Gift links explained (2026)

A gift link is the publisher's own, fully legitimate way to let a non-subscriber read a paywalled article for free. If someone sent you one — or you want to send one — here is exactly how they work.

What is a gift link?

A gift article (or "gift link") is a special URL a paying subscriber generates for a specific article. Anyone who opens it reads the full piece without a paywall and without signing in — the publisher unlocks it on purpose. It is not a bypass or a trick; it is a feature the outlet built so subscribers can share journalism.

How to get a gift link

If you subscribe, open the article and look for a "Gift" or "Share" button (often a gift icon near the headline); it creates a link you can send by message or email. If you do not subscribe, you can only receive one from someone who does — so ask a friend who subscribes, or watch for gift links shared on social media and community forums.

Do gift links expire?

Yes. Each publisher sets how long a gift article stays open and how many a subscriber can send per month — see the table below. After the window closes, the link returns to the normal paywall.

Gift link vs. a reader tool

A gift link is the cleanest route when you can get one, but you depend on a subscriber to create it. A reader-first tool like RemovePaywall works without anyone gifting you access — it extracts the article or finds a public archive — though it cannot open a hard subscription wall the way an official gift link can. The two are complementary.

Gift article limits by publisher

Limits as of 2026, set by each publisher; many other outlets offer gift articles too, with their own caps. Look for a gift or share icon on the article.

Live success rates

Unlike other tools, RemovePaywall shows how often it actually works, from real usage — recent examples: The New Yorker ~100% · WIRED ~100% · The Atlantic ~98% · Business Insider ~97% · The New York Times ~97%. See the full live list.