34 KiB

Executable File

Raw Blame History

Bypass Paywalls Clean for Chrome

Extension allows you to read articles from (supported) sites that implement a paywall.
You can also add domains as custom site and try to bypass the paywall.
Weekly updates are released for fixes and new sites.

Installation
Update
List of supported websites
Sites with limited number of free articles
New site requests
Add custom site
Add excluded site
Troubleshooting
Changelog-releases
License
Disclaimer

Installation

Due to Google internal policy, the extension is not available on the Chrome Web Store.
The following instructions are needed to install third-party extensions in Chromium-based desktop browsers.
In extension developer mode you can always install BPC by Load unpacked (latest master, but no automatic updates) or by crx-file (latest release & automatic updates, but possibly you have to add the extension to the allowlist).

Load unpacked: Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Brave (all desktop))

or add extension to allowlist and install automatically updating crx-file (see next section)

Download this repository as a ZIP-file from GitLab.
Unzip the file and you should have a folder named bypass-paywalls-chrome-clean-master.
Move the folder to a permanent location on your computer (do not delete the folder after installation).
Go to the extensions page (chrome://extensions or edge://extensions).
Enable Developer Mode.
Click Load unpacked and select the extension folder.

By default BPC has limited permissions, but you can opt-in to enable custom sites (and also clear cookies/block general paywall-scripts for non-listed sites).
For custom sites you can also copy manifest.json from custom folder to the main extension folder (in Chrome optional permissions can get lost on reload unless you do a crx-installation first; no allowlist is needed).
In Chrome/Opera/Brave to disable the developer mode extensions popup use the extensions toolbar menu (by default enabled in Chrome 87+ or (if available) enable (experimental) chrome flag: chrome://flags/#extensions-toolbar-menu)

If you're familiar with Git(Hub)-clients you can also clone this repo and update the extension that way (load unpacked folder used by Git(Hub)-client).

CRX-file: other Chromium browsers (Opera/Vivaldi/Yandex)

or add extension to allowlist for Chrome, MS Edge or Brave (see instructions)

Download the extension as a crx-file from the releases page.
In your browser go to the extensions page.
Enable Developer Mode.
Drag your crx-file anywhere on the page to import it (when you have an active 'load unpacked' installation, first remove it (and backup your custom sites); for automatic update).

By default BPC has limited permissions, but you can opt-in to enable custom sites (and also clear cookies/block general paywall-scripts for non-listed sites).

Android

Install Kiwi Browser or Yandex Browser from the Google PlayStore.
For Kiwi Browser you have two options:

load the CRX-file in releases (auto-updating, no allowlist needed, opt-in for custom sites not working (use kiwi-custom crx; updates to latest regular version))
install latest master zip-file (no automatic updates, for custom sites use manifest.json from custom folder).

For Yandex Browser follow Chrome instructions above (load unpacked; step 6: pick manifest.json instead of the folder). If it fails try a few times or use Total Commander (as file manager). You can use a Git client like MGit to clone (and update) this repository on your mobile device.
For custom sites copy manifest.json from custom folder to the main extension folder (optional permissions are lost on reload).

Firefox

Visit the Firefox repository of Bypass Paywall Clean.

Notes

This extension works best alongside the adblocker uBlock Origin.
On Yandex Android use uBlock Origin development build.
Do not delete extension's folder from your computer/smartphone or Bypass Paywalls Clean (in developer mode) will disappear at restart.
In Chrome/Opera/Brave to disable the developer mode extensions popup use the extensions toolbar menu (by default enabled in Chrome 87+ or (if available) enable (experimental) chrome flag: chrome://flags/#extensions-toolbar-menu)
You will be logged out for most of the sites you have checked.

Update

For crx-installation: check for updates (in chrome://extensions).
For zip-installation (load unpacked/developer mode): unzip files to installation folder or use a Git(Hub)-client to clone the extension (locally).

List of supported websites

* free articles only.

