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EnglishToronto Star: What It Is and How to Read or Subscribe
Updated
The Toronto Star is a Canadian-owned news outlet based in Toronto, publishing local, national, and world coverage at thestar.com. You can read current headlines and breaking news on the site, and if you want full access you can choose between a 7-day trial or a promotional subscription offer. This guide explains what the outlet covers, how to find its news, and what to check before paying.
What the Toronto Star covers
According to the site's own description, thestar.com is one of Canada's largest online news sites and is 100% Canadian-owned. Its coverage spans:
- Live news and breaking headlines — the front page is organized around current top stories.
- Investigations — longer-form accountability journalism.
- Politics — Canadian and international political coverage.
- Sports — including Toronto teams and broader leagues.
- Toronto and the GTA — described as "the heartbeat of Toronto, Canada's largest city."
If your interest is specifically Toronto local news, this is the outlet's stated core focus. If you want national or world coverage, the same site carries it.
How to read the news
- Go to thestar.com. The homepage presents breaking news and top stories.
- Browse sections for the topic you want (news, politics, sports, investigations, local Toronto).
- Open an article. Some content is readable directly; other content sits behind a subscriber wall.
The practical question is not where to read but how much you can read without paying. The site presents subscription offers prominently, which indicates that a meaningful portion of its journalism is intended for subscribers.
Free reading vs. subscriber access
| Free reading | Subscriber access | |
|---|---|---|
| Headlines and top stories | Available on the homepage | Available |
| Full articles | Limited — some content is gated | Full access to subscriber content |
| Investigations and premium journalism | Not guaranteed | Intended for subscribers |
| Cost | No payment required to browse | Requires a trial or paid subscription |
The site does not state on these pages exactly which articles are free, so treat the boundary as something you discover by browsing. If you hit a wall on an article you want, that is the signal to look at subscription options.
Trial and promotional pricing
The Star advertises two entry points:
- 7-day trial — linked as "Try Us 7-Day Trial" at
thestar.com/subscribe/trial-purchase/. - Promotional subscription — advertised as "Only $1" at
thestar.com/subscribe/.
Before committing, check these points:
- What happens after the trial or promo period. Promotional rates typically convert to a standard rate. The subscription terms page (
torstar.ca/sections/subscription-terms) is where the binding conditions live. - Billing terms and cancellation. Read the subscription terms rather than relying on the promotional banner.
- Whether the offer is for digital access only. The pages above do not specify all inclusions, so confirm what you are buying.
The site does not state that access is free, and it does not publish a full price list on these pages — so do not assume the $1 figure is the ongoing cost.
News site vs. subscription terms
These are two different things and it helps to keep them separate:
- thestar.com is the news product — headlines, articles, sections.
- torstar.ca/sections/subscription-terms is the legal and billing framework — what you agree to when you subscribe.
If a promotional price looks attractive, the terms page is what determines your actual obligation. Read it before entering payment details.
A quick decision guide
- You want to sample the journalism: start with the free homepage and see how far you get.
- You want ongoing full access: compare the 7-day trial against the $1 promotional offer, then check the terms for the post-promo rate.
- You mainly want Toronto local news: the outlet's stated focus matches your interest.
- You want to avoid an unwanted charge: note the trial length and cancellation terms before signing up.