The 50+ Streaming Services Still Offering Free Trials in 2026
The streaming services that still give you a free trial, ranked by our score out of 10, plus the free ones that never ask for a card.
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Free trials used to be the easiest way to test a streaming service. Then Netflix dropped its trial in 2020, and HBO Max, Disney+ and Peacock followed, leaving everyone else to decide how generous to be. A handful still hand out a week or even a month, and we've gathered the ones worth your time here.
Each is ranked by our score out of 10, with the trial length and the price you'll pay once it ends. YouTube TV gives you three weeks and Fubo a week, while Amazon Prime Video and Hulu give you a full month. And if you'd rather not hand over a card at all, the free services at the end never ask for one.
Our picks
The 50+ Streaming Services Still Offering Free Trials in 2026
Cheapest option
Amazon Prime
Pros
- Month-long free trial
- Users can add "channels" or streaming add-ons
Cons
- Originals aren't as noteworthy as the competition
30-day free trial
Expert take▼
By Renee Cuisia
Along with Hulu, Amazon Prime Video offers one of the longest free trial lengths at 30 days. Within that period, you can watch Prime Video originals and a host of other titles (Prime Video has the largest number of movies, even more than Netflix), as well as try out the free shipping and discounts that come with a membership.
Read our full Amazon Prime review →
For families who want everything
Hulu with Live TV
Pros
- Comes with Hulu on-demand, Disney+, and ESPN+ at no extra cost
- Wide-ranging channel lineup
Cons
- Shortest free trial length among all services
- Limited sports content to other services
3-day free trial
Expert take▼
By Renee Cuisia
Hulu with Live TV's free trial only lasts three days. It's the shortest trial length in this list, but it's still enough time to test Hulu Live's extensive channel lineup, DVR features, and simultaneous streams (which, unfortunately, are limited to two at a time). With the trial, you can also test the Disney+ and ESPN+ subscriptions that come included at no extra cost.
Read our full Hulu with Live TV review →
For live TV and sports fans
YouTube TV
Pros
- Constantly offers promos and varies free trial length
- Wide-ranging channel lineup
Cons
- Screen quality is inconsistent
21-day free trial
Expert take▼
By Renee Cuisia
Ranging from 5 to 60 days, YouTube TV's free trial length varies constantly (right now it's 21-day). The trial gives you access to all of the live TV plan's offerings, including its extensive channel lineup, unlimited cloud DVR, and unique multiview feature, which is a favorite among sports fans. One common downside YouTube TV users bring up is the inconsistent streaming quality, especially when it comes to live games. That's something you can test for yourself when you sign up for a free trial.
Read our full YouTube TV review →
For TV show bingers
Hulu
Pros
- Month-long free trial
- Has award-winning originals
- Also streams sitcoms, dramas, and programs from ABC
Cons
- Limited number of titles compared to other services
30-day free trial
Expert take▼
By Renee Cuisia
Hulu on-demand's free trial generally lasts seven days, but if you have a promo link like the one above, you can extend that trial to 30 days. In that time, you can enjoy Hulu originals like Shogun and ABC dramas like General Hospital, plus plenty of animation and films from various studios. Granted, Hulu's catalog isn't as deep as Netflix or Prime Video, but the trial can help you decide whether it's worth signing up for $11.99/month.
Read our full Hulu review →
For cable switchers
DIRECTV
Pros
- Traditional TV guide is useful for beginners
- Extensive channel lineup
- Unlimited DVR
Cons
- Expensive
5-day free trial
Expert take▼
By Renee Cuisia
DirecTV Stream is a comprehensive cable alternative that comes with everything a cord-cutter could need. It has an extensive channel lineup (which also comes in "genre packs" if you only want content that aligns with your interests), unlimited DVR, multiple streams, and HD picture quality. And if you're a channel surfer, DirecTV's interface doesn't stray too far away from traditional TV guides, making it easy enough for beginners to navigate. What gives customers pause, however, is the hefty price tag. Thankfully, DirecTV offers a five-day trial that lets you test all the abovementioned features, so you can see for yourself if the streamer fits your needs and is ultimately worth it.
