Free trial streaming services: Hulu, HBO Max, Netflix, and beyond
These are the streaming services that offer free trials.
There are so many streaming services nowadays that subscribing to all of the best ones simultaneously could put a serious dent into your finances. What if there was a way to explore these epic content libraries for a limited time without committing your hard-earned money? Obviously, that concept exists already in the form of a good old-fashioned free trial.
Many of the best streaming services around offer week- or even month-long trial periods during which you can watch whatever you want and cancel your account at any time with no penalty. Whether you're looking for live sports, blockbuster films, or the hottest new series, you'll find all of the streaming services that offer free trials below.
We'll keep adding services to this article as needed, but if you don't see what you're looking for today, feel free to drop us a line and let us know. In the meantime, let's get on with this list of streaming services that offer free trials, starting with Hulu.
Hulu
Does Hulu offer a free trial?
Yep! Hulu offers a 30-day free trial, after which the service becomes $7.99/month for the ad-supported version or $14.99/month if you go ad-free.
Aside from having an extensive library of recent shows and movies, Hulu also produces its own original series and gives you access to current and previous seasons of shows. FX just joined the lineup, and you can add the Live TV package, along with Starz, HBO, Cinemax, and more to your account once you sign up.
Hulu: Try it FREE for a month
One of the most popular streaming services around, Hulu offers a free trial that lets you explore the site's massive library for an entire month. Once the trial period is over, plans are $7.99/month (with ads) or $14.99/month (ad-free).
You can also pay a little extra and get the Disney Bundle. This deal which comes with the ad-supported versions of Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus for $9.99/month (if you sign up through Disney Plus). Don't want ads? The closest thing is the new Trio Premium version of the bundle, which costs $19.99/month and comes with Hulu (no ads), Disney Plus (no ads), and ESPN Plus (with ads).
Amazon Prime Video
Does Amazon Prime Video offer a free trial?
Yes! In fact, if you're already an Amazon Prime subscriber, then you have access to the entire Amazon Prime streaming library. If you're not, you can still enjoy a month of Amazon Prime Video for free when you sign up (plus all of the exclusive benefits that Prime members enjoy). A Prime membership costs $14.99 per month. If you just want Prime Video alone, that'll set you back $8.99 per month.
Amazon Prime Video: Try it FREE for a month
When you sign up for Amazon Prime for the first time, you'll instantly receive free access to their massive streaming library for one month, alongside the other benefits of Prime, such as exclusive deals and free shipping. The streaming service is the home of popular films and TV series like The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Outer Range.
Apple TV Plus
Does Apple TV Plus offer a free trial?
Yes! Apple TV+ is free for the first seven days, then it's just $6.99/month.
That monthly cost makes it one of the most affordable streaming services around, plus you're able to share your log-in credentials with up to six family members or friends. If you're streaming on an Apple device, you might also be eligible to receive a free subscription for three full months.
Apple TV+: Try it FREE for a week
Apple TV+ is unique in that its streaming library only has original content. While that may sound like a drawback to some people, the streaming service has already produced some pretty acclaimed TV series and films that you can't watch anywhere else, such as Ted Lasso, Severance, and the Tragedy of Macbeth. Apple TV+ offers a seven-day free trial, after which it becomes just $6.99/month.
Disney Plus
Does Disney Plus offer a free trial?
No, Disney Plus is not offering a free trial at this time.
With access to nearly every single piece of content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and the Star Wars universe, there is a nearly unlimited supply of content worth watching on Disney Plus. The streaming service is also creating its own original content, like The Mandalorian, and the library continues to expand each week.
Disney Plus: Starting at $7.99/month
Unfortunately, Disney Plus doesn't offer a free trial at this time, but with a monthly rate of $7.99 (with ads) or $10.99/month (ad-free), you'll easily get your money's worth. You can also bundle your Disney+ subscription with both Hulu and ESPN Plus with pricing tiers that start at $9.99 per month.
fuboTV
Does fuboTV offer a free trial?
Yep! FuboTV is another streaming service that offers a seven-day free trial.
FuboTV's main focus is providing the best live sports streaming package there is, but there's also a number of channels for those hoping to watch reality TV or their favorite drama series. In fact, fuboTV offers one of the most expansive channel selections available on a live TV streaming service to date.
fuboTV: Try it FREE for one week
Your free one-week trial to fuboTV scores you access to over 100 live channels, cloud DVR access so you can watch your programs whenever it's convenient, and the ability to stream on up to three devices simultaneously. Once the trial period is over, plans start at $69.99/month.
HBO Max
Does HBO Max offer a free trial?
Sort of. Although there isn't a free trial available through HBO Max's official site, you can get a free week of the streaming service if you add it to your Hulu subscription. It's also worth noting that, while it's not really a free trial, HBO Max has a Watch For Free section on their website where you can watch select episodes of popular shows like House of the Dragon and The White Lotus for free without a subscription.
