Streaming services that offer free trials

Want a streaming service while you’re at home, but want to try it out first? Or maybe money is tight right now and you just need something to keep you or the kids entertained without the strain on your wallet. Many of the most popular streaming services offer free trials. Some are 30 days, some are only a week. You can also try each one listed here one at a time and keep the entertainment going for a few months without spending a penny.

The most important part of taking advantage of free trials is to make sure that you remember to cancel before the free trial is up, so you’re not billed again. All streaming services require that you sign up with a credit card. If you don’t cancel before the free trial is up, they will automatically convert you to a paid monthly membership. None listed here require anything more than a month-to-month commitment.

You should be warned that if you’re looking for a free trial of Netflix, Disney+ or HBO Max, you’re out of luck. Currently, none of these popular streaming services have free trials available. Don’t worry – you still have plenty of other options.

Here are the free trial details for the most popular streaming services.

Hulu: If all of your friends have been talking about The Handmaid’s Tale, Dollface, Little Fires Everywhere or Big Time Adolescence, you’ll find them here on Hulu. They have their own original programming as well as years upon years of Grey’s Anatomy for your binge-watching pleasure. Sit back because Hulu offers a 30-day free trial for two of their three levels of services — their basic ad-supported model ($5.99 per month) and the premium ad-free version ($11.99 per month). You can get a free trial for their third option, Hulu + Live TV ($64.99 per month), but it’s only free for one week.

Amazon Prime Video: Oh Mrs. Maisel, how we love you. If you want to see what all the hype is about, try a free Amazon Prime Video trial. Amazon Prime offers 30 days of free trial before you can buy any package. Amazon Prime offers box office hits as well as more Amazon originals, such as Troop Zero, Honey Boy, The Grand Tour and more, for all ages.

Showtime: Watch Oscar-winning films, or catch up on The L Word, Dexter, Shameless, Homeland or Billions. The choice is yours and you’ll have plenty to watch during your 30-day free trial. After it’s up, Showtime is an affordable $8.99 per month. So what are you going to binge first?

Starz: You might have heard of a little show called Outlander, and Starz is where you can watch it. See if the Scottish highlands are for you, or watch any of their other bingeable shows, hit movies and more when you sign up for a seven-day free trial. After that, it’s $8.99/month, but they frequently run promotions and other deals.

Peacock: Unlike most other streaming services, you can access most of Peacock’s content library without paying anything. Run by NBCUniversal, the platform features hundreds of fan favorite shows and movies like The Office, Yellowstone and Parks & Recreation. To get a taste of everything Peacock has to offer, including live sports, you’ll need to sign up for a week-long trial of Peacock Premium. Once the trial expires, the service is $4.99/month. If you’re interested in trying the full service out with no ads, you can get a week-long free trial of Peacock Premium Plus, which is $9.99/month when the trial ends.

Apple TV+: You don’t need an Apple TV to enjoy this streaming service. Watch Apple original movies and shows, like Greyhound or Dickinson, or enjoy family favorites like the Charlie Brown holiday specials and Helpsters. It offers a seven-day free trial, and after that the service is $4.99/month.

CBS All Access: As you might have guessed from its name, this streaming service gives you access to all things CBS – which means hit shows and movies, live TV and original series. What you might not know is that they joined forces with the likes of BET, Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central to bring even more content to the platform. That’s right, now you (and your kids) can finally see what all the hype over Avatar: The Last Airbender is about. Their free trial lasts for seven days, and after that plans start at $5.99/month.

Fubo TV: Get free TV! If you don’t have access to the game shows on television, such as The Price Is Right, Family Feud and Let’s Make a Deal, or you want to re-watch episodes of Saturday Night Life, Fubo TV has a seven-day free trial. Be careful, Fubo TV is one of the pricier options at $59.99 to $79.99 per package, depending on your selection.

Sling TV: Sling TV does not have a free trial for their regular services, but they did launch Sling Free in 2020, which includes news from ABC News Live, a 24/7 streaming video news channel for breaking news and live events, thousands of movies and shows suitable for kids and families. Be warned, you have to be ready to put up with commercials! It’s available through Roku, Amazon or an Android device, or by visiting sling.com on a Chrome, Safari or Edge browser and following the instructions on the welcome screen.