How to Get Free Trials on Streaming Platforms

Netflix does not offer any free trial in 2025. Its Help Center explicitly states, “Netflix does not offer free trials”. This is true globally – no region currently has a traditional free trial. Instead, Netflix relies on promotions and bundles. For example, some telecom and cable providers include Netflix access with their plans: T‑Mobile’s Netflix On Us plan gives qualifying customers a free Netflix (Standard with Ads) subscription, and Verizon, Comcast (Xfinity), and other operators have offered Netflix as a bundled perk for phone or internet plans. (See carrier sites for the latest bundled offers.) Always remember to cancel any included service you don’t want before its promo period ends.

• Key point: Official policy: Netflix has no free trial option anywhere.

• Deals: Look for carrier/cable bundles. E.g. T‑Mobile’s “Netflix On Us” (Standard with Ads) and select Verizon packages include Netflix at no extra cost.

Hulu (U.S. only)

Hulu (available only in the US) still offers free trials for new subscribers – but only on certain plans. The on‑demand Hulu (With Ads) plan comes with a 30‑day free trial. If you sign up for Hulu’s live TV bundle (Hulu + Live TV), you typically get a 3‑day free trial. (These trials apply to new or eligible returning accounts; ad‑free plans and some bundles generally do not offer trials.)

Apart from the trial, Hulu is often bundled with other services: for example, Verizon wireless + internet bundles include the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle at no extra cost, and T‑Mobile’s Experience Beyond plan includes Hulu (With Ads) free for subscribers. These aren’t “trials” per se, but promotions that let you get Hulu for free.

• Free trials: 30-day on Hulu (With Ads); 3-day on Hulu + Live TV (With Ads).

• Bundles: Carrier bundles can grant free Hulu. (E.g. Verizon and T‑Mobile deals.)

Disney+

Disney+ no longer offers any free trials. The service discontinued its 7‑day trial years ago, and official help pages note “Disney+ does not offer a free trial.” In practice, across major regions (US, UK, Canada, etc.) Disney+ has no trial period. Instead, Disney+ often appears in bundles or promotions: for example, many subscribers get Disney+ (with Hulu and ESPN+) included through carrier bundles or bundles with other streaming services. (Verizon bundles that include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ are one example.) But on its own, Disney+ requires immediate payment with no trial.

• Key point: No free trial for Disney+ anywhere; watch for bundles instead.

Amazon Prime Video (Prime Membership)

Amazon Prime (which includes Prime Video) does offer a 30‑day free trial for new members. You can start this by visiting the Prime signup page (e.g. [amazon.com/prime]) and clicking “Start your free 30-day trial.” New customers get all Prime benefits (shipping, Prime Video, music, etc.) for 30 days at no charge. After the trial, the subscription auto‑renews at the normal rate ($14.99/mo in the US). Amazon also runs promotions – for example, Prime Day deals may extend trials – so keep an eye out during sale events.

Students have additional perks: Prime Student offers a 6-month trial before the discounted rate kicks in. (After the trial, student Prime is ~$7.49/mo or $69/yr, about half off the regular price.) Amazon also provides a lower-cost “Prime Access” ($6.99/mo) for some government assistance recipients.

• Free trial: 30-day Prime trial for new members.

• Student: 6-month trial on Prime Student (with .edu verification).

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ offers a 7‑day free trial to all new subscribers. (As shown on Apple’s site, a monthly plan is “just $12.99 per month after a free 7-day trial”.) In addition, Apple gives longer trials to device purchasers: buying a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, or other qualifying Apple device will often include 3 months of free Apple TV+ (you must redeem this offer within 90 days of purchase). Apple also bundles Apple TV+ with certain plans: for example, the Apple Music Student Plan comes with Apple TV+ at no extra charge (essentially offering months of Apple TV+ alongside student Apple Music).

• Free trials: 7-day standard trial for all new signups.

• Device promo: 3 months free with purchase of a new Apple device.

• Student: Apple Music Student includes Apple TV+ (for as long as the student plan is active).

HBO Max (Max)

HBO Max (now rebranded simply as Max) does not offer a free trial on its own. Warner Bros. Discovery phased out direct trials a few years ago: as the Help Center notes, “Max no longer provides a free trial directly through its website”. However, there are workarounds and promotions:

• Amazon Prime Video Channels: If you have Amazon Prime, you can add Max via Prime Video Channels and typically get a 7-day free trial. (After the trial, Max Standard with Ads auto-renews at the then-current rate.)

• Wireless carriers: Some mobile plans include Max. For example, Cricket Wireless’s $60/mo unlimited plan includes Max’s ad-supported tier at no extra cost. Verizon home internet plans have run promotions giving 12 months of free Netflix and Max to new subscribers. (Check your carrier’s current offers.)

