38
Grade D

Wall Street Journal Terms of Service

Dow Jones Financial News | Last reviewed: January 2026

Overview

The Wall Street Journal is owned by Dow Jones, part of News Corp. The terms are notoriously subscriber-unfriendly, with aggressive promotional pricing that jumps dramatically, cancellation processes designed to create friction, and terms that apply across multiple Dow Jones properties. The business-focused readership is ironically subject to some of the most consumer-hostile subscription practices.

Key Terms Findings

Extreme Price Escalation

Introductory offers of $1/week jump to full price ($40+/month) after the promotional period. The price difference between promotional and standard rates is among the highest in the industry.

Cancellation Friction

WSJ is known for making cancellation difficult. Online cancellation may not be available; phone calls often involve extended retention attempts and special offers to prevent cancellation.

Dow Jones Corporate Terms

Terms of service apply across all Dow Jones properties (Barron's, MarketWatch, etc.). Violations in one service can affect your access to all Dow Jones products.

Automatic Renewal Without Clear Notice

Subscriptions renew automatically with email notification that can be easily missed. Many subscribers discover price increases only when charged.

Limited Refund Policy

Refunds are discretionary and typically only offered for recent charges. Long-standing subscribers who forgot about renewals have little recourse.

News Corp Data Ecosystem

As part of News Corp, your subscriber data may be used across their portfolio of media properties including Fox News, New York Post, and more.

Positive Aspects

Multi-Platform Access

Subscription includes website, apps, and some access to live events and archived content across devices.

Professional Subscriptions

Corporate and team subscription options with clearer billing and account management for business users.