20 Streaming Services That Still Offer Free Trial in 2026

Updated on December 30, 2025 • Staff

After Netflix cancelled its free trial, many popular services followed suit. 

However, there are still some services that offer free subscriptions. The free trial period ranges from 3 to 30 days in some cases. For this list, we looked for the very best streaming services out there that still offer a free trial, and put them all in one place. This is the ultimate guide for free trials in streaming. 

There are live TV services as well as on-demand platforms. It's all in here. Happy cord-cutting. 

$33/month | 95 channels

Philo

A good alternative to expensive cordless services is Philo. At just $28/month, a Philo subscription gets you more than 90 live channels—no sports or local channels, but it does cover plenty of entertainment, carrying HGTV, Food Network, A&E, and more. It also comes with AMC+, which has an on-demand catalog featuring films and shows from AMC, Shudder, BBC America, and more. 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.
Go to Philo
$73.99/month | 83 channels | 7 days free trial

Fubo

Fubo is a comprehensive live TV service that carries a wide array of channels. Next to DirecTV Stream, it also has the most regional sports networks (RSNs) out of all the services, making it a top choice for sports fans. That said, Fubo does charge extra for RSNs. It's also missing key channels, including TBS, CNN, HGTV, and other Warner Bros. properties. If you're on the fence about subscribing, Fubo allows new customers to try all of its channels and features free for seven days.
Go to Fubo
$88.99/month | 105 channels | 3 days free trial

Hulu with Live TV

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.
Go to Hulu with Live TV
$89.99/month | 137 channels | 5 days free trial

DIRECTV (ex DirecTV Stream)

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.
Go to DIRECTV (ex DirecTV Stream)
$7.99/month | 3 channels | 7 days free trial

Paramount+

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.
Go to Paramount+
$11.99/month | 30 days free trial

Hulu

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 $9.99/month.
Go to Hulu
$8.99/month | 54 channels | 7 days free trial

Frndly TV

Like Philo, Frndly TV is an affordable live TV streaming service that focuses on providing entertainment content. It has even fewer live channels than Philo, but for $8.99/month, it's quite the steal. You can test Frndly's channels, DVR features, simultaneous streams, and more for free for seven days.
Go to Frndly TV
$12.99/month | 7 days free trial

Apple TV+

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.
Go to Apple TV+
$8.99/month | 30 days free trial

Amazon Prime

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.
Go to Amazon Prime
$14.99/month | 30 days free trial

Mubi

Mubi is a movie-streaming service featuring a curated selection of 30 movies on a daily rotation, as well as a large library of movies from previous rotations. The subscription costs $14.99 per month or $119.88 for an annual subscription. If you just want to browse the database before paying up front, you can sign up for a free account for access. Mubi has a Now Showing section, with the newest entries to the library on a given day (the library is updated daily), and a Library section featuring a back-catalog of other highlights and previously “showing” movies. You may see a section called 'Live' for live broadcasts once in a while. Aside from the options to stream via web browser, Mubi also has mobile apps for Android and iOS, media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), and you can subscribe to Mubi as a Prime Video channel. While Mubi is not available on the Xbox One, you can access the service on a PlayStation 4 console.
Go to Mubi
$8.99/month | 7 days free trial

Shudder

Horror fans curious about Shudder will be happy to know that the streaming service offers a weeklong free trial. With a trial, you can watch all of the service's original and licensed content, as well as the 24/7 stream it has on in case you're not sure where to start. Some favorites on the platform include Chucky, The Last Drive-In, Creepshow, Dragula, and When Evil Lurks.
Go to Shudder
$7.99/month | 7 days free trial

Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is a streaming service dedicated to all things anime. It has a tier that lets users watch select shows at no extra cost, but its paid tiers unlock even more features and content, including newer episodes, offline downloads, and access to games and merchandise. These plans, which cost $7.99/month and $15.9/month, can be tried free for seven days, but not at the same time. You can only choose one tier to try per account.
Go to Crunchyroll
$10.99/month | 7 days free trial

Criterion Channel

If you're a cinephile, you've likely heard of The Criterion Channel, a carefully curated streaming service that lets you watch critically acclaimed classics and indies on demand. Not only does the streaming service have one of the best catalogs in the market, it also offers exclusive commentaries from filmmakers, interviews with actors and directors, and a 24/7 streaming channel you can put on if you don't know where to begin. You can watch all this for free for seven days. You're charged the regular monthly rate if you don't cancel by then.
Go to Criterion Channel
$6.99/month | 4 channels | 7 days free trial

