The Bulwark
The Bulwark: A digital publication pairing political coverage with podcasts, video and member events. Ranked #37 of 71 in News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions by our editors (5.7/10); pricing: Free plan · paid from $12/mo; best for readers wanting political commentary, podcasts and events.
At a glance
- Editor score5.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan · paid from $12/mo
- Best forReaders wanting political commentary, podcasts and events
- Free planYes
- Paid from$12/mo
- Publication typeDigital-only
- Founded2019
- Facts checked5 Oct 2026
Where it wins
- Free access to much of its political coverage
- Bulwark+ combines paid articles, newsletters, shows and livestreams
- Subscriptions are available through Substack, YouTube and Apple Podcasts
Where it doesn't
- Paid benefits differ by subscription channel
- The $12 monthly Substack tier costs more than the audio-only options
- Founders and Best Friends require substantially higher annual payments
Our verdict on The Bulwark
The Bulwark is a digital publication covering politics, elections, the economy and related topics through articles, newsletters, video, podcasts and live events. Much of its content is free, while Bulwark+ is aimed at readers who want paid articles and newsletters alongside member-only shows, livestreams and community features. Its mix suits people who follow political commentary across formats; readers looking only for a paid podcast feed may prefer one of its channel-specific subscriptions.
Subscription choices have distinct prices and benefits. Bulwark+ on Substack costs $12 per month or $100 per year and includes access to paywalled articles and newsletters, member-only chats and livestreams, ad-free and member-only shows, and a private podcast feed. YouTube offers paid Bulwark shows for $9.99 per month, while an Apple Podcasts subscription costs $4.99 per month. The annual Founders option is $300 and adds a Town Hall, three gift memberships, a Founders Lounge and informal meetup invitations to Substack membership benefits. Best Friends costs $1,200 per year, with six gift memberships and Founders benefits. These tiers make it important to choose by the benefits and channel that matter, rather than comparing price alone.
The publication is available on web, iOS and Android, with subscriptions and content also connected to Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. The broader Bulwark+ offer brings articles, audio, video, livestreams and community features together, while YouTube and Apple Podcasts provide narrower paid routes with their own benefits. Readers seeking a broad political publication with member interaction and events are the clearest fit for Substack membership. Those who want only paid shows or podcasts can consider the separate platform subscriptions; readers who want fully bundled access should compare their chosen channel’s included features before subscribing.
The Bulwark pricing
All 5 The Bulwark plans and prices →
The Bulwark fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $12/mo |
| Publication type | Digital-only |
| Publication bundle | No |
| Archive access | Not verified |
| Audio content | Yes |
| Ad-free access | Yes |
| Gift subscription | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 4 integrations: Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube |
| Pricing | Free plan · paid from $12/mo (source) |
| Website | thebulwark.com |
| Facts checked | 5 Oct 2026 |
The Bulwark integrations
The Bulwark lists 4 integrations on its own site.
- Substack
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
- YouTube
Alternatives to The Bulwark
- The New York TimesA paid news subscription with breaking alerts, audio and video, plus a broader All Access bundle.9.4
- Financial TimesA broad news subscription with personalised reading, offline access and market coverage.9.3
- The Wall Street JournalA subscription news service pairing WSJ journalism with personalized feeds and market tools.9.2
See all The Bulwark alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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