On February 22, 1894, the Ukrainian National Association (UNA) adopted the newspaper as its organ.

Svoboda served as a 'mouthpiece" for Ukrainians in North America, and played an important role in the discussing and solving of immigrant difficulties.

Prior to the establishment of Ukrainian-Canadian periodicals (such as the Kanadiiskyi Farmer), it was the only Ukrainian-language newspaper of any note in Canada[5] but was banned by the country during World War II for its pro-Nazi sympathies.

[6] Outside of North America, Ukrainians in Brazil, Galicia, and Bukovina also subscribed to it.

It provided a channel of communication for those of the intelligentsia concerned with emigration of Ukrainian peasants and life in the New World;[5] they used the paper to guide them into improved lifestyles and conformance to the ideals of European civilization.