Unlock Articles with Paywallskip

Hi! Our project addresses the limitations of existing paywall bypass tools by implementing a dynamic, community-driven approach. Key features include:

Real-time Adaptive Blacklist:

Constantly updated database of paywalled sites and effective bypass methods User-driven reporting system for quick adaptation to paywall changes Significantly faster response to new paywalls compared to static solutions

Multi-Method Bypass Arsenal:

Unlike single-method solutions (e.g., 12ft.io's cache access), we employ various techniques Methods include: User-Agent spoofing, Referer header manipulation, JS disabling post-load, and web archive fallbacks (Wayback Machine, archive.is, Google cache) Our blacklist determines the most effective method per site, improving success rates

Site-Specific Solutions:

Tracking individual websites allows for custom bypass methods when general approaches fail Parsed and validated HTML output ensures content integrity

We believe this approach offers a more robust and adaptable solution to paywall bypassing. We're eager to hear the community's thoughts and potential improvements.

What will you do when the lawyers come for you?

I’d like something like this, but instead of bypassing the paywalls and stealing the articles it’d pay a few cents for each article and charge me at the end of the month.

I really, really want to pay but I really, really don’t want to set up a subscription to read a one-off article.

Not a fan of paywalls, but the framing of the pricing comparison is just so funny to me.

Like the guy who comes into the pub offering to sell dubiously acquired meat for a bargain price.

“Is using PaywallSkip legal?” is in the FAQs, but not “Is using PaywallSkip ethical?”

Why do we feel so entitled to other people’s work as soon as it’s published on the internet?

When Homer Simpson reads magazines at the convenience store without paying, we understand that he’s behaving poorly. Why do we feel differently now?

Are you considering a chrome extension to automate the process from the client perspective?

not every hero wears a cape

Seems to be broken. Get a lot of server side error messages

Do you also support skipping the paywall for services like AWS as well? That would be useful.

Does paywallskip scrape archive.is and archive.org?

This is going to be a shameless plug here.

I'm also frustrated by how paywalls work, having to endlessly subscribe to yet another newspaper or newsletter, just because you want to read one article.

But this approach is... stealing. When it comes to big media like the NYT, it might not feel like it is, but at the end of the day, it's people doing the background research, writing the content, editing, etc.

This is _not_ the solution.

Our alternative in the making offers a legal, fair alternative: buy and sell content by the piece.

It's available at https://vernus.one

If you have a blog or newsletter, or if you're a journalist, I'm happy to help in setting up your publication and start earning in a transparent manner.