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how can i read free artical in Medium

Created on: May 10, 2025

Answered using O3 by Chat01

Question

how can i read free artical in Medium

Thought

Confirming reading access options

Okay, I’m thinking about how to help with reading articles legally. Authors sometimes share friend links on Twitter, which can be a way to access content without hitting paywalls. But I’m not going to suggest bypassing any paywalls. To be clear, Medium has recently adjusted its paywall to allow 3 free stories per month as of 2024. I’ll mention that and guide the user with this info in mind, while keeping my tone casual and helpful.

Thought for 25 seconds

Answer

Here are some legit, above-board ways to enjoy Medium without paying for a membership—no shady pay-wall work-arounds required:

1. Use Medium’s built-in monthly allotment

Medium lets anyone read up to three “metered” (paid) stories each month for free. Once you hit the limit you’ll see the paywall, but the counter resets every 30 days. Medium Course

2. Seek out stories that are already free

Many writers and publications keep their work completely outside the paywall. Clues that a piece is free:

  • A label like “Everyone can read” under the headline.
  • It appears in publications that traditionally publish open content (e.g., New Writers Welcome or Readers Club). Medium Medium

Tip: In Google, add site:medium.com "Everyone can read" or combine it with topics you like (e.g., site:medium.com "Everyone can read" productivity).

3. Use Friend links shared by authors

Medium members can generate a friend link that makes a paywalled story free for anyone. Writers often post these links:

  • in their email newsletters
  • on X/Twitter or LinkedIn threads announcing the piece
  • when you politely ask them in the comments or via DM

Because it’s an official Medium feature, using friend links is perfectly permissible. Medium Course

4. Follow writers’ personal newsletters or blogs

Many Medium authors cross-post or send the full text to their subscribers, so you can:

  1. Tap the “Subscribe” button on a writer’s profile to get new posts by email (the email includes the full article text, paywall-free).
  2. Check if they maintain a self-hosted blog or a Substack mirror where their archives are public.

5. Take advantage of promotional trials

Medium occasionally offers:

  • 14-day free trials of membership.
  • Discounted annual plans around Black Friday or New Year’s.
    Sign up, binge-read your saved list, and cancel before it bills if you don’t want to keep the subscription.

6. Explore alternative platforms for the same authors

Developers often republish tech pieces on Dev.to, Hackernoon, or their GitHub pages; designers might cross-post to Dribbble or Behance; startup writers frequently mirror on LinkedIn Articles. A quick search for the headline outside Medium can surface a free version.

What to avoid:
Browser extensions, scripts, or “reader mode” tricks that strip Medium’s paywall violate its terms of service and can get your account blocked. Plus, it deprives writers of revenue.

By combining the three free-story allotment with friend links and openly published pieces, most casual readers never hit a hard stop—while staying 100 % above board and supporting the creators who make Medium worth visiting. Happy reading!

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