Quick take
Who The Economist is best for
Readers who want weekly global affairs, economics, and politics analysis rather than daily breaking-news volume.
Subscriber context: Public subscriber count not highlighted in this snapshot.
Service page
The Economist subscription cost
Readers who want weekly global affairs, economics, and politics analysis rather than daily breaking-news volume.
Default planDigital · $24.90/mo
Starting price$24.90/mo
Official sourceLinked below
Pricing snapshot
What you should know before paying
Starting price: $24.90/mo
Free trial or free tier: Check the The Economist official page for any active free trial offers.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for The Economist right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Current pricing
Current plans and prices
Primary source:The Economist official pricing
Prices verified: March 30, 2026
Prices change: Prices and promotions can change quickly, so always confirm the current terms on the official provider page before you subscribe, upgrade, or cancel.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for The Economist right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Most popular
Digital
$24.90/mo
$299.00/year
Global politics and business coverage • App and site access
What changes on this plan
- Global politics and business coverage
- App and site access
- Note: High annual commitment is often the main public offer
Plan option
Print + Digital
$32.50/mo
$390.00/year
Adds weekly print edition • Best for committed readers
What changes on this plan
- Adds weekly print edition
- Best for committed readers
- Note: Expensive for casual use
Billing notes
Free trial, annual billing, and discounts
Free trial or free tier: Check the The Economist official page for any active free trial offers.
Annual comparison: Digital is available on annual billing. Check the official pricing source to confirm the current annual savings versus monthly billing.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for The Economist right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Before you subscribe
What to double-check on the official page
Prices and promotions can change quickly, so always confirm the current terms on the official provider page before you subscribe, upgrade, or cancel.
Check billing frequency, cancellation terms, and whether any limited-time discounts are still active.
Closest competitors
Services that are closest to this one
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$25.00/mo default plan
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Bloomberg
$34.99/mo default plan
Readers who mainly care about markets, business, and global finance coverage from a premium newsroom.
Lower-cost options
Cheaper substitutes worth checking
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$3.25/mo default plan
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The Athletic
$4.99/mo default plan
Best in-depth sports journalism — included free with NYT All Access
Medium
$5.00/mo default plan
Readers who regularly follow writers on Medium and want a low-cost way to unlock member-only articles.
FAQs
Common questions
What is the cheapest The Economist plan and is it worth it?
The Economist's lowest paid plan is Digital at $24.90/mo. Global politics and business coverage • App and site access Compare this against alternatives in News & Media to see if the price-to-feature tradeoff makes sense for your use case.
How much does The Economist cost per year?
With annual billing, Digital costs $299.00 per year, saving you -$0.20 compared to paying monthly. Without annual billing, the same plan would cost $298.80 per year.
Does The Economist have a free trial or free tier?
Check the The Economist official page for any active free trial offers.
How many plans does The Economist have and what is the difference?
The Economist offers 2 plans ranging from $24.90/mo to $32.50/mo. The main differences between plans typically include content quality, concurrent streams or seats, and whether ads are shown. See the full plan comparison above for details.
Is The Economist worth the price compared to alternatives?
Readers who want weekly global affairs, economics, and politics analysis rather than daily breaking-news volume. Closest competitors in News & Media include Vogue, New York Times, Bloomberg. Compare features and pricing to find the best fit for your needs.
Sources