What a New York Times gift subscription is and how it works
A New York Times gift subscription is a prepaid access pass to the Times' digital content that you buy for someone else. You choose the length (usually three months, one year, or two years), pay upfront, and the recipient gets a code or link to activate their account. The Times sends a gift message from you, either by email or physical card depending on what you choose at checkout.
The recipient does not need to be an existing Times subscriber. They create a new account using the gift code, and their access starts immediately. When the gift period ends, they can choose to continue with a paid subscription at the standard rate, or their access stops. The Times does not automatically charge them unless they take action to convert to a regular subscription.
Key Takeaways
- Gift subscriptions come in three-month, one-year, and two-year lengths, with prices that vary depending on which tier you choose.
- You pay the full amount upfront when you buy the gift, and the recipient receives a code to activate access on their own account.
- The recipient can read the same content as a regular digital subscriber: news, opinion, recipes, games, and the daily crossword.
- When the gift period ends, access stops unless the recipient pays for their own subscription at the regular rate.
Pricing and subscription tiers
The New York Times offers three subscription tiers, and you can gift any of them. The digital-only subscription gives access to the website and mobile apps. The bundle includes digital access plus the Sunday print edition delivered to a home address. The all-access subscription includes everything: digital, print, games, and audio content.
Prices vary by tier and by how long the gift runs. A one-year digital-only gift typically costs less than a one-year bundle, which costs less than all-access. The Times also runs promotions at certain times of year — holiday seasons, for example — where gift subscriptions are discounted. You can see the current price for each tier and length when you start the gift purchase on the Times' website.
If you buy a print or bundle gift subscription, you will need to provide the recipient's mailing address so the Times can deliver the Sunday paper. Digital-only gifts do not require an address.
How to purchase and send a gift subscription
Go to nytimes.com/gift and select the subscription tier you want to give. Choose the length (three months, one year, or two years), then add it to your cart. At checkout, you enter your payment information and choose how the gift will be delivered: by email with a code the recipient can use immediately, or by physical gift card that arrives by mail.
If you choose email delivery, you can write a personal message that the recipient sees when they receive the code. If you choose a physical card, the Times prints your message on the card and mails it along with the gift code. Physical cards typically arrive within five to seven business days, so plan ahead if you are giving this as a holiday or birthday present.
After you complete the purchase, the Times sends you a confirmation email. You can forward the gift code to the recipient yourself if you chose email delivery, or wait for the physical card to arrive in the mail.
What the recipient can access with a gift subscription
A gift subscription gives the same access as a paid subscription at that tier. With a digital-only gift, the recipient can read unlimited articles on nytimes.com, use the mobile apps, access the daily crossword and games, and read the audio editions of articles. They can save articles, create reading lists, and customize their news preferences.
If the gift is a bundle or all-access subscription, the recipient also gets the Sunday print edition (for bundle and all-access) and access to the Times' audio content, including the daily news briefing and podcasts (for all-access). The recipient's account works exactly like any other Times subscriber account — there is no separate "gift" status that limits what they can do.
Activating a gift subscription and account setup
When the recipient receives the gift code (by email or physical card), they click the link or enter the code on the New York Times website. They are asked to create a new account with an email address and password, or sign in if they already have a Times account. If they already subscribe, the gift extends their current subscription by the length of the gift (three months, one year, or two years).
For print or bundle gifts, the recipient will be asked to confirm or provide a mailing address where the Sunday paper should be delivered. Digital-only gifts do not require an address. Once the account is set up, access begins immediately, and the recipient can start reading.
What happens when the gift subscription ends
When the gift period expires, the recipient's access stops. The Times does not automatically charge them or convert them to a paid subscription. The recipient will see a message letting them know their gift has ended and offering them the option to subscribe at the regular rate if they want to continue reading.
If the recipient wants to keep their access, they can start a paid subscription at any time. If they do not, their account remains but they cannot read articles beyond the free article limit (usually a few articles per month for non-subscribers). Any saved articles or reading lists stay in their account, but they cannot access them without an active subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I give a gift subscription to someone who already subscribes to the Times?
Yes. If the recipient already has a paid subscription, the gift extends their current subscription by the length of the gift. So a one-year gift adds one year to their existing end date. They do not get a refund for the overlap.
Can the recipient change the delivery address for a print subscription gift?
Yes. When they activate the gift code, they can enter or change the mailing address. If they need to change it later, they can do so in their account settings under delivery address.
What if the recipient never activates the gift code?
The code does not expire. The recipient can activate it at any time, even months later. The gift period starts when they activate the code, not when you purchase it. If you bought a one-year gift, they get one year of access from the day they activate it.
Can I buy a gift subscription for someone outside the United States?
Digital-only gifts can be sent to most countries. Print and bundle subscriptions are available only in the United States. Check the gift purchase page to see if the recipient's country is supported for the tier you want to give.
Is there a way to give a recurring subscription instead of a one-time gift?
No. Gift subscriptions are prepaid for a fixed period only. If you want to set up an ongoing subscription for someone, they would need to purchase their own subscription and set up automatic renewal in their account settings.