AMC+

AMC+ is a streaming service that doubles as a bundle. Apart from streaming popular AMC shows like Interview with a Vampire on-demand, it also offers content from Shudder, Acorn, IFC, and Sundance TV. You can try it free as a standalone app for seven days. The trial also applies if you try it as an add-on channel on Prime Video or YouTube TV.
Go to AMC+
$6.99/month | 7 days free trial

SUNDANCE NOW

Sundance Now is a streaming service that offers original shows, most of which lean on mystery, thriller, true crime, and the supernatural. You can try it free for seven days, after which it will cost $6.99/month, or $4.99/month if you pay annually. A lot of Sundance Now's content can be found on AMC+, another service that offers a free trial, but you'll need the standalone app to access the entirety of its catalog.
Go to SUNDANCE NOW
$10.99/month | 7 days free trial

BritBox

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.
Go to BritBox
$82.99/month | 143 channels | 7 days free trial

YouTube TV

Ranging from 5 to 60 days, YouTube TV's free trial length varies constantly (as of this writing, it offers a 10-day trial). 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.
Go to YouTube TV
$5.99/month | 7 days free trial

Viaplay

Viaplay is one of the rare streaming services that still offers a 14-day free trial. The service specializes in Nordic fare, particularly noir, thrillers, and mysteries. It's niche that way, but it also streams a good number of popular and critically acclaimed films starring the likes of Mads Mikkelsen and Stellan Skarsgård. You can try it free as a standalone app, or as an add-on channel on Prime Video, Roku, and Sling.
Go to Viaplay
$7.99/month | 7 days free trial

MGM+

Formerly known as Epix, MGM+ is an on-demand streaming service that carries original shows like Godfather of Harlem and classic movies that have been released under the MGM banner. Its catalog is more limited than Netflix and the Criterion Channel, but a thousand titles for $6.99/month is still a good deal for many people. You can try either the standalone or add-on MGM+ app free for seven days to see if it fits your streaming needs.
Go to MGM+
$5.99/month | 7 days free trial

Discovery+

Discovery+ lets you watch original shows on-demand for just $5.99/month. It also streams content from Discovery and sister channels like CNN, TLC, Animal Planet, ID, and Food Network, so there's plenty of lifestyle, news, and home improvement programs to go around. You can watch Discovery+ and test its features free for a week. If you don't cancel by then, you're charged the regular monthly fee.
Go to Discovery+
$5.99/month | 14 days free trial

BFI Player Classics

The UK-based BFI Player Classics is a Criterion Channel-like service that streams modern classics and beloved old films, all of which are handpicked by the team behind BFI cinemas. At $5.99/month, a BFI subscription is quite cheap, but you can still try it out free for two weeks if you're not sure about purchasing it. After that period, you're charged the regular monthly rate unless you cancel.
Go to BFI Player Classics

Which streaming service offers a 30-day free trial?

Hulu on-demand and Amazon Prime still offer month-long free trials. You can read more about them in this article we have about 30-day free trials.

Which streaming services offer live TV with a free trial?

Many live TV streaming services offer free trials, though their trial durations tend to be shorter than their on-demand counterparts. Hulu with Live TV recently came up with a free trial lasting three days, while DirecTV Stream has always set the limit to five. Most services, however, like Philo, Fubo, and YouTube TV, offer trials that last for a solid seven days.

Which streaming services can you bundle with a free trial?

Most streaming services, especially live TV streaming services, allow you to bundle additional channels when you try them for free. Amazon Prime does it a lot with premium channels like Starz, Showtime, and, perhaps most notably, HBO Max. HBO Max notoriously doesn't have a free trial, so getting it as a bundle with Amazon Prime and other services is quite a deal.

What is the cheapest streaming service with a free trial?

Right now, the cheapest streaming services with free trials are Discovery+ and BFI Player Classics, both of which cost $5.99/month. Among live TV services, the cheapest would be Philo at $28/month.

What is the most expensive streaming service you can try for free?

Just short of a hundred bucks, that would be DirectTV Stream, which you can try free for five days. It's closely followed by Fubo, which you can try free for seven days.