What you get with a Science magazine subscription

A Science magazine subscription delivers the weekly journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to your home or inbox. Each issue contains peer-reviewed research articles, news coverage of scientific developments, and analysis of policy affecting research and innovation. The subscription includes access to the full text of articles on the AAAS website, where you can search the archive and set up alerts for topics that matter to you.

The magazine covers biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, engineering, and medicine. Articles are written for scientists and educated readers with some background in science, not for a general audience — you will encounter technical language and complex concepts. If you are a researcher, student, or someone who reads science regularly, the depth is the point. If you are looking for science news written for a general reader, you may find the journal dense.

Subscriptions come in print, digital, or combined formats. Print arrives weekly and takes up shelf space; digital is immediate and searchable; combined gives you both. The choice depends on whether you read on screens, prefer paper, or want the option to do either.

Key Takeaways

  • Science magazine is a peer-reviewed research journal published weekly by AAAS, not a popular science magazine, and assumes readers have scientific training or strong interest in technical content.
  • Subscriptions are available in print only, digital only, or print plus digital, with prices varying by format and subscription length.
  • You can subscribe directly through the AAAS website or through a library, university, or employer that holds an institutional subscription.
  • Digital access begins immediately upon payment, while print subscriptions typically start within two to four weeks.
  • Most subscriptions auto-renew unless you cancel, and you can pause or resume your subscription through your account settings.

Subscription formats and pricing

Science offers three subscription paths: print only, digital only, or print plus digital. Print-only subscriptions cost less but arrive on a schedule you cannot control. Digital-only subscriptions are the least expensive option and give you immediate access to new articles and the full archive. Print plus digital costs more but covers both formats, useful if you want to read on screens during the week and have paper copies for reference or offline reading.

Pricing varies depending on whether you subscribe for one year, two years, or longer. Annual subscriptions cost more per issue than multi-year subscriptions, so committing to two or three years brings the per-issue cost down. AAAS also runs promotions at different times of year, particularly around the start of the calendar year and during back-to-school season. If you are not in a hurry, waiting for a promotion can save money.

Students and educators receive discounted rates. To claim a student discount, you will need to verify your status through a third-party verification service when you subscribe. Retired scientists and members of certain professional organizations may also receive discounts — check the AAAS website to see if you may have access to.

How to subscribe through AAAS

Go to the AAAS website and navigate to the subscription section. You will choose your format (print, digital, or both), your subscription length, and whether you want to add any optional products like access to Science Translational Medicine or Science Advances, which are companion journals. Enter your mailing address if you are ordering print, your email address, and your payment information.

After payment processes, you will receive a confirmation email with your account login and subscription details. Digital access activates immediately — you can log in and read right away. Print subscriptions typically begin shipping within two to four weeks, though this varies by season and your location. You can track your first shipment through your account.

Your subscription will auto-renew at the end of the term unless you cancel. You can manage your subscription, pause it temporarily, or cancel it anytime through your AAAS account online. If you pause, your subscription will resume on the date you choose. If you cancel, you lose access to the digital archive at the end of your current subscription period.

Accessing Science through a library or institution

Many public libraries, university libraries, and employers subscribe to Science on behalf of their patrons or employees. If your library or institution holds a subscription, you can read Science for free through their system. Ask your librarian whether they have access, and they will show you how to log in — usually through a proxy system that recognizes you as part of their organization.

Institutional access typically includes the full archive, the ability to download articles as PDFs, and sometimes access to companion journals. The downside is that you cannot customize your experience the way you can with a personal subscription — you cannot set up personal alerts or save articles to a personal library. But if you read Science occasionally rather than regularly, institutional access may be all you need.

If your institution does not currently subscribe, ask your librarian about requesting it. Libraries and universities make subscription decisions based on patron demand, and a formal request carries weight in their budget process.

What happens after you subscribe

Once your subscription is active, new issues arrive on Wednesday mornings (for digital) or in your mailbox (for print). You can browse the table of contents, search by keyword or author, or set up email alerts so that new articles matching your interests arrive in your inbox automatically. The AAAS website lets you create a personal library of articles you want to keep, annotate them, and organize them into folders.

If you subscribe to print, you will receive 52 issues per year unless you pause your subscription. Print issues accumulate quickly — a year of Science takes up significant shelf space. Some subscribers keep only the most recent issues and recycle older ones. Others keep a few years' worth for reference. Digital subscribers do not face this problem, but they need to remember to download articles they want to keep permanently, since access ends when the subscription ends.

If you stop paying or your subscription lapses, your digital access ends immediately. You lose the ability to read articles online, though articles you downloaded as PDFs remain on your computer. Print issues you received are yours to keep.

Canceling or pausing your subscription

You can cancel or pause your subscription anytime through your AAAS account without contacting customer service. Pausing suspends your subscription for a set period — typically one to six months — and then resumes automatically on the date you choose. Pausing is useful if you know you will not have time to read for a few months but want to resume later without losing your account settings.

Canceling ends your subscription at the end of your current billing period. You will not be charged again, but you will lose digital access once the period ends. If you cancel mid-year, you do not receive a refund for the unused portion — most subscriptions are non-refundable. However, if you cancel within a short window after subscribing (usually 30 days), AAAS may issue a refund. Check the terms when you subscribe.

If you have trouble canceling through your account, AAAS customer service can help. You can reach them through the website or by phone — the contact information appears in your subscription confirmation email.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read Science magazine articles without a subscription?

Some articles are free to read, particularly news items and certain policy pieces. Research articles are behind a paywall and require a subscription or institutional access. Some researchers post their published articles on their own websites or on preprint servers, which you can read for free, though these may differ slightly from the published version.

What is the difference between Science and Science Advances?

Science is the flagship weekly journal with rigorous peer review and high acceptance standards. Science Advances is an open-access journal that publishes more frequently and accepts a broader range of research. Both are published by AAAS. A Science subscription does not include Science Advances unless you add it as an optional product.

Do I need a subscription if I am a researcher?

If your university or research institution subscribes, you have access through them at no personal cost. If you work independently or your institution does not subscribe, a personal subscription is the most direct route. Some researchers also submit their work to open-access journals to make it freely available to readers.

How long does it take to receive my first print issue?

Print subscriptions typically start shipping within two to four weeks of payment, though timing varies by season and location. You can check the status of your first shipment through your account. If you need access to current articles immediately, a digital subscription starts right away.

Can I gift a Science subscription to someone?

Yes. The AAAS website has a gift subscription option where you choose the format, length, and start date, and provide the recipient's contact information. The recipient will receive a notification that a subscription has been purchased for them and instructions on how to activate their account.