If you want to read the The Independent’s articles for free, read on. In this article, you will learn how to bypass the paywall on the Nat Geo’s website.
Subscription sites like the Independent often allow readers to access a few articles for free, but if you want to go beyond that, they’ll typically prompt you to subscribe. While that’s understandable if you’re a frequent reader, it can be frustrating when you only want to check out a single piece a friend recommended.
How often have you been totally into an article when, bam, you hit a paywall that nudges you to subscribe or start a “free trial” that turns out to not be so free?
I wouldn’t say I’m unwilling to pay, but shelling out cash just to read a single article seemed excessive. So, I shifted my focus from reading the article to figuring out how to get around the paywall.
After a bit of experimenting, I found a workaround.
The trick? Simply add 12ft.io/ before the website’s name in your browser’s address bar.
To do this, click on the address bar in your browser (or press “Cmd + L” on Mac or “Ctrl + L” on Windows), type 12ft.io before the https://, and hit enter. (If for any reason 12ft.io doesn’t work, try using removepaywall.com before the website’s name as an alternative.)
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Your address bar should look something like this: 12ft.io/https://independent.co.uk/.........
Your article should now be accessible, and any new articles you click on will open via 12ft.io, bypassing popups. Be aware, however, that certain webpage elements, such as images, may not display, and formatting might appear slightly off, which you’ll have to adjust for.
⚠️ Heads up: Sites with paywalls are increasingly tightening restrictions against bypass tools, so these methods may not work indefinitely. Additionally, 12ft.io may experience downtime, so if you’re unable to access it, check here to confirm its status.
Why and How Does This Work?
12ft.io offers a free service for bypassing paywalls. It’s just one of several options available; another well-known option is removepaywall.com.
How Do Paywall Removers Work?
Often, sites like the Independent fully load an article on your device before the paywall kicks in to block access. This brief delay means the content is already on your device, but JavaScript code obscures it, prompting you to subscribe.
Paywall bypass tools simply disable this JavaScript, removing the blocking element and allowing you to read the article uninterrupted. Sites that employ this tactic are said to use a “soft paywall,” where content is present but hidden by code.
In contrast, “hard paywalls,” like those on The New York Times and Medium.com, are more restrictive. In these cases, only a snippet or introduction is sent to your browser, and the full article requires a verified user ID and password, as the rest of the content isn’t loaded on your device.
Why Don’t All Websites Use Hard Paywalls?
It’s natural to wonder why sites even use soft paywalls if they’re relatively easy to bypass. This largely has to do with visibility on search engines.
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When an article is completely hidden behind a hard paywall that requires login credentials, even Google cannot index it. Without Google’s visibility, the article might as well be invisible on the web.
This situation creates a balance challenge—websites need subscribers but also rely on search engine visibility. Soft paywalls are a compromise.
Typically, only sites with highly valued content that readers are willing to pay for upfront use hard paywalls.
What About Ethics?
Yes, accessing paid content without paying is essentially taking it for free, and there’s no real moral justification. That said, the high price of a single article can feel excessive.
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A small fee option, like £0.99 for a few articles, might be more appealing and fair.
Wrapping Up
So now you know how to access the Independent articles without a subscription.
However, remember that paywall bypasses work only on soft paywalls. Hard paywalls cannot be bypassed, except perhaps by trying the Wayback Machine.