You've found the perfect research paper. The title promises exactly what you need, and the abstract confirms it: you want to read this paper. When you click on the download now button, the paywall message pops up: "$39.95 for 24-hour access."
Here's the thing: The person who wrote that paper wants you to read it for free. They don't see any money from the you’re about to pay $39.95. In fact, they probably can't even access their own published work without paying.
If you want to understand why this bizarre system exists, read my background article on academic publishing. But if you just want to read that paper, here are some practical suggestions on what to do next:
How the Academic Publishing System Actually Works
Each player in academic publishing has different incentives. This determines where you can get free access. Once you understand what each party wants, finding papers becomes much more straightforward (see Table 1).
Table 1. Who Wants You to Read That Paper—And Who Doesn't
| Player | What They Want | How This Helps You |
|---|---|---|
| Researchers/Authors/Professors | Maximum readership & citations | They'll eagerly share their work |
| Universities | Maximum readership & citations for their faculty | Often provide access through libraries |
| Journals | Maximum readership & citations for articles in the journal | Sometimes provide free access periods |
| Academic Publishers | Your $39.95 | They typically don’t want you to read for free (Unless the authors of the paper already paid the publishers thousands of $$$ upfront) |
Notice the pattern? Everyone except the publishers wants you to read that research paper. This also tells you how you might still be able to read the paper, even if you encounter a paywall.
Your Access Strategy (From Easy to Easier)
1. Check Your Existing Access
You might already have access without knowing it:
- University libraries: Current students and even alumni can oftentimes access academic journals through their university library system.
- Public libraries: Many have digital journal access—ask your librarian. If your local library doesn’t offer this, libraries at the national level might.
- Professional associations: Members often get journal access.
- Your employer: Companies sometimes have institutional subscriptions that include access to academic journals.
Quick Win: If you're at a university, try accessing papers using your library's VPN or proxy service. Many people don't realise their access works remotely!
2. Search Beyond the Paywall
Publishers control access to that version of the paper that includes final formatting edits and the journal’s layout, but you might still find the final version of the paper without the fancy layout finishes somewhere else online:
Start with the paper title in quotes. Authors often post their work in multiple places. You might find it on:
- Their personal or university webpage
- Institutional repositories
- Academic social networks (like ResearchGate or Academia.edu)
- Preprint servers (especially for recent work)
Use Google Scholar. This deserves special mention because it aggregates multiple versions. Look for:
- The "[PDF]" link on the right
- "All X versions" link below each entry
- University repository links
Each "version" might be a different access point—some free, some paywalled.
3. Find the Author's Copy
Many academics post "author versions" on their personal websites. These contain identical content to the published version, just without the journal's formatting. Legally different, functionally identical.
Check their digital presence:
- Personal/university websites: Search "[Author Name] [University] publications"
- Academic X and Bluesky: Many researchers share paper PDFs directly in posts. Even those without personal websites often post their work here. Search for the author's name + key terms from the paper
- Google their recent work: "[Author Name] PDF [keyword from title]"
The Method That (Almost) Always Works
Here's my favorite approach, because it creates a win-win situation:
Email the first or last author directly.
This works almost always, because (see Table 1) academics spend years on research that might only gets read by a handful of people. Sad, but true. So when someone (like you) genuinely wants to read their work? That email makes their week.
Sample email:
Subject: Could I read your [insert puplication year here] paper in [insert journal name] on [specific topic]?
Dear Dr. [Name],
I'm researching [your specific interest/project] and came across your paper "[exact title]" in [journal name]. It looks directly relevant to [specific aspect you're interested in]. I think your paper could be particularly valuable because [choose one specific aspect of the paper to show you actually read the abstract].
Would you be able to share a copy? I'd be very interested in [specific finding or method mentioned in the abstract]. I tried to access the version of the paper published in the journal, but could not make it past the paywall. I was wondering whether you could send me your "author version" of the paper? Maybe the last version in word that does not yet include the journal formatting?
Best regards,
[Your name]
Why this works:
- Shows genuine interest
- Takes 2 minutes to write
- Gets you the author’s approved version
- Often starts helpful conversations
- Creates professional connections (you never know where these lead)
- Authors are happy: they WANT you to read their work
Some authors respond within hours, thrilled that someone wants to read their research. Some send related papers too, and a few might even offer to discuss their work.
The Long Game: Building Your Access Network
The beauty of understanding stakeholder incentives? They're timeless. While specific websites and tools change, these approaches keep working:
- Build relationships: That author you emailed? They might send you their future papers automatically
- Have a look at academic X/Bluesky: Researchers often share their latest work freely
- Follow preprint servers: Increasingly, authors post work here first
- Sign up for author alerts: Get notified when researchers you follow publish (often with free access links)
A Final Thought
Every paywalled paper represents a mismatch between what everyone wants (open access) and what benefits academic publishers (restricting access to science through paywalls).
When you email an author for their paper, you're not just asking for a favour, you're also showing them that their years of work matter to someone.
The next time you hit a paywall, remember: You might still be able to access the paper. See above for suggestions and you can always simply as ask the person who most wants you to read it.
Did you know that the academic publishing industry's profit margins rival those of the tech giants? Read why research papers cost so much money to read here.