The main digital media have opted for the pay wallsThis is a security measure to block content and force a subscription for certain content. It is a measure that seeks to offset losses due to low sales in paper format. To get around paywalls, platforms such as FT Ladder appeared. Now that the service is not working, it is time to look for other alternatives.
There are fewer and fewer websites and digital newspapers that do not use paywalls. That is why users are eager to FT Ladder or alternatives to circumvent these mechanisms web monetization. In this article you will find a list of alternatives that work in a similar way to FT Ladder and that will help you continue enjoying your favorite content.
Txtify.it as an alternative to FT Ladder
Once it was confirmed that 12 FT Lader was no longer working, many users have migrated to Txtify.it. This is an app with very similar functionality and features, but we are not actually accessing the website itself. Instead of displaying the original web page, the notes appear in plain text. This means that there will be no pictures or colors, just text to reduce any distractions or visual supplements.
In regards to compatibilityFT Ladder works with many different media outlets. Both national and international platforms can be opened through Txtify.it and without going through the paywall and subscription mode. How does the platform work? Simply paste the article link directly into the search box on Txtify.it and the site will load in text format.
Extreme Paywall Bypasser
This is one of the Most used extensions in Mozilla Firefox to bypass paywalls. It is currently not available for download from the official Mozilla repository, but it is available on Github. You can use it to bypass paywalls and its manual installation is quite simple. The step-by-step guide accompanies the download and it is recommended to install it as soon as possible. This is because the removal of Extreme Paywall Bypasser and the fall of FT Ladder reflects an attempt to reduce these services.
Print Friendly
Another interesting platform for bypassing paywalls on newspaper and media websites Print Friendly converts the link content into a print-ready PDF file. It removes all banners, ads, and space-consuming elements in the margins. It has a high compatibility rate and works by converting the link content within a few seconds. But it may experience glitches or errors on some web pages.
From the FT Ladder crash, and aiming to have useful strategies, it is best to alternate between different apps. This way, even if a service goes down momentarily or permanently, you will be able to continue reading the content at all times.
RemovePaywall as an alternative to FT Ladder
Another of the great alternatives to FT Ladder in web page format. It works with a search box where we enter the link to convert. The page itself is responsible for displaying the content as long as it is a soft paywall. In this type of walls, the content of the note is in the link. The so-called hard paywalls cannot be bypassed with RemovePaywall. This is because the content of the note is encrypted and stored separately, so the mechanisms to bypass barriers do not work.
1ft
This tool is designed to be able to skip paywalls on online articles. Adds a shortcut to your browser's menu bar, and from there redirects to unwalled web versions. It works on iOS, Chrome, and Firefox, allowing access to protected content from almost any type of device.
The Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is one of the most ambitious and interesting websites in the world of digital information. It is a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital format. You can access a variety of content for free, from videos to songs to prints of magazines and books. It even has a video library with more than 20.000 films, television series and documentaries.
Reading mode and disabling Javascript
Being a security measures Because FT Ladder is constantly evolving, some of the alternatives to FT Ladder may also stop working. But there is also the option of setting some web browsers to reader mode, and seeing if that allows access to certain domains. For example, Apple's Safari browser allows you to bypass some paywalls by selecting reader mode while the website is loading.
You can also disable JavaScript, which places the paywall above the page content. In cases of soft walls, this feature can be useful for loading texts. The only problem is that other websites without JavaScript enabled may start to fail. But if you need to read a specific article, you can disable it for a while and then return it to its original state.
A last alternative, in case the services like Txtify.it The way to block them, like FT Ladder, is to narrow down searches for a specific article to the last 24 hours. Copy the headline and search for websites that have been updated in the last 24 hours. There are some websites that are responsible for archiving and compiling full articles, which can help you find the specific article you were looking for. You may also find a website that tells the same information but with some modifications. This is not the best option, since the goal is to be able to bypass paywalls to enjoy the content of a certain media outlet or journalist. But if the mechanics and platforms end up being blocked, it is always good to have an alternative plan. This way you can think of better tools to enjoy your journalistic content at all times.