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How to read Der Spiegel free or for less

The day's news on spiegel.de is free, but reportage, analysis and other pieces marked S+ need a SPIEGEL+ subscription, which costs €6.49 a week. Many German public libraries let card holders read every Spiegel issue through Munzinger or borrow the magazine as an eMagazine in the Onleihe. Anyone under 30 can get SPIEGEL+ at 40% off.

Last checked 8 Nov 2026. Offers change often, so confirm the price on the outlet's own page before you pay.

Quick answer

Check your city library's Munzinger or Onleihe access first, as it is free with a library card. If you are under 30, SPIEGEL+ U30 costs €1 for the first 4 weeks, then €4.49 a week.

Germany

Library

Every Spiegel issue through Munzinger with a library card

Free with a library card

Several German city libraries license Munzinger, which carries all Spiegel issues from 1947 up to the current one. You read in the browser after signing in with your library card number. Berlin's Reinickendorf library and Stadtbibliothek Heilbronn both list it.

How to get it Confirmed on an official page Source 1 Source 2
Library

Borrow the magazine as an eMagazine in the Onleihe

Free with a library card

Many libraries in the Onleihe network lend Der Spiegel as an eMagazine through the free Onleihe app or website. Loans of eMagazines and ePapers are short, from an hour to two days, and an issue may be out on loan when you want it.

Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it Source 1 Source 2
Gift link

Gift articles from SPIEGEL+ subscribers

Free to the recipient

SPIEGEL+ subscribers can give away 10 S+ articles a month to family and friends, so ask someone who subscribes to share the piece you want.

Confirmed on an official page Source
Free articles

Free news on spiegel.de and in the app

Free

The headlines and the day's news are free on spiegel.de and in the free DER SPIEGEL app. Only pieces marked S+, mostly reportage, analysis and service articles, need a subscription.

How to get it Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it Source 1 Source 2
Student rate

SPIEGEL+ U30: 40% off for anyone under 30

€1 for the first 4 weeks, then €4.49/week (billed every 4 weeks)

Open to anyone under 30, not just students. It includes all S+ articles, the weekly magazine as an ePaper and a second account for someone in your household. You can cancel every 4 weeks.

See the offer Confirmed on an official page Source 1 Source 2
Student rate

Student print subscription with SPIEGEL+ included

€44 for 10 issues, then €4.40 per issue

Students get 10 printed issues with full SPIEGEL+ access, then keep the student price per issue. After the trial period you can cancel monthly.

See the offer Confirmed on an official page Source

Questions

Partly. The day's news on spiegel.de is free, but articles marked S+ need a SPIEGEL+ subscription. The magazine itself is also free through many German public libraries.

Often, yes. Several German city libraries, in Berlin and Heilbronn for example, offer every Spiegel issue through Munzinger, and many lend it as an eMagazine in the Onleihe for a short loan. Check your library's digital services page.

On the Spiegel website it costs €6.49 a week, billed every four weeks. In the iPhone app it is listed at €26.99 a month or €259.99 a year.

Yes. Anyone under 30 can take SPIEGEL+ U30 at €1 for four weeks, then €4.49 a week. Students can also get 10 printed issues with SPIEGEL+ for €44, then €4.40 an issue.

Yes. Subscribers can give away 10 S+ articles a month to people who don't subscribe.