45 Best Streaming Free Trials on Apple TV

If you want the feel of cable with the ease of cord-cutting, your best bet is DirecTV Stream. The live TV streaming service has hundreds of channels (including RSNs and local networks), unlimited cloud DVR, and simultaneous streams, and it's all formatted in a way that makes it look almost exactly like traditional TV. The prices of its plans range, but if you want to give a subscription a think, then you can try any of its plans free for 5 days. Simply go to their website, pick a plan you’re interested in, and input your payment details. You’ll have to do the last step because if you don’t cancel before the trial period ends, you’ll automatically be charged the full price of the monthly plan. The free trial lets you test all features of the plan, including the simultaneous screams and DVR, so make sure you test the platform thoroughly before the trial is up.

If you already have other streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, Philo is the perfect option to get access to Live TV without spending too much money. At $28, it has an offer that beats much more expensive services. Plus, in terms of the channel lineup, it has a little bit for everyone, from news channels like BBC World News to the Discovery Channel, to Nickelodeon and Vice.

Though largely known as the sports-centered service, Fubo has a lot of other things going for it. The live TV streaming platform has local channels, live events, unlimited DVR, and unlimited screens it offers through plans that range from $80 to $100 per month. It also has a Latino package it offers at nearly half the price of its other plans. The only downside to Fubo is that it recently dropped Warner Bros. and Turner channels because of a dispute. Another possible disadvantage is the ambiguity of its free trial periods. To be sure, Fubo does have a free trial, which is already more than what competing streaming services offer, but it can last two to seven days, depending on when you claim it. The standard should be seven, so you can file a complaint if it ends before then, but Fubo has noticeably erased nearly all mentions of the 7-day-free trial, so be wary of that. Otherwise, Fubo is an enjoyable cable alternative that you can cancel anytime.

Hulu with Live TV offers 95 live channels, as well as countless on-demand content from Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+, from $83/month. It does have a free trial, but it might be the shortest offer yet with a duration of just 3 days. It’s shorter than YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream, but it might be enough for you to decide whether the channel lineup, which includes local, sports, and entertainment networks like Bravo, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Discovery, FS1, NFL Network, and ABC News are to your liking. To be eligible for the free trial, you have to either be new to Hulu or a returning customer who canceled a Hulu subscription over a year ago. You can test all of the streaming service’s features, like cloud DVR and device compatibility, during the free trial. Just remember to cancel before the period ends, otherwise, you’ll be charged the regular monthly fee.

Paramount Plus is a video-on-demand service that replaced its predecessor, CBS All Access, and is currently available in the US, Canada, and parts of Latin America.  Subscribers used to also have the option to bundle the service with Showtime, but ever since the Paramount-Showtime merger in June 2023, the latter is now only available to "Paramount + SHOWTIME" subscribers. To its credit, standalone Paramount+ still has 40,000 episodes and movies to its name, plus live feeds on NFL on CBS and the UEFA Champions League.

If you're a fan of TV shows, then Hulu has a lot to offer, with a pretty comprehensive list of popular shows from major networks, including classic sitcoms, as well as children's programs like Sesame Street. Hulu is also acclaimed for its ace original programming, with hit shows from comedies like The Mindy Project to dystopian dramas like Handmaid's Tale.

Frndly TV just might be the most affordable live TV streaming service, but if you’re not sure if it’s you, you can try it free for 7 days if you’re a new customer. You’ll be able to access all of its 50 channels, which sadly excludes sports and major local networks, but includes other popular options like Hallmark, Lifetime, A&E, Grit, and ION. Local news may also be accessed via the channel LocalNow. If you’re not a new customer, no sweat: you can try their many add-on packs, also free for 7 days. Other noteworthy features include unlimited DVR, on-the-go streaming, up to 4 simultaneous streams, and 72-hour lookback, which lets you watch whatever’s been on the last 3 days.

Apple TV+’s catalog has almost exclusively original shows and movies, so the catalog is small, with launch titles so far including Dickinson, The Elephant Queen, The Morning Show, Ted Lasso and Oprah's Book Club. It’s also growing: they have promised to release new content while they try to acquire more shows from other networks.

The "MySports" package from DirecTV is the cheapest way to combine ESPN, ESPN+, Fox Sports, ABC, TNT, and NBC. It's the sports bundle that we could have only dreamed of in the past, especially considering that DirecTV is widely considered to have the best picture quality out of every cord-cutting service.