• Streaming bundles: YouTube TV lets subscribers add Max as an extra channel; if you do, you get a 7-day free trial of Max before it starts billing. Other bundles (e.g. Disney+/Hulu/Max) exist too, though those are paid combos rather than free offers.

In short, while Max itself has no standalone trial, you can often access a short trial through a third-party service (Amazon, YouTube TV) or get it included via a bundle or plan.

• Key point: No direct Max free trial; look for promotions via Amazon Prime Video, carriers (e.g. Cricket, Verizon) or bundles to get a short access period.

Peacock

Peacock (NBCUniversal’s streamer) does not offer a free trial to new subscribers anymore. In fact, its premium tiers have no trial: as Tom’s Guide notes, “Peacock Premium has had 7-day free trials in the past, it has recently discontinued this offering”. That said, Peacock has other ways to get it free or cheap:

• Peacock Free tier: A basic amount of content is available for free with ads, always.

• Device promotions: Samsung Galaxy owners can get 3 months of Peacock Premium free with device registration.

• Partner perks: Comcast/Xfinity internet customers often get Peacock Premium included at no extra cost. (Xfinity Now TV and high-tier internet bundles have offered 6–24 months of free Peacock Premium.)

• Other bundles: Some memberships (e.g. Instacart Plus) allow adding Peacock Premium as a free perk.

While these aren’t trials per se, they are common ways to watch Peacock without extra payment.

• Key point: No free trial for Peacock Premium; instead use its free tier or look for bundles (e.g. Samsung, Xfinity) to get extended access.

Paramount+

Paramount+ still offers a free trial to new subscribers. The “Essentials” and “Premium” plans both include a 7-day trial for new users. After the week, the service charges the normal monthly fee (e.g. $7.99/mo for Essentials). Paramount+ also gives discounts to certain groups: students can get 50% off (about $4/mo) for a year, and military personnel get 50% off for life. (These are not trials but add-on savings.)

• Free trial: 7-day trial for new Paramount+ subscribers.

• Student/military: 50% off the first year for students, 50% off for life for military.

Discovery+

Discovery+ still offers a 7-day free trial to new customers. In 2025 the standard trial period is one week, giving full access to its on-demand library. (A prior 12-month free promotion tied to carriers has ended.) This 7-day trial is generally available in the US, UK, Canada and other regions, though terms can vary by country. To start, visit the Discovery+ site or app and tap “Start 7-Day Free Trial.”

• Free trial: 7 days for new Discovery+ subscribers.

• Regional note: Offers are broadly similar in major markets; no standard 30-day trial is offered as of 2025.

Other Services and Bundles

• Student Bundles: Many students use bundles like Spotify Premium (Student) which includes Hulu (ad-supported) and SHOWTIME, or Apple One Student (includes Apple TV+). These aren’t free trials of the streaming services themselves, but they effectively give free streaming as long as the discounted bundle lasts.

• Bundle Plans: Besides Disney/Hulu/Max bundles, services like ESPN+ or SHOWTIME may have their own trials (ESPN+ often has a 7‑day trial, SHOWTIME typically a 7‑day trial). If you primarily want content from those networks, check their sites for trial offers.

• Regional Variations: Some region-specific services (Hotstar in India, or Shudder for horror fans) have their own trials or promotions. Always check local offerings. In general, the big international services (Netflix, Prime, Disney+, etc.) have consistent global policies (e.g. Netflix no trial anywhere, Prime 30-day almost everywhere).

Tips for Managing Free Trials

Free trials can be a great way to sample content, but it’s easy to forget to cancel. Here are strategies to make the most of trials without unwanted charges:

• Use calendar reminders or trial-tracking apps. As soon as you sign up, note the trial end date and set an alert a few days before cancellation is due. Some apps can track upcoming trials for you.

• Consider virtual or prepaid cards. Services like DoNotPay’s Free Trial Card provide a virtual credit card that auto-expired after the trial. This way, if you forget to cancel, the card simply declines charges. (Other banks or apps also offer one-time-use card numbers or limited-amount cards for trials.)

• Cancel strategically. Some users immediately cancel a subscription after starting the trial – you still get the full trial period, but the service won’t auto-renew. Check the policy (some services require a minimum usage before cancellation).

• Combine promotions. If you have multiple trials, stack them creatively. For example, start Amazon Prime (with its 30-day trial) after finishing a 30-day trial on another service, so you can stretch free months in sequence. Be mindful of sign-up conditions (new customer rules).

• Check student/annual rates. If you’re a student or already subscribe to one service, you may qualify for a bundle or discount instead of a separate trial. For example, Apple Music Student gives free Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Student is cheap after its trial.

By planning ahead and keeping track, you can enjoy many streaming services on a free or heavily discounted basis. Just be vigilant about automatic renewals.