Finland

Grouped in options:
Sanoma Media Finland sites like (opt-in to custom sites for unlisted/regional sites)
Aamulehti - Helsingin Sanomat

Alma Talent sites like
Arvopaperi - Iltalehti (Firefox-only) - Kauppalehti - Markkinointi & Mainonta - Mediuutiset - Mikrobitti - Talouselämä - Tekniikka & Talous - Tivi - Uusi Suomi

France/Wallonia

Alternatives Economiques - Atlantico - Challenges - Charlie Hebdo - Elle - Esprit - L'Express - L'Obs - L'Oeil de la Photographie (fr/en) - L'Opinion - L'Usine Nouvelle - La Croix - La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest - La Tribune - Le Journal du Dimanche - Le Journal du Net - Le Parisien - Le Télégramme - Les Échos - Libération* - Marianne - Paris Match - Science & Vie - Sciences et Avenir - Sud Ouest - Télérama - Valeurs Actuelles

Grouped in options:
Groupe EBRA sites like
Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace - L'Alsace - L'Est Républicain - Le Bien Public - Le Dauphiné Libéré - Le Journal de Saône-et-Loire - Le Progrès - Le Républicain Lorrain - Vosges Matin
Groupe La Dépêche sites like
Centre Presse - L'Indépendant - La Dépêche du Midi - La Nouvelle République des Pyrénées - Le Petit Bleu d'Agen - Midi Libre - Midi Olympique
Groupe Rossel sites like
L'Aisne nouvelle - L'Ardennais - L'Est-Éclair - L'Union - L'Écho - La Voix du Nord - Le Courrier picard - Le Soir - Libération Champagne - Nord Éclair - Nord Littoral - Paris Normandie - SudInfo

Germany/Austria

Aachener Zeitung - Augsburger Allgemeine - Berliner Zeitung - Cicero - Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten - Die Rheinpfalz - Die Zeit - Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung - Freie Presse - Handelsblatt* - Krautreporter.de - Kurier.at - Mitteldeutsche Zeitung - Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung - Nordwest Zeitung - Piqd.de - Rhein-Zeitung - Ruhr Nachrichten - Sächsische Zeitung - Schleswig-Holsteinischer Zeitungsverlag - Schweriner Volkszeitung - Westfalen-Blatt - Westfälische Nachrichten

Grouped in options:
Funke Mediengruppe sites like
Berliner Morgenpost - Braunschweiger Zeitung - Hamburger Abendblatt - Neue Ruhr Zeitung - Ostthüringer Zeitung - Thüringer Allgemeine - Thüringische Landeszeitung - Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung - Westfalenpost - Westfälische Rundschau
Madsack Mediengruppe sites like (opt-in to custom sites for unlisted)
Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung - Kieler Nachrichten - Leipziger Volkszeitung - Lübecker Nachrichten - Märkische Allgemeine - Neue Presse (Hannover) - Ostsee-Zeitung

Italy

Corriere della Sera - Domani - GElocal.it - Il Fatto Quotidiano - Il Manifesto - Il Secolo XIX - La Nuova Sardegna - La Repubblica - La Stampa - Le Scienze - LimesOnline (it/en)

Grouped in options:
Il Messaggero and regional sites like Corriere Adriatico - Il Gazzettino - Il Mattino - Quotidiano di Puglia
Quotidiano Nazionale and regional sites like Il Giorno - Il Resto del Carlino - Il Telegrafo Livorno - La Nazione

Netherlands/Flanders

Dagblad van het Noorden - De Morgen - De Tijd - Financieele Dagblad - Follow the Money - Groene Amsterdammer - Humo - Knack - Leeuwarder Courant - NRC Handelsblad - Parool - Telegraaf - Trouw - Volkskrant

Grouped in options:
Algemeen Dagblad and regional ADR sites like BN DeStem - Brabants Dagblad - Eindhovens Dagblad - Gelderlander - PZC - Stentor - Tubantia
Mediahuis Nederland Regional sites like
Noordhollands Dagblad - Haarlems Dagblad - Leidsch Dagblad - IJmuider Courant - De Gooi- en Eemlander

Portugal

Correio da Manhã - Observador

Spain

ABC - El Confidencial - El Diario.es - El Español - El Mundo - El País - El Periódico de Catalunya - Expansión - La Vanguardia - Marca - Política Exterior

Grouped in options:
Grupo Prensa Ibérica sites like
Diario de Ibiza - Diario de Mallorca - El Día - El Periódico Mediterráneo - Faro de Vigo - Información - La Nueva España - La Provincia - Levante-EMV
Grupo Vocento (ABC regional) sites like
Diario Vasco - El Comercio - El Correo - El Diario Montañés - El Norte de Castilla - Hoy - Ideal - La Rioja - La Verdad - La Voz de Cádiz - Las Provincias - Sur

Sweden

Dagens Industri - Dagens Nyheter - NyTeknik

Switzerland

Neue Zürcher Zeitung - The Market

Africa

Kenya

Daily Nation

Australia/New Zealand

Brisbane Times - Eureka Report - Griffith Review - Intelligent Investor - New Zealand Herald - The Age - The Australian Financial Review - The Saturday Paper - The Spectator Australia - The Sydney Morning Herald - The West Australian (+ regional) - WAtoday

