Link Hints vs. Paywall Reader | Read without paywalls for free
Link Hints
Click with your keyboard. Have a bad touchpad? Trouble using a mouse? Love keyboard shortcuts? Link Hints is a browser extension that complements the built-in keyboard shortcuts with ones for clicking. Press Alt+J (Ctrl+J on macOS). This makes little yellow boxes with letters, called hints, appear next to links (and other clickable things). Type the letters to click the link. Alternatively, hold Shift and type a bit of the link text. The keyboard shortcuts and hints are fully customizable. Alt+J: Click links, buttons, etc. Alt+K: Open link in new tab. Alt+L: Open link in new tab and switch to it. Alt+Shift+J: Click many things. Alt+Shift+K: Open many links. Alt+Shift+L: Select element.
Paywall Reader | Read without paywalls for free
Paywall Reader is a tool that helps you read articles blocked by paywalls. It doesn’t hack into sites or break paywalls directly. Instead, it sends you to archived or cached versions of the page. These versions are saved copies from places like Archive.Today, the Internet Archive, or even Google Translate. It works best with soft paywalls—those pop-ups that block the screen but still have the full text underneath. To use it, you just paste the article’s URL, pick an option from the three services, and it tries to find a version without the paywall. If one doesn’t work, you can try another. Not every paywall can be bypassed, especially if a site blocks archiving, but most major news sources work fine. It’s considered legal because it doesn’t tamper with the website itself—it just finds copies that are already available online. People use it to access news without needing tons of subscriptions or for things like schoolwork and research. The site isn’t connected to any of the archive se...
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Frequently Asked Questions
Link Hints is designed to improve navigation through keyboard shortcuts, making it ideal for users who prefer keyboard interactions over mouse usage. It allows users to click links and buttons quickly using customizable shortcuts. In contrast, Paywall Reader focuses on bypassing paywalls to access content freely, which is beneficial for users looking to read articles without restrictions. The choice between the two depends on whether you prioritize enhanced navigation or unrestricted access to content.
If you are looking to save time while navigating through links and buttons, Link Hints is the better option as it allows for quick access using keyboard shortcuts. However, if your primary concern is accessing articles without encountering paywalls, then Paywall Reader is more suitable as it enables you to read content without delays. Ultimately, the best choice depends on whether your focus is on navigation efficiency or content accessibility.
Link Hints is a browser extension that allows users to click on links and other clickable elements using their keyboard. It is particularly useful for those who have a bad touchpad, trouble using a mouse, or love using keyboard shortcuts.
To use Link Hints, press Alt+J (Ctrl+J on macOS) to make little yellow boxes with letters, called hints, appear next to links and other clickable elements. Then type the letters to click the link. Alternatively, you can hold Shift and type a bit of the link text. The keyboard shortcuts and hints are fully customizable.
Some keyboard shortcuts for Link Hints include: Alt+J to click links and buttons, Alt+K to open a link in a new tab, and Alt+L to open a link in a new tab and switch to it. Additional shortcuts include Alt+Shift+J to click many things, Alt+Shift+K to open many links, and Alt+Shift+L to select an element.
Currently, there are no user-generated pros and cons for Link Hints.
Paywall Reader is a tool that allows users to read articles that are blocked by paywalls. It does not hack into websites or break paywalls directly; instead, it provides access to archived or cached versions of the page from sources like Archive.Today, the Internet Archive, or Google Translate. It is particularly effective with soft paywalls, which are pop-ups that block the screen but still allow access to the full text underneath.
To use Paywall Reader, you simply paste the URL of the article you want to read, select one of the three available services, and it attempts to find a version of the article without the paywall. If the first option does not work, you can try another service. While it works well with many major news sources, not every paywall can be bypassed, especially if a site blocks archiving.
The pros of Paywall Reader include its speed, lightweight design, and minimalist interface, making it easy to use. There are currently no listed cons for Paywall Reader, as it is designed to provide a straightforward solution for accessing paywalled content legally.
Yes, using Paywall Reader is considered legal because it does not tamper with the website itself. It simply finds copies of articles that are already available online through archived versions. However, users are responsible for how they use the tool.
Paywall Reader is beneficial for anyone looking to access news articles without needing multiple subscriptions. It is particularly useful for students and researchers who need access to various articles for schoolwork or research purposes.