You'll find all the classics and big block-busters. When it comes to on-demand streaming services, Amazon Prime probably has the largest catalog, with more than 12,000 movies alone. Amazon is also producing more of its own TV shows, which range from hits like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to irreverent comedies like Fleabag.

With approximately 800 feature films, documentaries, and shorts available on the Library at one time, and a very consistent refreshing of the library in the Now Showing section, Mubi is one of the go-to services for dedicated film buffs who want to be surprised.

YouTube TV is one of the few comprehensive, all-in-one live TV packages that still offers a weeklong free trial. In the past, it’s even offered a 60-day free trial during special occasions. The streaming service has everything you could want: local channels, live sports (including the coveted NFL Sunday Ticket), and cable networks, though you’d still have to pay extra for premium channels like HBO and Starz. It has other add-ons, too, if you’re more into Spanish-language channels for instance or even more sports coverage. Additionally, it has unlimited DVR storage. The only potential downside is picture quality, a common problem among users more used to satellite-grade crispness. You can discover for yourself whether the picture quality, channel lineup, and DVR storage, among others, are worth its $73/month price tag when you sign up for the 7-da7 free trial.

If you’re a huge fan of anime, then Crunchyroll is the streaming platform for you. Over 1,200 series and 200 dramas are available on the anime-focused platform, with many series made available immediately after Japanese broadcast for premium-tier subscribers. 

In the Crunchyroll library, you’ll find every genre of anime you can think of, including drama, fantasy, music, romance, and sci-fi, to name a few. That said, Crunchyroll focuses heavily on subtitled rather than dubbed animations.

Without about 2,000 films in its collection going as far back as the 1900s, the Criterion Channel is definitely one for the fans of classic and art-house cinema in general. The collection reportedly features movies from 55 different countries, across six continents. Each month, the on-demand library is reorganised with a freshly handpicked set of films becoming available on rotation.

DirecTV Stream Ultimate is one of the meatier live TV packages offered by DirecTV Stream. It includes unlimited streams, cloud DVR, and over 140 channels, many of which are entertainment and regional sports networks, making it quite the bundle for families with a variety of needs. Its $109.99/month subscription is no joke, however, so it’s great that the platform offers a handy 5-day free trial. You can see for yourself if the features all work, if the package is worth the price, and if it’s an overall good fit for your household. Just remember to cancel the trial before it ends if you don’t want DirecTV to automatically charge your card and renew the subscription monthly.

Like its namesake festival, Sundance Now focuses on indie movies and documentaries. You’ll find a fair share of less-represented shows, so it’s a go-to if you’re seeking to discover new content that is a little out of the mainstream.

Britbox is for you if you enjoy British-made shows like The -original- Office or films like Pride and Prejudice.

It may be a newcomer in this part of the Atlantic, but the Sweden-based Viaplay has been streaming films and TV shows in Europe for years. Its main attraction is Nordic noir, that distinctly cold and shocking version of the mystery genre. Apart from mysteries and thrillers, it also carries internationally known films like Another Round (starring Mads Mikkelsen) and A Somewhat Gentle Man (starring Stellan Skarsgård). Nordic Americans will find much to enjoy here, but Viaplay also serves as a convenient and affordable option for viewers wanting to dip their toes deeper into European thrillers. Viaplay used to be available as a standalone streaming service, but currently, you can only stream it as a channel or add-on to either Amazon Prime, Sling, Xfinity, Xumo, or Roku.

Strong Voices TV (SVTV) Network is a subscription-based internet streamer specifically catered to and created by members and allies of the LGBTQI+ community. Not only does it offer inclusive films and TV shows, but it also provides exclusive access to podcasts, music, sporting events, and video games. If you're looking for a queer community-based streamer and would love to expand your entertainment horizons by adding unique elements into the mix, then you may want to consider subscribing. The website invites you to “join the movement” for just $5.99/month. SVTV was founded in 2016.

StackTV is a streaming channel available to either Amazon Prime subscribers or Rogers customers. It's one of the rare Canadian services that hosts premium broadcast networks, including Global, Food Network Canada, HGTV Canada, History, Adult Swim, National Geographic, and Lifetime, among others. It's a bit steep at $12.99 a month, but its wide availability via Amazon and its exclusive access to notable American networks is worth considering.

If you’re partial to indie and art-house titles, Ovid.tv has an exceptional collection of little-known gems, including high-quality documentary programming as well as some terrific foreign and arthouse features. The service includes titles from 30 different film distribution companies including Bullfrog Films, The dGenerate Films Collection, Distrib Films US, and lots more.

