On July 12, 2024, many Wordle enthusiasts were surprised to find a subscription prompt from The New York Times upon opening the game, with no apparent way to bypass it. This led to widespread speculation about whether Wordle is still free.
The speculation that Wordle has been moved behind a paywall caused a wave of disappointment among its dedicated players. The outcry quickly spread to Twitter, where users urged The New York Times to keep the beloved game free.
But did The New York Times actually place Wordle behind a paywall, or was it simply an error? In this guide, we'll uncover the truth and clarify the situation. But before we dive in, we recommend you check out other games like Wordle.
Is Wordle Still Free on the App and Website?
Yes, as of July 2024, Wordle is still free to play on both the app and the website. In addition to Wordle, other popular daily New York Times games, such as The Mini Crossword, Strands, Connections, and Spelling Bee, remain free to play.
This entire situation regarding Wordle potentially no longer being free arose following the introduction of a feature called Archive. As the name suggests, Archive allows users access to all past puzzles, but requires a paid subscription.
The prompt to subscribe to The New York Times might be due to the rollout of the Archive feature, which requires a subscription. The inability to bypass this prompt could be an error. This is our speculation, and it may or may not be accurate.
There is also a possibility that Wordle was indeed put behind a paywall, but the outcry from its beloved users prompted The New York Times to revert the change and make it free again. We don't know for sure, but the bottom line is that Wordle is still free.
That covers the current status of Wordle and the recent confusion about its availability. Despite the temporary issues, the good news is that Wordle remains free to play. Solve today's puzzle now.