The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast: A digital news subscription with unlimited reading, exclusive reporting, and a Premium ad-free tier. Ranked #38 of 71 in News and Digital Magazine Subscriptions by our editors (5.6/10); pricing: Paid; best for readers wanting subscriber reporting and ad-free access.
At a glance
- Editor score5.6 / 10
- PricingPaid
- Best forReaders wanting subscriber reporting and ad-free access
- Publication typeDigital-only
- Facts checked5 Oct 2026
Where it wins
- Unlimited subscriber reading across the website and iOS app
- Subscriber-only reporting, newsletters, commenting, and a daily crossword
- Premium adds ad-free reading and Daily Beast Substack access
Where it doesn't
- Digital-only access, with platforms listed as web and iOS
- Ad-free reading and Substack access require the Premium tier
- Subscription costs can be difficult to compare across billing periods
Our verdict on The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast is a digital news publication covering politics, culture, media, world news, and other topics. Its paid subscriptions are for readers who want unlimited access to articles plus subscriber features, including exclusive reporting, newsletters, commenting, and a daily crossword. Access is available on the website and through the iOS app; the publication does not offer a print edition. Readers primarily seeking subscriber journalism and commentary will find a closer fit here than those looking for a print-and-digital bundle.
The plan structure starts with Monthly subscription, which includes unlimited reading, website and app access, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and the daily crossword. The Annual subscription provides the entry-level benefits. Premium includes those benefits as well as ad-free reading and access to Daily Beast Substack. According to the vendor's subscription article, introductory and first-year prices are listed, but the standard recurring amount after those periods is not established there. That makes it harder to compare the long-term cost from the published pricing information; readers should weigh the added Premium access against the value of ad-free reading and Substack.
Platform fit is focused: the listed options are web and iOS, so readers who need Android access should consider alternatives. The publication is digital-only, with cloud and mobile deployment, and lists email as a support channel. Choose The Daily Beast if its coverage and subscriber features are the main draw, especially if Premium's ad-free option matters. It is a weaker fit for readers who prioritize broader platform availability, print access, or a clearly stated ongoing subscription cost before choosing a plan.
The Daily Beast pricing
All 3 The Daily Beast plans and prices →
The Daily Beast fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Publication type | Digital-only |
| Publication bundle | Yes |
| Archive access | Not verified |
| Audio content | Not verified |
| Ad-free access | Yes |
| Gift subscription | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS |
| Support | |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Paid (source) |
| Website | thedailybeast.com |
| Facts checked | 5 Oct 2026 |
Alternatives to The Daily Beast
- 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 Daily Beast alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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