The New York Times vs The Wall Street Journal: price, plans, and which to keep
Current US prices, price history, trial terms, and cancellation friction side by side, built from our service guides. Last reviewed August 26, 2026.
The short answer
Both bill every four weeks, so the advertised price hides a thirteenth charge each year. At standard rates the Times' All Access plan at $25 per four weeks works out to $325 a year, while the Journal's $38.99 digital rate is about $507. Both sell aggressive introductory offers, $1 a week at the Times and $4 a month at the Journal, that jump to full price after the first year. The Journal is harder to leave: outside states with online-cancellation laws it usually requires a phone call.
The Wall Street Journal is cheaper by $277 a year on its entry plan.
At a glance
| The New York Times | The Wall Street Journal | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest standard plan | All Access: $25/4 weeks | Digital All-Access (intro): $4/mo |
| Cheapest plan per year | $325 | $48 |
| Most expensive plan | All Access Family: $30/4 weeks | Digital All-Access (standard): $38.99/mo |
| Price changes since 2023 | 2 | 1 |
| Latest price change | September 2025 | January 2024 |
| Free trial | No free trial, but intro offers (e.g. $1/week for 6-12 months) are almost always running. | Promotional rates (e.g. $1/week or $4/month for the first year) are standard. |
| Cancellation | 4 steps · app-store or partner billing caveat | 3 steps · app-store or partner billing caveat |
Cheapest and most expensive plans exclude add-ons, student, bundle, and per-seat plans. Price changes are counted from January 2023. US list prices, last reviewed August 26, 2026.
Which one should you pick?
Choose The New York Times if…
Pick The New York Times for general news plus Games, Cooking and The Athletic in the All Access bundle. Check the renewal amount in your account; legacy and promo rates vary widely between subscribers.
Choose The Wall Street Journal if…
Pick The Wall Street Journal if markets and business coverage is the job, and treat the $4 intro rate as a one-year subscription with a hard end date. Put a reminder two weeks before it expires.
Every current plan
The New York Times plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| All AccessStandard renewal rate shown on recent offers; promotions and legacy rates vary. | $25/4 weeks |
| All Access FamilyUp to four separate accounts; promotional pricing varies. | $30/4 weeks |
The Wall Street Journal plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Digital All-Access (intro) | $4/mo |
| Digital All-Access (standard) | $38.99/mo |
| Print + Digital | $54.99/mo |
US list prices; taxes, promotions, and app-store billing may differ. Last reviewed August 26, 2026.
Price history, both services
September 2025 · The New York Times
All Access Family launched at a $30 standard rate every four weeks for up to four accounts.
January 2024 · The New York Times
Intro offers kept churning at $1/week for year one, with steep jumps at renewal.
January 2024 · The Wall Street Journal
Adjusted standard digital renewal rates and expanded 4-week billing structures.
How to run both without paying for both
Never let either roll from an intro rate to standard without a decision. When you call or chat to cancel, both regularly offer another discounted year; take it if you read daily, decline if you do not. If you subscribed via Apple or Google, cancel there.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal?
The Wall Street Journal. Its cheapest standard plan works out to $4 a month ($48 a year) versus $27.08 a month ($325 a year) for The New York Times, a difference of $277 a year. Bundles, promotions, and app-store billing can change the final price.
Is the WSJ more expensive than the NYT?
At standard digital rates, yes: about $507 a year for the Journal's $38.99 every four weeks versus about $325 for the Times' $25 All Access plan. Introductory rates are close: $4 a month at the Journal versus $1 a week at the Times.
Why are there 13 charges a year on my newspaper subscription?
Both the Times and the Journal bill every four weeks rather than monthly. Fifty-two weeks divided by four is thirteen billing periods, so a '$25 a month' plan really costs $325 a year, not $300.
Full guides
The New York Times price & cancellation guide
The Times bills digital plans every four weeks, which means 13 charges per year rather than 12 monthly charges.
View guideThe Wall Street Journal price & cancellation guide
The Wall Street Journal Digital costs $4/mo introductory jumping to $38.99/mo for complete markets and news coverage.
View guideMore comparisons
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