If you lived through the '80s, you may have heard of Night Flight, the nighttime cable channel that aired punk rock music videos, low-budget monster flicks, psychedelic documentaries, and adult cartoons, among many others. It went under at the turn of the '90s but has recently returned to join the streaming wars, seemingly bigger and better than ever. As a subscription-based streaming service, Night Flight Plus gives you access to classic gems, plus new content from partner studio companies. It's basically a time capsule with extra room for all the new niche movies it could've aired during its prime. If you're looking for carefully curated nostalgic picks, Night Flight Plus is a great choice to consider.

NFL+ is the league's official streaming service that gives you access to live and local regular season and postseason games, on-demand programs, and even tools for your next fantasy football game. As of 2023, NFL+ also offers the NFL Network and NFL Redzone channels in its plans, making it a solid option for true-blue football fans hoping to finally cut the cord. A regular subscription costs $6.99/month and includes everything in the above, except for NFL Redzone and replays of full games, highlights, and all-22 coaches films, which are only available in NFL+'s premium subscription, priced at $14.99/month. Both plans offer free trials and are available on most major streaming devices, with the exception of live local and primetime regular season and postseason games, which can only be viewed on phones and tables.

If you're a hardcore baseball fan, you'll be glad to know you can tune in to your favorite pastime via MLB.TV, the league's official streaming service. Previously MLB.TV offered All Teams and Single Team packages, but it's replacing them with more affordable tiers that start at $5.99/month. The cheapest plan allows you to stream MLB Network 24/7 and tune into extensive baseball coverage and analyses, while the MLB.TV + At Bat plan, which costs $6.99/month, adds access to La Liga Dominicana (Spanish only), live Spring Training games, and archives from past seasons. An important reminder: if you're still on the cord and have the MLB Extra Innings cable TV package, you're likely entitled to a free MLB.TV subscription. Contact your provider to check whether you're eligible.

If you’re sick of the same old movies you’re seeing on this side of the world, then MHz Choice might come as a pleasant surprise for you. The streaming service specializes in international content, especially Nordic noir and British thrillers. Though the app itself can be a little clunky, at $8/month, it’s an affordable alternative to accessing quality foreign-language shows, films, documentaries, and more. It also recently merged with fellow subscription service Topic, so expect to see even more European fare there.

If you’re into the classics, MGM+ broadcasts a lot of older films – from Orson Welles movies to westerns like Aces and Eights and iconic horrors like Night of the Living Dead. There’s also a decent selection of contemporary movies including compelling original documentaries, with a fair share of stand-up comedy specials, as well as family-friendly content.

Lifetime Movie Club is a subscription video service that gives you access to thousands of original titles, many of which can also be found on its cable counterpart the Lifetime Channel. Lifetime movies are known for being unapologetically dramatic and occasionally sinister, so if you're one to indulge in such content, then this might be for you. Lifetime Movie Club also welcomes new movies to its library every Friday, as well as hosts a handful of syndicated shows, including the much-beloved Grey's Anatomy.

There are many streaming services out there dedicated to specific and underrepresented communities. Black-oriented streamers alone account for a significant portion. But Kweli TV stands out for its far-reaching and careful curation. It hosts films and series worldwide, many of which are festival winners and official selections from Africa and the Caribbean. It also claims to dedicate 60% of its revenue to content creators, so you can be sure your money goes to a good cause. On top of all this, Kweli TV also has a 24-hour live streaming service; a worthwhile package for just $1.99/month (without ads, it's $5.99/month).

Klassiki is a streaming service dedicated to classic and modern films from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The platform's team carefully curate the titles that go into their library, and every week, they handpick a special film for you to enjoy. Since Klassiki is still new, their library is not too stacked (they have about 50 titles as of this writing), but the leanness is perfect for those who value quality over quantity. A monthly subscription costs $10.99 (£9.99 if you're in the UK), and along with on-demand content, you get exclusive program notes, reviews, and interviews from different critics and filmmakers via their journal section.

Formerly Kino Now, which only offered rentals, Kino Film Collection is an on-demand streaming service featuring films that could rival the catalogs of Criterion and Mubi. Here you'll find indie darlings, hard-to-find classics, and international gems by the likes of  Jean-Luc Godard, Jafar Panahi, Jia Zhangke, Joanna Hogg, and Alfred Hitchcock. Some examples of their carefully curated collections are "Cannes Winners," "New York Times Critcis’ Picks," "Visionary Black Directors," and "Women Filmmakers." You can watch the Kino Film Collection on major streaming devices.