Grouped in options:
News Corp Australia site like
Cairns Post - Geelong Advertiser - Gold Coast Bulletin - Herald Sun - Northern Territory News - The Advertiser/AdelaideNow - The Australian - The Chronicle - The Courier-Mail - The Daily Telegraph - The Mercury Tasmania - The Weekly Times - Townsville Bulletin
Australian Community Media (daily) sites like (add to custom sites for unlisted & block general paywall-script Piano)
Bendigo Advertiser - Central Western Daily - Daily Liberal - Illawarra Mercury - Newcastle Herald - The Advocate - The Border Mail - The Canberra Times - The Courier - The Daily Advertiser - The Examiner - The Northern Daily Leader - The Port Macquarie News - The Standard - Western Advocate

East Asia

Asia Times - Caixin Global - CommonWealth Magazine Taiwan - Harvard Business Review China - Harvard Business Review Taiwan - Nikkei Asian Review - NK News* - South China Morning Post - Southern Weekly - Tech in Asia - The Diplomat - The Japan Times

India

Bloomberg Quint* - Business Standard - Hindustan Times - Inc42 - Live Law - LiveMint - MediaNama - The Economic Times (ET Prime) - The Hindu - The Hindu BusinessLine - Times of India

Israel

Globes - Haaretz.co.il - Haaretz.com - The Jerusalem Post - The Marker

Lebanon

L'Orient-Le Jour

Latin America

Argentina

Ámbito - Clarín - La Nación

Brazil

Exame - Folha de S. Paulo - Grupo Abril - O Estado de S. Paulo - O Globo - Valor Econômico

Chile

Diario Financiero - El Mercurio - El Mercurio de Valparaíso - La Estrella de Valparaíso - La Segunda - La Tercera

Mexico

Mexico News Daily

Peru

El Comercio - Gestión

* free articles only.

Sites with limited number of free articles

The free article limit can normally be bypassed by removing cookies for the site.
Click on the BPC-icon and then 'clear cookies'-button in the popup.
For user with the limited permissions BPC-version this will only work for supported sites; for other sites use:

Install the extension Cookie Remover or Disable Cookies.
When coming across a paywall, click the cookie icon in your extension toolbar then refresh the page.

If removing the cookies works you can also add the site as a custom site.

New site requests

You can submit a request for a new website.
Please read the following instructions and share your results for a quicker process.
Remember to check the previous requests before asking for a new website.

Visit an article on the site you want to bypass the paywall for and copy the article title.
Open up a new incognito window (Ctrl+Shift+N) and paste the article title into Google.
Click on the same article from the Google search results page. Or you can:
Disable javascript on the website by clicking the button right icon </> on the uBlock Origin panel.
Refresh the page.

Add custom site

Add your own custom site (also for testing).
Check 'Options'-link in popup-menu and go to custom sites.
* by default BPC has limited permissions, but you can opt-in to enable custom sites (and also clear cookies/block general paywall-scripts for non-listed sites). You can also just request permissions for the custom sites you added yourself.

By default sites' cookies/local storage are removed after page loads (to bypass article limit).
Also you can enable Googlebot/Bingbot user-agent, set the referer (to Facebook, Google or Twitter; ignored when Googlebot is set), disable Javascript for (sub)domain(s)/external sources, block regular expression and/or unhide text on amp-page.

Example list of custom sites or download list (json)

Add excluded site

Add excluded sites/domains (for your subscriptions).
You can also exclude a specific domain which is grouped in options.

Troubleshooting

This extension works best alongside uBlock Origin.
Add usefull custom filter Fanboy's Enhanced Tracking List
If a site doesn't work, try turning off uBlock and refreshing.
Make sure the (new) site is checked under Options.
You will be logged out for most of the sites you have checked.
Make sure you're running the latest version of Bypass Paywalls Clean.
If none of these work, you can submit an issue.
If you live in the EU, also consider installing the extension I don't care about cookies in order to remove cookie warnings (or add filter Easylist Cookies | I don't care about cookies custom filter to uBlock Origin). Some sites need to set a consent-cookie for (social) media.

Changelog-releases

License

Bypass Paywalls Clean is MIT-licensed.

Disclaimer

This software is provided for educational purposes only and is provided "AS IS", without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement. In no event shall the authors or copyright holders be liable for any claim, damages or other liability, whether in an action of contract, tort or otherwise, arising from, out of or in connection with the software or the use or other dealings in the software.

34 KiB Executable File Raw Blame History