Read our full DIRECTV review →
For CBS and Star Trek fans
Paramount+
Pros
- Aside from originals, it also streams content from partner channels like Nickelodeon and CBS
- Premium tier has live sports and local CBS
Cons
- Originals aren't as noteworthy as the competition
7-day free trial
Expert take▼
By Renee Cuisia
Paramount+ is a streaming service that mostly offers on-demand films and shows, including originals like Star Trek: Discovery, Showtime favorites like Yellowjackets, and programs from Paramount-owned channels like Nickelodeon, MTV, and Comedy Central. Upgrading to the premium tier also gives you access to your local CBS and live sports games. You can try either tier (but not at the same time) free for seven days. If you don't cancel after the trial period, you're charged the regular monthly rate of your chosen tier.
Read our full Paramount+ review →
For prestige TV fans
Apple TV+
Pros
- Three-month free trial of AppleTV+ comes with brand new Apple devices
- Seven-day free trial is available to all types of streaming devices
- No ads
Cons
- Limited number of titles compared to other streamers
7-day free trial
Expert take▼
By Renee Cuisia
Those with a new Apple device get to try AppleTV+ free for three months. However, if you own a different or older device, you can still try AppleTV+ free for seven days. The trial gives you access to the streamer's ad-free original titles, many of which are critically acclaimed, like Severance, Ted Lasso, Dickinson, and Slow Horses. Depending on where you live, you can also watch live MLB and MLS games on the platform.
Read our full Apple TV+ review →
For lovers of indie cinema
Mubi
Pros
- Hand-picked international, festival and arthouse films you can't stream elsewhere
- The annual plan works out to about $9.99 a month
- Every title in Now Showing was chosen by a person, not an algorithm
Cons
- Only about 30 films rotate at once, and titles leave on a schedule
- It's a side dish, so $14.99 stings if it's your only subscription
- The price has tripled from $4.99 at its US launch
7-day free trial
Expert take▼
By Renee Cuisia
Mubi is a curated arthouse service built around a "Now Showing" wall of about 30 hand-picked films that rotate daily, backed by a library of roughly 800 past picks. For $14.99 a month you get festival winners, foreign-language cinema and director-driven work you won't find on Netflix, not a deep all-purpose catalog.
The advertised 30 days free is the catch: Mubi's standard new-customer trial is 7 days, and the 30-day version usually comes through a referral or festival promo. Either way, it renews at $14.99 the moment it ends, and Mubi doesn't prorate refunds, so cancelling a day late still costs the full month. Set a reminder the day you sign up.
Read our full Mubi review →
For entertainment lovers on a budget
Philo
Pros
- Good value for money
- Bundle+ adds AMC+, HBO Max and discovery+
Cons
- No local and sports channels
7-day free trial
Expert take▼
By Renee Cuisia
A good alternative to expensive cordless services is Philo. At just $25/month, Philo's Essential plan gets you dozens of live channels—no sports or local channels, but it does cover plenty of entertainment, carrying HGTV, Food Network, A&E, and more. Its $33 Bundle+ plan adds AMC+, HBO Max and discovery+ on top. You can try all this, plus Philo's unlimited DVR feature, free for seven days. Remember to cancel by then, otherwise you're charged the regular monthly rate.
Read our full Philo review →
For British TV fans
BritBox
Pros
- Streams plenty of new and classic British TV shows
- No ads
Cons
- Catalog leans more on TV than movies
7-day free trial
Expert take▼
By Renee Cuisia
Co-created by British broadcasters BBC and ITV, BritBox is the ultimate streaming service for British TV shows in the US. ITV recently left the venture, but most of its properties, including Downton Abbey and Vera, remain available on the platform. Britbox has a seven-day trial that lets you watch all of its commercial-less content for free.
Read our full BritBox review →Other free trials we looked at
Free trials compared
Our top six, side by side. Prices and trial lengths come straight from each service's sign-up page, so they change when the services do.
| Feature |  Amazon Prime |  Hulu with Live TV |  YouTube TV |  Hulu |  DIRECTV |  Paramount+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price after the trial | $8.99/mo | $88.99/mo | $82.99/mo | $11.99/mo | $89.99/mo | $8.99/mo |
| Free trial | 30 days | 3 days | 21 days | 30 days | 5 days | 7 days |
| Type | On-demand | Live TV and on-demand | Live TV | On-demand | Live TV | – |
| Ads | Yes, unless you pay $2.99 more | Yes, like cable | Yes, like cable | Yes, on this plan | Yes, like cable | – |
| Simultaneous streams | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Cloud DVR | No | Unlimited | Unlimited, kept for 9 months | No | Unlimited | – |
What to know before you start a free trial
A free week is only free if it ends the way you planned. These are the things that decide whether a trial costs you nothing or quietly becomes a subscription.
