What Do I Get With a Tempe Independent Subscription, and Are There Free Options?

Updated

Tempe Independent (part of yourvalley.net) offers both a paid digital subscription and free ways to read its local news. The homepage shows a "Subscribe" link and a "Start a digital subscription" link, so a paid tier clearly exists. At the same time, the same page lists "Free Newsletters," "E-Newspapers," and "Special Sections," and the news headlines themselves are visible without logging in. What the homepage does not show is the price, the number of free articles, or exactly which content sits behind the paywall — those details live on the subscription page, not the front page.

What a subscription gets you

Based on the links and labels on the site, a digital subscription is the paid path to full access. The homepage points to two subscription entry points:

  • Subscribe — yourvalley.net/tempe-independent/subscribe-today/
  • Start a digital subscription — yourvalley.net/subscribe-today/

The site's own navigation also groups E-Newspapers and Special Sections alongside Subscribe, which suggests these are part of the subscriber experience rather than the free browsing experience. Treat that as a reasonable inference from how the site is organized, not a confirmed feature list — the subscription page is where the actual terms are stated.

Because pricing and plan details are not shown on the homepage, you have to open the subscription page to see cost, billing terms, and what's included. Don't assume it's free or that no login is required just because the homepage doesn't say so.

What you can get for free

The homepage makes several free options visible:

Free option Where it appears What it likely gives you
Free Newsletters Main navigation Emailed news updates
Headlines and article previews Homepage feed Current local stories
E-Newspapers Main navigation Digital editions (access terms unclear)
Special Sections Main navigation Themed or sponsored content
Calendar / Things To Do Main navigation Local event listings
Obituaries, Opinions, Puzzles Main navigation Standard newspaper sections

The homepage feed shows real reporting — for example, a story on ASU Hockey's investigation, a Mesa shooting, a Glendale data center meeting, and Tempe Tavern closing — so at least some news is readable without a subscription. Whether you hit a limit after a few articles is not stated on the homepage.

How to decide

  1. If you just want headlines and local updates: start with the free newsletters and the homepage feed. No payment needed to see what the paper covers.
  2. If you want full articles, e-newspapers, or special sections: open the subscription page (subscribe-today/) and check the price and terms there, since the homepage doesn't list them.
  3. If you're unsure: read a few free articles first to judge whether the Tempe coverage matches what you want, then subscribe only if you keep hitting limits.

Common sticking points

  • The homepage won't tell you the price. Any number you see elsewhere may be outdated; the subscription page is the source of truth.
  • "Free Newsletters" doesn't mean all articles are free. Newsletters and full article access are separate things.
  • E-Newspapers may require a login. They're listed near Subscribe, so don't count on them being open access.
  • Coverage is hyperlocal. Tempe Independent sits within a network of Valley papers (Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and others), so if you need another city's news, switch papers using the "Select a newspaper" menu rather than expecting it all in one feed.