WallHop does one job: you paste an article link and it strips out the paywall, popups, ads and clutter so you can read the piece. It's free, with no signup and no browser extension required, positioned as a replacement now that 12ft.io is gone.
| Product | Free tier | Starts at | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| WallHop (site) | Yes | Free | No-signup, no-extension link pasting |
| Bypass Paywall Reader (site) | Yes | Free | Archived-version redirects, no login |
| Paywall Reader (site) | Yes (claimed) | Not stated | Not recommended — site unrelated |
| Paywall killer (site) | Yes | Free | A one-click browser bookmarklet |
| RemovePaywall (site) | Yes | Free | High-traffic, well-known archive search |
| Free Paywall Reader (site) | No | Not stated | Not recommended — site inaccessible |
| Built an extension to put an end to paywalls and popups (site) | No | Not stated | Users who prefer a Chrome extension |
| Remove Paywalls (site) | Yes (claimed) | Not stated | Simple paste-a-link alternative |
Bypass Paywall Reader
Bypass Paywall Reader finds and redirects to freely available archived versions of paywalled articles. You paste a link, it looks for a cached or archived copy, and shows it without login, payment or subscription. It suits anyone who wants a straightforward, no-account tool similar to WallHop. It's completely free, as stated by the maker. Limitation: since it depends on archived copies existing, very recent articles may not have one yet.
Paywall killer
Paywall killer is a bookmarklet — a small button you drag into your browser bar — that strips paywalls from sites like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal when clicked. It suits people comfortable installing a bookmarklet rather than pasting links into a web tool. It's free, with no pricing info listed beyond that. Limitation: it's from 2012, and there's no indication it's been updated for modern paywall techniques.
RemovePaywall
RemovePaywall removes soft paywalls and ads from news articles and blogs by searching internet archives, and it's the most-used alternative here by a wide margin, with 170 launch-day votes. It suits anyone wanting a tool with a track record and active user base. It's free. Limitation: like other archive-based tools, it works on "soft" paywalls and may not get past harder ones.
Remove Paywalls
Remove Paywalls is listed as a free way to bypass paywalls and read full articles, functioning similarly to WallHop as a paste-a-link tool. It suits users looking for a close, newer alternative (launched late 2024). As stated in the listing it appears free, though the homepage was unavailable at review time and no pricing page exists, so this isn't fully confirmed. Limitation: inability to verify the live site is a real drawback before relying on it.
Paywall Reader
Paywall Reader is listed as a free way to read articles without paywalls. However, the site's actual homepage content shown during review was unrelated gambling material, not a paywall tool. It might suit no one until this is resolved. Pricing is unconfirmed beyond the "free" claim in the listing. Limitation: this is a significant red flag — verify the live site yourself before using it.
Free Paywall Reader
Free Paywall Reader is described as a tool to remove paywalls and ads and read articles freely. Its website returned an access-denied error during review, so functionality couldn't be confirmed. It might suit users willing to try a newer, less-documented option (launched November 2024). No pricing is stated, and the "free tier" field is marked false. Limitation: with the site inaccessible, there's no way to confirm it currently works as described.
Built an extension to put an end to paywalls and popups
This is a Chrome extension (Pophurdle) aimed at blocking paywalls and popups directly in the browser, rather than via a paste-a-link website. It suits users who prefer an always-on extension over copying URLs. No pricing is stated. Limitation: the Chrome Web Store listing shown during review said "This item is not available," meaning it may no longer be installable.
How to choose
If you want something closest to WallHop's no-signup, paste-a-link approach, start with Bypass Paywall Reader or RemovePaywall — both are free, well-documented, and use archived copies. If you prefer a browser-based habit instead of a website, Paywall killer's bookmarklet or the Pophurdle extension fit that style, though both have currency or availability concerns. Treat Paywall Reader and Free Paywall Reader with caution until you can verify their live sites yourself.
FAQ
Is WallHop actually free, with no hidden tiers? Yes, it's stated as a free paywall bypass tool with no signup, and no pricing page or paid tier is mentioned.
Which alternative has the most real-world usage? RemovePaywall, with 170 launch-day votes, is the most established by that measure among the alternatives listed.
Do any of these alternatives require an account or extension install? Most are paste-a-link web tools needing no account, except the Pophurdle option, which is a Chrome extension, and Paywall killer, which is a bookmarklet.