurisVPN to bypass paywalls not only provides access to blocked content but also protects your online activities. The service uses high-end encryption protocols to keep your browsing private and secure. This is particularly important when bypassing paywalls, as it prevents third-party tracking and potential data collection by websites or hackers.
Bottom Line
Overall, don’t let paywalls stand between you and the information you need. With the IOS bypass paywall hacks in this guide, you can bypass restrictions on iOS, Android, and PC with ease!
FAQs
Are Paywall Removers Illegal?
While paywall removers themselves aren’t inherently illegal, accessing paid content without proper authorization could be seen as unethical or illegal, especially when it deprives content creators of their revenue.
How Does 12ft Work?
12ft Ladder is a popular tool used to bypass paywalls on various websites. It works by redirecting you to an archived version of the webpage on the Wayback Machine, a service that archives the web. Essentially, 12ft provides free access to articles and content by retrieving previously stored snapshots of web pages, allowing users to bypass the need to subscribe. However, it’s worth noting that 12ft Ladder may not work on all websites.
