It happened on a random Wednesday in late August 2025. People woke up, reached for their phones, and tried to knock out their 30-second morning ritual only to find a lock icon where the grid used to be. For over a decade, that tiny 5x5 square was the one thing you could count on to be free, fast, and satisfying. But the landscape changed overnight.
If you’re wondering do you have to pay for the mini crossword now, the short answer is basically yes. If you want the official New York Times version, the "free ride" is officially over for the vast majority of players.
The Day the Mini Went Dark
Honestly, the shift felt a bit like a betrayal to the hardcore fans. For years, the Mini was the "gateway drug" to the NYT Games world. It was the freebie that eventually coaxed people into trying the big crossword or getting obsessed with Spelling Bee. But on August 27, 2025, the NYT moved the Mini behind its paywall.
Why now? It’s pretty clear that the Times is pushing hard for that 15-million-subscriber goal they set for 2027. They realized that millions of people were coming to their app specifically for the Mini and then leaving without ever seeing a subscription prompt. By locking it, they aren't just looking for a few extra bucks; they’re trying to turn casual solvers into "All Access" members.
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How Much Does It Actually Cost?
You've got a couple of ways to get back into the grid. You can't just buy "The Mini" on its own—that’s not an option. You have to buy into the whole Games ecosystem.
- Monthly Subscription: Usually around $6 per month.
- Annual Subscription: The standard rate is $50 a year, though they run sales (like the $18-for-a-year promo they did right after the paywall went up) all the time.
- The Bundle: If you already pay for the news or the "All Access" plan, the Mini is included.
Some people on Reddit found that if they didn't update their apps, they could keep playing for free for a few extra weeks. But eventually, the servers caught up. You can't outrun the paywall forever.
Why Do You Have to Pay for the Mini Crossword Now?
It wasn't just a random whim. The New York Times spokesperson, Jordan Cohen, basically told the press that the move reflects the "value" of their journalism and games. But if you look deeper, there’s some internal math at play.
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Earlier in 2025, the NYT launched a new game called Pips (a dominoes-style thing). With 10 distinct puzzles now in their roster, they felt the "free" offerings were getting too crowded. They decided Wordle, Connections, and Strands would stay free to lure people in, while the Mini—which has a massive, loyal, daily following—would be the one to finally flip the switch on revenue.
There's also the Tech Guild strike from late 2024 to consider. Maintaining these apps and paying the designers and editors who come up with those witty clues costs real money. When you have 12 million subscribers, you have to find new ways to keep the growth curve moving upward.
Are There Any Free Alternatives Left?
If you're refusing to pay on principle—or just don't have $50 to drop on a tiny puzzle—you aren't totally out of luck. The NYT isn't the only game in town.
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The New Yorker has a great mini, though it’s only available a couple of days a week (Thursdays and Fridays). USA Today has a daily mini that is completely free and honestly just as challenging. A lot of people have also jumped ship to My Daily Themed Crossword or OmniCrosswords, which pull from different newspaper sources.
If you’re a student or a teacher, check your library. Many university libraries and local branches actually pay for a site-wide NYT license. You can often get a 72-hour "gift code" just by logging in with your library card. It’s a bit of a hassle to do every three days, but it beats paying.
The "Is It Worth It?" Factor
Is a 5x5 grid worth six bucks a month? It depends on who you ask. For some, the streak is everything. Seeing that "537 days" number vanish is more painful than the monthly charge. For others, it’s just a game, and the paywall was the sign they needed to finally break the phone habit and go back to reading a book.
The reality of 2026 is that the "free" internet is shrinking. From streaming services to news sites, everything is moving toward the "bundle" model. The NYT Mini was just one of the last holdouts.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your existing subscriptions: If you pay for the NYT news app, you might already have access and just need to link your account in the Games app.
- Wait for a sale: Don't pay the full $50. The Times almost always has a "first year for $20" or similar deal running on their homepage.
- Browse the alternatives: Try the USA Today or Wall Street Journal minis for a week. You might find you don't actually miss the NYT clues as much as you thought.
- Library access: Visit your local library's website and search for "New York Times Digital Access" to see if you can get a free daily pass.