Frequently Asked Questions

Scientific American is excited to announce that we will be consolidating our two existing apps, Scientific American and Scientific American Mind, into one app that will also include Space & Physics and Health & Medicine!

What This Means:

For subscribers to Scientific American, Scientific American Mind, Space & Physics and Health & Medicine, you can now access your subscription all in the same app. If you subscribed from Scientific American, your access will only include the magazine you have subscribed to, or all magazines for Unlimited subscribers.

For existing in-app subscribers to Scientific American, your subscription will renew automatically at the same price you paid for your app-only subscription. The only changes you will have is access to more content and magazines!

New in-app subscribers can purchase the new app-only subscription which includes Scientific American, Scientific American Mind, Space & Physics and Health & Medicine. We will offer all magazines in one subscription moving forward for app-only subscribers.  Customers interested in only subscribing to specific magazines and not others should consider subscribing via ScientificAmerican.com. In-app subscriptions will not separate these titles, and will entail new yearly subscription pricing reflecting the expanded subscription.  In-app subscribers will also have the option to subscribe on a monthly basis if they prefer.

Please note, Apple and Google Play subscribers ("in-app" subscribers) do not receive access to ScientificAmerican.com issues, nor will they receive the print edition of Scientific American. Apple and Google Play customers only receive access to the issues in the app.

Click here for more information and support for Apple customers.
Click here for more information and support for Google Play customers.

We will be retiring the separate Mind app on December 31, 2020. If you have an in-app subscription to Scientific American Mind, you will be able to continue to access your subscription in a separate app until that date.

You can also switch immediately to the new app which will include all our digital titles in one place. It is your choice which app to use until we retire the separate Mind app in December.

However, after December 31, 2020, all in-app subscriptions will include Scientific American, Scientific American Mind, Space & Physics and Health & Medicine. Your in-app Mind subscription will no longer renew after this date. Please contact Apple or Google Play for more information.

Please note, Apple and Google Play subscribers ("in-app" subscribers) do not receive access to ScientificAmerican.com issues. Apple and Google Play customers only receive access to the issues in the app.

To subscribe to only Scientific American Mind, or any of our digital magazines on their own, please subscribe here.

Subscriptions purchased in-app only include app issues.  When you purchase an app-only subscription, you are not Scientific American's customer.  Please check your receipt - if it is from Apple, you are Apple's customer.  If it is from Google Play, you are Google Play's customer.

Apple and Google Play do not offer access to ScientificAmerican.com.  Only Scientific American customers have access to items on our website.

Customers that have purchased in-app subscriptions and issues do not need to sign into the app.  Customers who have made in-app purchases that need assistance should contact the support desk of iTunes or Google Play, depending on whom you purchased from.

For help with your iTunes in-app purchase or subscription, click here.

For help with your Google Play in-app purchase or subscription, click here.

Unfortunately, subscriptions purchased from iTunes will only work in Apple devices.  Similarly, if you purchased your subscription from GooglePlay, then your app will only work in Android devices.

Only subscriptions purchased from Scientific American directly will allow you to access content on our apps, no matter what device you are using.

Your subscription will automatically renew until you cancel it through your iTunes or GooglePlay account.

For assistance with your iTunes purchase click here.

For assistance with your GooglePlay purchase click here.