A relatively new streaming service, HBO Max has quickly made it to the front of the pack by offering tons of great old and new content, from original series like Euphoria and Westworld to recent blockbuster films like The Batman and Dune. If you sign up via Hulu, you'll get the first week of HBO Max for free, after which it's $9.99/month for the ad-supported version or $15.99 for no ads.
HBO Max: One week free when added to Hulu or $9.99 per month with ads / $15.99 per month for ad-free
Start your membership at HBO Max to stream a wide variety of content, from the Lord of the Rings series and DC films to legacy HBO shows like True Blood, The Wire and Six Feet Under. There are even exclusive shows like Search Party, The Flight Attendant, and new films being added to the streaming library all the time.
If you don't want to add HBO Max to your Hulu account and would rather pay separately, plans start at $9.99/month and you'll instantly receive access to the streaming service's massive library of TV shows and films.
Paramount Plus
Does Paramount Plus offer a free trial?
Yes! Paramount Plus is currently offering a seven-day free trial, after which the subscriptions start at just $4.99/month with ads or $9.99/month if you go ad-free
Paramount Plus brings together content from some of the most popular networks, such as BET, Nickelodeon, MTV, CBS, Comedy Central, and more. Along with a myriad of iconic television shows and films from the massive Paramount movie collection, there are a ton of exclusive shows and movies coming to Paramount Plus over the next several months as well.
Paramount Plus: Try it FREE for a week
Right now, you can sign up for Paramount Plus and get the first seven days for free. Once that trial period is over, plans start at $4.99/month for the ad-supported version of the service or $9.99/month if you want to go ad-free
Peacock
Does Peacock offer a free trial?
No, but there's a free version!
The new NBC streaming service Peacock is free to join, though if you want to unlock everything the service has to offer, you'll need a Peacock Premium membership. These start at $4.99 per month for the limited commercials plan, while the Peacock Premium Plus plan at $9.99/month offers the same Premium content but without commercials and the ability to download content for offline viewing.
Peacock: Starting at $0.00/month
NBC's streaming service Peacock has two paid plans starting at just $4.99 per month. Start your free membership now to see what Peacock is all about and then upgrade to a Premium plan for even more to watch!
Philo
Does Philo offer a free trial?
Yes! The live TV streaming service Philo offers a seven-day free trial.
Philo is one of the most affordable streaming services out there. With access to over 60 channels, monthly subscriptions are just $25 per month here and include channels such as A&E, AMC, BET, Comedy Central, Food Network, HGTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, and more. You can start your free 7-day trial right now, though keep in mind it will automatically renew and turn into a paid membership unless you cancel beforehand.
Philo: Try it FREE for one week
Unlock access to over 60 live TV channels with Philo's free 7-day trial. Philo costs just $25 per month, so it may be worth keeping active once your trial is over.
Sling TV
Does Sling TV offer a free trial?
Not quite. Sling TV has three main plans, Orange, Blue, and Orange & Blue, and none of them come with a free trial. That being said, there is a version of the live TV streaming service, called Sling Free, that comes with over 100 live channels and thousands of movies and TV series on demand. Just like a free trial, Sling Free gives you a good idea of what subscribing to the full service is like. It's also worth noting that there is no ad-free version of Sling TV.
Sling TV: Starting at $40/month or FREE with Sling Free
Sling TV is one of the most popular live TV streaming services around, with three paid plans in addition to an ad-supported service called Sling Free. All of these versions of Sling come with access to hundreds of live TV channels in addition to thousands of hours of entertainment that you can enjoy at any time.
Starz
Does Starz offer a free trial?
Yes! Starz is another streaming service that offers a seven-day free trial.
Previously just a premium cable TV network, Starz has now joined the ranks of popular streaming services with great movies and TV series old and new. After the trial period is over, Starz is just $8.99/month. If you're already a subscriber to the Starz TV channel, you'll automatically receive access to the streaming app for free.
Starz: Try it FREE for a week
The home of popular films and TV series such as Outlander, Spiderman: No Way Home, and P-Valley, Starz offers thousands of hours of entertainment for just $8.99/month after a week-long free trial. Another bit of good news is that, if you're already a subscriber to the Starz premium TV channel, you'll automatically receive access to the app's enormous streaming library.
YouTube TV
Does YouTube TV offer a free trial?
Yes, as long as you're eligible. The exact length of the trial seems to vary, with most people given five days to a week to enjoy the service.
Though YouTube TV happens to be one of the pricier options for streaming live TV channels (starting at $54.99/month for the first three months, then $64.99/month), it also offers some of the best quality content and more channels than most options — over 100 channels as of December 2022. Along with local news channels and cable channels, you'll have access to a DVR with unlimited space so you can record as much as you'd like.
YouTube TV: Start your FREE trial today
Watch over 100 live TV channels with your free trial of YouTube TV. The length of the free trial varies, but as long you've never signed up before, you'll be given a chance to see whether this service is worth keeping or not. In addition to the live channels, you'll receive unlimited DVR space and six accounts to share with zero contracts. Once your trial is over, plans start at $54.99/month for three months then they jump up to $64.99/month.