Set the reminder when you press start
Most trials renew the day they end, at full price, and very few send a warning first. Put a reminder in your phone for the day before, the moment you sign up. On most services, cancelling right away still lets you watch to the end of the trial, so there's no reason to wait.
Trials are for new subscribers
If you've had the service before, even years ago, you usually won't get another trial. Some services check your email, others your card or your device, so a fresh account doesn't always do the trick.
A card is almost always required
Every paid trial on this page asks for a card up front. If you'd rather not hand one over, Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel and Plex are free for good: no card, no trial and nothing to cancel.
Where you sign up changes the deal
The same service can come with a different trial, or none at all, depending on where you start it: its own site, Amazon's Prime Video Channels, Roku or an app store. Cancel in the same place you signed up, or you may not find the subscription at all.
Time it around what you want to watch
A seven-day trial goes a long way if it lands on a big game weekend or the week a season drops. Line it up with the thing you actually came for, then decide whether the full price is worth keeping.
The price after the trial
The number that matters is the monthly price once the trial ends, shown on every card above. Several of these services have raised their prices more than once since 2020, so check it again before the trial runs out.
How we test streaming services
Every service on this page carries an AGMTW score out of 10. We built it from four things that can actually be measured, so the number doesn't change depending on who on our team happens to be looking:
- Content (50%). For live TV, how many of the 20 most-watched US cable channels a service carries, checked against the lineup we keep for every service. Carry all 20 and it scores 10; carry none and it scores zero, free or not. The first channels count for more than the last few. On-demand services are scored on their catalog instead, measured against the titles we've recommended.
- Value for money (20%). The price, compared on a gentle curve with the cheapest service in the same price band (a $9 service goes up against other $9 services, not an $83 bundle), then weighed against the content score. Cheap only counts in full if there's something worth watching, so a free service carrying none of the 20 keeps half its value score.
- Apps and devices (20%). The average of its App Store and Google Play ratings, along with how many TVs, sticks and consoles it runs on.
- Picture quality (10%). The best picture you get on the base plan: 4K scores 10, 1080p with surround sound 8.5, plain 1080p 7.5 and 720p 5.
Prices come from each service's own sign-up page, and we recheck them every month. Some links on this page do earn us a commission, but that never touches the score.
Frequently asked questions
Which streaming services still offer a free trial?
On the live TV side: Fubo, YouTube TV, Philo, Frndly TV, DIRECTV and Hulu + Live TV. On demand: Hulu and Amazon Prime Video (30 days each), Apple TV+, Paramount+, MUBI, AMC+, BritBox, Acorn TV and Crunchyroll, plus Cinemax through Prime Video Channels. Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and Peacock no longer offer one in the US.
What is the longest free trial in streaming?
Hulu and Amazon Prime Video both run 30 days, the longest standard trials. Separately, buying a new Apple device has included three free months of Apple TV+, the longest free stretch of all.
Can I get a free trial without a credit card?
Almost never. Every paid trial that's left asks for a card up front. The card-free way to watch is a free, ad-supported service like Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel or Plex, which never ask for one.
Do Netflix, HBO Max or Disney+ still have free trials?
No. Netflix ended its US free trial in 2020, and HBO Max and Disney+ have dropped theirs too. They occasionally run discounted intro offers, but no free trial.
How do I avoid being charged after a free trial?
Cancel before the trial ends. On most services, cancelling still lets you watch through the last day of the trial, so there's no reason to wait. Set a reminder for the day before it renews.
Is there a free trial that includes ESPN?
Yes, through the live TV bundles. Fubo (7-day), YouTube TV (21-day), DIRECTV (5-day) and Hulu + Live TV (3-day) all carry ESPN and still offer a trial. The standalone ESPN app and Sling TV don't.
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
Bilal Zouheir is the founder of A Good Movie to Watch. He is based in the US and a member of the Nevada Film Critics Society. He grew up in Morocco, where he learned English from watching movies. Bilal's work with A Good Movie to Watch is focused on offering an alternative to streaming algorithms, which are often used as commercial tools by streaming services.