What the New York Times Family Subscription includes
The New York Times Family plan lets up to six household members read the same digital subscription on separate accounts. Each person gets their own login, reading history, and personalized recommendations — they are not sharing a single account. The plan includes full access to news, recipes, games (the daily crossword, Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, and others), and the Times' archive of articles going back decades.
The Family plan does not include the print newspaper. If you want the physical paper delivered to your home, you would need a separate print subscription or a bundle that combines print with digital access. The digital portion works on phones, tablets, computers, and the Times' apps.
Key Takeaways
- The Family plan costs more than a single digital subscription but less per person than six individual subscriptions.
- Up to six people can have separate accounts under one Family plan, each with their own login and reading history.
- You manage who has access through the Times' account settings, and you can remove or add members at any time.
- The plan includes digital news, games, recipes, and archives, but not the print newspaper unless you add it separately.
How much the Family plan costs
The New York Times Family subscription costs vary depending on whether you are a new subscriber or an existing customer, and the price changes periodically. New subscribers typically pay a lower introductory rate for the first few months, then the regular price. Existing digital subscribers who upgrade to Family pay the difference between their current plan and the Family rate.
You can see the current price on the Times' subscription page when you select the Family option. The cost is billed monthly or annually — annual billing usually offers a discount compared to paying month-to-month. Promotional rates and discounts are sometimes available, especially during sales periods.
How to set up a Family plan
To start a Family subscription, go to nytimes.com/subscription and select the Family plan option. You will create or sign into a New York Times account, enter payment information, and confirm your purchase. The subscription becomes active immediately.
Once you have the Family plan, you invite other household members by going to your account settings and selecting the option to manage your subscription or add family members. The Times will send them an email invitation with a link to create their own account. They click the link, set up their login, and they are added to your plan. You can invite up to five other people (six total including yourself).
Managing who has access to your plan
The account holder (the person who pays for the subscription) can see all family members and remove anyone from the plan at any time through account settings. If someone moves out, stops using the subscription, or you want to add someone new, you simply remove them and invite a replacement. Removed members lose access immediately.
The Times defines "household members" as people who live at the same address. The company does not actively verify addresses, but the terms of service require that members live together. If you are unsure whether your situation fits, you can contact Times customer service to ask.
What happens if you already have a digital subscription
If you currently pay for a single digital subscription (called "Digital" or "All Access"), you can upgrade to the Family plan. You will not lose your account or reading history. Instead, you will pay the difference between your current plan and the Family rate, and your billing date may shift. The upgrade is done through your account settings under subscription management.
If you downgrade from Family back to a single Digital subscription, the same process applies — you pay the difference and your other family members lose access at the end of your current billing cycle.
Games and other features included
Every member of a Family plan gets access to the Times' games: the daily crossword (including the archive of past puzzles), Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Waffle, and others. Each person maintains their own game statistics and streaks. The plan also includes the Times' recipes section with searchable filters and saved favorites, and access to the full article archive dating back to 1851.
The Times occasionally adds new games or features to the subscription. When that happens, all Family members automatically gain access — there is no separate purchase or upgrade needed.
Canceling or pausing your Family subscription
You can cancel the Family plan at any time through your account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle, so if you are billed on the 15th and cancel on the 10th, you keep access until the 15th. All family members lose access when the subscription ends.
The Times does not offer a formal pause or freeze option for Family plans. If you want to temporarily stop paying, canceling and restarting later is the only way. When you restart, you may see a promotional rate for new subscribers, depending on how long you have been away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can family members in different cities use the same Family plan?
No. The New York Times Family plan is designed for people who live at the same address. Members in different locations would need separate individual subscriptions. The Times' terms of service require that family members be household members.
What if someone on my Family plan shares their login with a friend?
The Times' terms prohibit sharing your account with people outside your household. If the company detects unusual activity or multiple logins from different locations, it may ask you to verify household members or suspend access. Each person on the plan should use their own account.
Do all six family members have to use the subscription, or can I pay for it and have only one or two people read?
You can pay for the Family plan and have only one person use it — there is no requirement that all six members be active. However, you would be paying more than a single Digital subscription costs, so a single Digital plan would be more cost-effective if only one person reads.
Can I add or remove family members whenever I want?
Yes. You can add or remove members at any time through your account settings. Removed members lose access immediately. There is no limit on how many times you can change your household members, as long as the total never exceeds six.
Does the Family plan include the Times' print newspaper?
No. The Family plan is digital-only. If you want the print newspaper delivered to your home, you would need to purchase a separate print subscription or a print-plus-digital bundle. Print and digital are billed separately.