Another update: as of a few weeks ago, it’s possible to browse anonymously for up to three days at the Academic Reader. So you can now easily try the service out and see if it’s for you.
After three days of anonymous use, you’ll be required to create an account. This isn’t imposed frivolously – it’s because the anonymous browsing is implemented using browser-based ookies, which aren’t particularly stable over periods of months. Creating an account ensures that your data (e.g., choice of journals, comments, personal feeds) won’t be lost if you’re a long-term user.