Why I’ll Never Buy Magazines at the Supermarket Again

There was a time when picking up a magazine at the supermarket felt like a treat. A glossy cover, a catchy headline, something to read on the train home. But the way we read has changed - and once I switched to digital magazines, buying them from the shop stopped making sense altogether.

Here’s why I’ll never go back.

1. Unlimited reading instead of paying per issue

Supermarket magazines are expensive - and getting more so every year. A single issue can easily cost £5 or more, and that’s before you’ve even started browsing.

On the other hand, Readly gives you unlimited access to over 8,000+ magazines and newspapers, for just £12.99 a month. Instead of choosing one title and hoping it’s worth the price, I can read as many as I like, whenever I like. One magazine or ten - the cost stays the same.

2. No clutter, no waste

Buying magazines from the shop means bringing home physical clutter - stacks that pile up quickly and are hard to get rid of. Most end up half-read and eventually recycled.

With digital magazines, there’s nothing to store and nothing to throw away. Every issue is always available, but never in the way. It’s simpler, tidier, and far more sustainable.

3. Back issues and offline reading that make a real difference

Supermarket magazines disappear after a week. Miss an issue, and it’s gone.

With Readly, back issues are always there, and magazines can be downloaded to read offline - perfect for travel, commuting, or anywhere without a signal. It’s a small detail, but once you have it, it’s hard to live without.

Once you go digital, the shop just doesn’t compete

Supermarket magazines belong to a different era - one where choice was limited, prices were lower, and reading habits were simpler. Readly offers something better suited to how we live now: unlimited access, flexibility, convenience, and value, all in one app.

That’s why I’ll never buy magazines at the supermarket again.