These are the latest (2025) and definitely-worked tips how to read Washington Post for free, or get around its paywall.
I am explaining this question found in Quora, "How can I get around the Washington Post online paywall?"
I don't condone you to access The Washington Post (TWP) illegally.
It's terms of service #7 clearly states:
Access parts of the Services to which you are not authorized, or attempt to circumvent any restrictions imposed on your use or access of the Services.
I am just sharing the numerous ways how people manage to read TWP for free.
By the way, forget all those unworkable tips found in Google search, that include:
X private browsing
X Reader View/Reading Mode
X Google cache
X 12ft.oi
X outdated Greasy Fork user scripts
Just like The Telegraph and The Boston Globe, The Washington Post also uses a metered paywall, which a kind of soft paywall.
The good thing with the metered paywall, it allows casual readers to try it out, hoping they would subscribe.
But the setback of this kind of paywall is people can circumvent it, like using the private browsing mode, clearing browser cookies, or accessing articles directly through search engine or social media links.
This is another post from The DiGiztal Bypass Paywalls Tips series.
How to bypass The Washington Post paywall
Table of Contents:
Now let's find out how people could access unlimited www.washingtonpost.com articles for without subscription.
1. Disable JavaScript
This trick works for both Firefox and Chrome browser.
You can use any of the three methods to unlock paywalled Washington Post breaking news and latest headlines.
For Chrome browser, one of the best way is to configure the Java Script settings with this, [*.]washingtonpost.com.
Then you can continue reading without seeing the subscription pop-up banner anymore.
Follow this detailed tutorial how to disable browser JavaScript to bypass paywalls.
2. Bypass Paywalls Clean extension
This second method how to get around the Washington Post online paywall is by using the popular browser extension, called Bypass Paywalls Clean by magnolia1234.
It is a free open-source known for circumventing lots of paywalls.
Install it to your browser, and you can enjoy unlimited access to all articles, including live news updates.
When using this browser extension, you never even realize this news website has a paywall.
This controversial paywall remover uses different techniques to get around paywalls, such as modifying headers, spoofing user agents, or accessing cached versions of pages.
It can also clear or manipulate the cookies that track your free article count limit.
Furthermore this browser extension could also block the JavaScript and or CSS that display the overlays which hide the content.
For Firefox browser, refer to this: "Install Bypass Paywalls Clean extension for Firefox".
For Chrome browser, refer to this: "How to install Bypass Paywalls Clean extension for Chrome".
3. Archive.Today
This is another popular way most people use to read articles behind paywall website; and not just the Washington Post, but many other publications websites.
They just install its browser extension to their browser.
When they encounter the paywalled TWP content, they just click the extension icon at their toolbar.
For instance, you want to unblocked this news report, "Manufacturers struggle with uncertainty, chaos in Trump tariffs".
This is what you do:
Go to Archive.Today.
Paste this article URL:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/04/13/trump-tariffs-us-manufacturing-impacts/
in the empty space provided under "My url is alive and I want to archive its content".
Then click the "save" button.
Now you can read this full unblocked article here without having to subscribe.
There are more ways how to use it, fully explained in how to use Archive.Today to bypass paywalled articles for free.
4. Textise
Basically Textise is not designed to circumvent paywalls.
However, when it is stripping away all the non-text elements, it removes the overlay that hide the content.
One more thing is Textise tool uses its own servers, so the The Washington Post doesn't have access to your browser's cookies or local storage.
So the website does not have any tracking record of your visits and count how many free articles you've read.
For more detail, read, "How to bypass paywalls with Textise".
5.User script
Three key steps:
2. Install user script
3. how to unlock paywalled articles
1. Install Violentmonkey extension
First you have to install a user script manager.
You need to use different user script manager for different browsers:
For Chrome, you can use either: Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey
For Firefox, you can use: Greasemonkey, Tampermonkey, or Violentmonkey
Those of you who are using Microsoft Edge, Safari, Opera or Maxton browser, you can find the links at the Greasy Fork homepage.
For this tutorial, I am using the Chrome browser with the Violentmonkey userscript manager extension,
- NOTE: Chrome Web Store has disabled Violentmonkey, To get it back, follow this tutorial, "How to enable back Violentmonkey in Chrome Web Store". Likewise you can also install Violentmonkey extension to Chrome with code in GitHub.
If you have enabled back the Tempermonkey extension as I have mentioned above, now click the blue color "Add to Chrome" button.
A box appears, click the "Add extension" button.
Immediately the Violentmonkey is installed to your bowser.
Go to the toolbar (top right corner), click the Extension icon (jigsaw puzzle piece), then pin the Violentmonkey icon.
2. Install user script
Next go to the Washington Post Paywall Bypass userscript.in Greasy Fork, and click the "Install this script" button.
A page pops up, click the "Install" button.
Then this orange color remark: Script installed appears.
3. How to unlock paywalled articles
Go to The Washington Post homepage, and click the Violentmonkey icon, this box pops up.
Make sure The Washington Post Paywall Bypass user script is enabled (toggle switch is in black color).
Now you can read The Washington Post news reports, opinions and stories without being blocked by its paywall.
These are the latest tips how to read The Washington Post without subscribing.
You can also watch the video of how to bypass The Washington Post below:
NOTE: These methods may not involve direct hacking or unauthorized access, they can still violate anti-circumvention laws and terms of service. Consider using the legal and ethical ways to access paywalled web articles.RELATED POSTS:
DISCLAIMER: This post is for educational purposes only. It aims to help you better understand web technologies and digital security. It does not endorse breaking website rules or illegal activity. Use responsibly; the author is not liable for misuse or legal issues.