BugMeNot: What It Is and Safer Ways to Skip Forced Registration (2026)

You click a news link and get a “register to continue” wall instead of the article. In 2005 we wrote about BugMeNot, a site where people share throwaway usernames and passwords for websites that force registration. It’s still around in 2026, but there are safer ways to avoid handing over your real details. Here’s how BugMeNot works and the alternatives.

Quick answer: BugMeNot is a community site that lists shared logins for sites with compulsory free registration. Enter the site’s address and try a listed login. Never use it for accounts tied to payments or personal data, and respect sites’ terms; many paywalls block shared accounts. For your own sign-ups, use an email alias (Hide My Email, Firefox Relay, SimpleLogin) or a disposable address, plus a password manager.

How BugMeNot works

1. Go to bugmenot.com (external site) and type the website’s domain.
2. Try a username and password from the list; each shows a success rate.
3. Vote on whether it worked, or add a login you created yourself.

BugMeNot risks and limits

• Shared accounts are public; never put real personal info into them.
• Paid subscriptions and paywalls are usually excluded, and sharing them breaks terms of service.
• Many sites now use email codes or social login, so shared passwords fail.
• Logins can be changed by anyone, so they stop working often.

Safer alternatives

• Email aliases: Apple’s Hide My Email, Firefox Relay, SimpleLogin or DuckDuckGo Email Protection create unique forwarding addresses you can turn off.
• Disposable email: temporary inboxes for one-off sign-ups; see how to get a disposable email address.
• Password manager: generates unique passwords so a breached site can’t expose your other accounts.
• Library access: many public libraries offer free digital access to major newspapers.

FAQ

Is BugMeNot legal?

Sharing logins for free sites is a grey area and often against the site’s terms. Don’t use it for paid content.

Is BugMeNot safe?

The site itself just lists logins; the risk is entering any real information into shared accounts.

Why do websites force registration?

To collect emails for marketing, personalise content or limit free articles.