How can I read premium articles for free?

You can often read premium articles for free by using archive sites (like Wayback Machine, 12ft.io), browser extensions, accessing via public library resources, searching Google for cached versions, disabling JavaScript in developer tools, or finding self-archived research papers on sites like ResearchGate, though some methods may not work for all sites or types of content. Remember that many sites rely on subscriptions for quality journalism, so these methods are for occasional access to single articles.

Where can I read full articles for free?

Unpaywall: An open database of 20 million free scholarly articles. An open database of 55,002,096 free scholarly articles. We harvest Open Access content from over 50,000 publishers and repositories, and make it easy to find, track, and use.

Does 12ft io still work?

No, the popular paywall bypass site 12ft.io is not working and has been shut down since July 2025, following efforts by the News/Media Alliance, which secured its takedown due to its role in bypassing paywalls for copyrighted content. While it had intermittent outages before, its hosting provider finally took it offline, making it unavailable for accessing content without ads or subscriptions. 

Is there anyway to bypass a paywall?

Open an Incognito window

It will allow you to bypass most paywalls that track your usage with cookies. Opening your browser in Incognito mode gives you a fresh start online. You can then navigate to the site you want to access without previous browsing cookies interfering with your content.

Is 12ft.io legit?

The 12ft Ladder website offered illegal circumvention technology that stripped paywalls, allowing users of the technology to access otherwise restricted copyright protected content without paying the required fee. Following the News/Media Alliance's efforts, the webhost promptly locked 12ft.io on Monday, July 14th.

How to FIND and DOWNLOAD Research Papers for FREE? Best Websites & Tutorial

Can you get caught bypassing a paywall?

Yes, It's Illegal to Cheat a Paywall.

Why are people leaving Medium?

So many writers have left Medium as a result of the earnings debacle, or the fiscal fiasco as I prefer to call it, one sometimes feels a bit foolish to stick around writing articles, which if we are lucky, may earn a dollar or two, which used to earn far more.

How does freedium work?

Freedium, as the name implies, lets you read the best articles from Medium for free. And the other thing: they're asking for money or donations from people if they enjoy the content. They use Patreon or Ko-fi to collect it.

How do I read an article without subscribing?

You can read articles without subscriptions by using web archives (like archive.is or the Wayback Machine), pasting the URL into text-based versions (Textise), disabling JavaScript in your browser, using your library's digital access, or finding previews on news aggregators like Google News. 

Can you use ChatGPT to bypass paywalls?

ChatGPT and other AI chatbots have figured out how to get around paywalls through "live" web search—and they're doing it systematically and quietly across major publications, new Digital Digging research reveals. This isn't about the well-documented issue of AI companies using paywalled content in training datasets.

How much does 12 ft io cost?

Millar (the creator, ed.) had started asking for a subscription fee to cover the tool's costs. The Pro version cost 12 dollars/month.

Is using 12ft legal?

“Publishers commit significant resources to creating the best and most informative content for consumers, and illegal tools like 12ft.io undermine their ability to financially support that work through subscriptions and ad revenue,” News/Media Alliance president and CEO Danielle Coffey said in the press release.

Is Sci-Hub illegal?

Yes, Sci-Hub is widely considered illegal in many jurisdictions because it provides free access to copyrighted academic articles, violating copyright law and leading to lawsuits from major publishers like Elsevier. While praised by some researchers for democratizing access to knowledge, it operates outside legal frameworks, uses unethical methods (like proxy credential theft), and poses security risks like malware, leading to bans and warnings from authorities. 

Can I access paywalled articles for free?

Yes, you can often access paywalled articles for free using legal methods like browser extensions (Unpaywall), archive sites (Archive.today, Wayback Machine), or library access, or by temporarily disabling JavaScript, using incognito mode, or finding open-access versions through search engines. Tools like Smry and Archive Buttons can also help by providing AI summaries or archived versions. 

Is DOAJ free to use?

DOAJ is committed to keeping its services free of charge, including being indexed, and its data freely available.

How to open freedium?

Simply click the extension icon while on any Medium article to open it in Freedium.

What exactly is 'freedium' in CFD?

The Story Behind Freeedium.cfd:

It's essentially a shortcut for bypassing the paywall, letting anyone enjoy premium articles without paying a dime.

What is the 5 5 5 rule on social media?

The 5-5-5 rule on social media has two main interpretations: a content mix (5 value, 5 promotional, 5 engaging posts) for balance, or a quick daily engagement tactic (like 5 posts, comment on 5 posts, do it in 5 minutes) to build relationships and visibility without spamming. Both versions aim to create consistent, valuable interactions, fostering community and boosting algorithms by avoiding excessive self-promotion.
 

Do people still use Medium in 2025?

Medium is still one of the best places for writers to start, grow, and earn in 2025 — if you're in it for the long game. It's not a goldmine. It's not a shortcut to passive income.

Did 12ft stop working?

Yes, the popular paywall-bypassing website 12ft.io (also known as 12 Foot Ladder) was officially taken down in mid-July 2025 by its web host, following legal pressure from news publishers. While it faced previous temporary shutdowns and had its functions restricted for some sites, the July 2025 takedown by the News/Media Alliance appears to have ended the service, though users sometimes find temporary workarounds.
 

Can ChatGPT read articles behind a paywall?

ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Grok can provide summaries of paywalled content, according to a recent investigation. They replicate content from paywalled news articles without actually accessing the content behind the paywalls.

What is a free paywall called?

The "freemium" paywall strategy is a softer type of paywall that provides free access to basic content, but requires payments for premium content.

Is unpaywall legal?

No, paywall removers are generally not legal as they violate copyright law and Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) anti-circumvention provisions, which protect digital locks on copyrighted content. While some services claim legality by using archives or promising non-infringing use, bypassing paywalls to read articles without paying can be considered unauthorized access and breach of terms of service, potentially exposing users to legal risks, though enforcement often targets uploaders.