Netflix
Does Netflix offer a free trial?
Nope. Unfortunately, Netflix doesn't offer any kind of free trial.
The first streaming service to really reach ubiquity in homes around the world, Netflix now has over 200 million subscribers and is home to thousands of movies and TV series, including original programming such as Stranger Things, Bridgerton, and Orange is the New Black. Although Netflix recently made a few unpopular choices that resulted in the loss of subscribers, they're still the big kid on the block, and they probably won't be offering a free trial any time soon.
Netflix: Starting at $6.99/month
Netflix is the world's most popular streaming service, so it's no big surprise that they don't offer a free trial. Plans start at $6.99/month with ads and go up to $19.99/month for Netflix Premium. The old ad-free Basic plan that we all used for years is now $9.99/month. Regardless of the plan you choose, they all come with access to the streaming service's massive library of popular TV shows, films, and Netflix Originals.
Discovery Plus
Does Discovery Plus offer a free trial?
Yes! Discovery Plus has a free seven-day trial for all new users.
The streaming service is a must for fans of networks like HGTV, TLC, Food Network, and Discovery channel. With over 55,000 TV episodes to sink your teeth into, you can binge all your favorite classic and new hit shows in one place. Discovery Plus even has exclusive original content you can't watch anywhere else. Other networks that contribute content to Discovery Plus include Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, OWN, A&E, Lifetime, History, Travel Channel, Science, DIY Network, and more.
Discovery Plus: Try it FREE for a week
The streaming home of classic networks like HGTV, TLC, Food Network, and the Discovery Channel, Discovery Plus gives new users the chance to try out the streaming service for a full week at no cost.
After that trial period, it's $4.99/month or $6.99/month if you want to go ad-free. It's also worth noting that Discovery Plus officially merged with HBO Max in early 2022, so you never know when these benefits might change.
Spotify
Does Spotify offer a free trial?
Yes! Although the popular streaming service does offer an ad-supported plan that's totally free, you can also enjoy a full three months of their Premium plan for free when you first sign up with an individual account (joint and student Spotify plans get a one-month trial).
The Spotify library has just about every piece of music that you can possibly imagine, and the Premium plan comes with additional perks such as unlimited skips and the ability to download music that you can listen to offline.
Spotify: Enjoy three months of Spotify Premium for free
Spotify currently reigns as the most popular music streaming service on the planet, but that hasn't stopped them from offering a pretty generous free trial. Sign up today and you'll get a full three months of their Premium plan at no cost to you. After the first month is over, the Individual plan is $9.99/month.
Tidal
Does Tidal offer a free trial?
Yep! The streaming service Tidal offers a 30-day free trial which gives you access to their massive music library that contains over 90 million songs. Just like Spotify, you can also sign up for Tidal's Free ad plan if you're okay with limited ads and relatively lesser audio quality.
Tidal launched in 2014 with an emphasis on pristine, lossless audio quality and higher royalties for artists. The free trial lets you try out the service and cancel at any time. If you choose to keep your account after the trial period is up, Tidal's Hi-Fi plan starts at $9.99/month.
Tidal: Get FREE ad-free music for a month
If you care about audio quality, Tidal might be the streaming service for you. All of the songs in their music library can be streaming in the Hi-Fi and lossless FLAC format, so you're hearing the recordings as they were meant to be heard. Sign up today and the streaming service will hook you up with a full month of music for free, after which you can pay $9.99/month for the Hi-Fi plan or $19.99/month for Hi-Fi Plus.
Apple Music
Does Apple Music offer a free trial?
Indeed it does! Just like Tidal, Apple Music offers a month-long trial that lets you explore their massive library of songs with zero commitment.
Currently boasting over 98 million subscribers, Apple Music is a top-tier platform with millions of songs, podcasts, and exclusive content for fans for enjoy. They're even quite innovative, presenting opportunities for users to check out new sound technology such as spatial audio. Apple Music also has quite a few pricing tiers to explore, starting at just $4.99/month for Apple Voice and going up to $16.99/month for the Family plan.
Apple Music: Try it FREE for 30 days
The streaming home of over 90 million songs, Apple Music is a popular streaming service that offers high-quality audio and loads of exclusive podcasts, 24/7 radio stations, and more. Not one to be outdone by the competition, Apple Music also offers a 30-day free trial, after which the service becomes $10.99/month for the Individual plan.
Apple Music also offers a cheaper, ad-free Voice plan for just $4.99/month. With this plan, you won't have access to lossless audio or the ability to download music, but you'll get to enjoy the site's entire library of songs and podcasts.
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After almost a decade of working in the e-commerce space, Patrick Farmer (he/him) began his career at Android Central as a Deals and Commerce Writer before moving into a new role as AC's eCommerce Editor in 2023. When he's not hunting down the best deals and offering shopping advice for our readers, you'll often find him listening to music, camping out at a brewery, or treating his cat like a human child.