With millions of people stuck at home due to the Coronavirus outbreak, digital streaming services are seeing a massive rise in viewer numbers.
Some streaming companies have decided to offer extended free-trial memberships in response to the lockdown, while others are now available at a discounted rate.
While there are myriad streaming services out there these days, you should get the most for your money by looking for ones that offer free trials and still have the content you want to watch.
We’re taking a look at the most popular streaming services with free trials, starting with those offering extended trials.
Browse streaming platforms by category:
- Current Extended Trials and Special Offers
- On-Demand TV, Live TV and Movies
- Cartoons and Anime
- Horror & Suspense
- Sports
- International Content
Extended Trials and Special Offers
1. HBO NOW
- Extended Free Trial: 500 hours of free programming
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $14.99/month
For a limited time, HBO Now is offering close to 500 hours of ad-free programming, no membership required. To watch, just download HBO Now and navigate to the program of your choice.
Here’s the full list of free content:
| Series | Movies | Movies (continued) | Documentaries / Docuseries |
| Ballers | Arthur | Midnight Special | The Apollo |
| Barry | Arthur 2: On the Rocks | My Dog Skip | The Case Against Adnan Syed |
| Silicon Valley | Blinded by the Light | Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase | Elvis Presley: The Searcher |
| Six Feet Under | The Bridges of Madison County | Pan | I Love You, Now Die: Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter |
| The Sopranos | Crazy, Stupid, Love | Pokémon Detective Pikachu | The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley |
| True Blood | Empire of the Sun | Red Riding Hood | Jane Fonda in Five Acts |
| Veep | Forget Paris | Smallfoot | McMillion$ |
| The Wire | Happy Feet Two | Storks | True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality |
| Isn’t it Romantic | Sucker Punch | United Skates | |
| The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part | Unknown | We are the Dream: The Kids of the MLK Oakland Oratorical fest |
If you choose to subscribe, HBO NOW offers new movies each week, plus talk shows, documentaries and more for a monthly fee of $14.99, along with a seven-day free trial.
Customise it – Make it your own
2. Quibi
- Free Trial Period: 14 Days
- Cost: $4.99 to $7.99/month
Quibi is a newcomer to the streaming-media game, but it’s already building up some buzz. The new streaming platform is the first designed to be exclusively used on mobile devices, and its content will consist of bite-sized episodes that are all 10 minutes or less.
3. CBS All Access
- Extended Free Trial Period: 30 Days
- Regular Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $5.99-$9.99/month or $61.10-$101.90/year
CBS All Access makes it “easier than ever to access the shows you love from America’s #1 network — live and on demand.” For a limited time, it’s also giving you access to its shows for 30 days free.
You can stream more than 10,000 episodes of your favorite shows, as well as live sports broadcasts, special events and 24/7 news via CBSN. Typically, subscribers can choose from commercial-free or limited-commercial plans with their first week completely free. Keep in mind that an annual subscription nets you a 15% discount.
4. YouTube TV
- Extended Free Trial Period: 14 days
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Regular Cost: $49.99/month
For a limited time, you can try YouTube TV free for two weeks, or twice the normal free trial period. Just be sure to cancel before your trial is up or you’ll automatically be charged $49.99.
While this service is one of the pricier options on our list, it gives you access to all the perks you previously enjoyed via live TV – such as the Super Bowl, local sports, award shows and more – all for about half the price of the average cable subscription.
In our review of YouTube TV, we found the service to be “a great way to get your favorite content at an affordable price,” especially for sports fans, news buffs and anyone else who can’t live without live TV.
Related: YouTube TV Review: Everything You Need to Know Before Cutting the Cord
5. Sundance Now
- Extended Free Trial Period: 30 Days
- Regular Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $4.99
AMC’s Sundance Now has extended its free trial period for new members. The service features dozens of films and series, including exclusives. Its library is stacked with acclaimed dramas and true crime shows, and the free trial gives you plenty of time to explore.
6. STARZ
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Special Offer Rate: $4.99 for 3 Months
- Regular Cost: $8.99/month or $75/year
STARZ hasn’t extended its free trial period, but it is offering a special offer to new subscribers. The first three months of the service is available for only $4.99.
With acclaimed original series like Outlander, STARZ promises unlimited HD streaming and downloads of hit movies, TV shows and bonus content.
You can save 30% by choosing a discounted annual subscription, or pay $8.99 per month with no long-term contract. Either way, you can binge-watch at no cost with a seven-day free trial.
On-Demand TV, Live TV and Movies
7. Disney+
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $6.99/month or $49.99/year
Disney+ is one of the hottest new streaming services on the market, and you can get a 7-day free trial when you first sign up. The service gives you access to tons of content from Disney studios including Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and National Geographic.
You can also get Disney+ bundled with EPSN+ and the ad-supported version of Hulu for just $12.99 a month.
Available on Redbubble.
8. Hulu
- Free Trial Period: 30 days
- Cost: $5.99 to $11.99/month
Launched in 2008, Hulu is “the only service that gives viewers instant access to current shows from every major U.S. broadcast network.”
That means you can browse libraries of hit TV series and films all in one place for just $5.99 per month — or $11.99 for the ad-free version. Give it a try with a free one-month trial and no strings attached.
You can also watch live TV with Hulu + Live TV, which costs $54.99 per month. You can try out this extended service with a 7-day free trial.
9. Amazon Prime Video
- Free Trial Period: 30 days
- Cost: Free with Prime membership ($13/month or $119/year)
Amazon Prime Video is included in your Prime membership at no extra cost, although you can also subscribe to 100+ premium channels like HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, CBS All Access, MLB.TV and Cinemax.
The service lets you pay for the channels you want and cancel anytime with no cable required — and your first 30 days are on the house.
Sign Up for Amazon Prime Video
10. Apple TV+
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $4.99/month
Apple has gotten into the original content game with their service Apple TV+. Original series include For All Mankind, See, and Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet. You can try the service out for 7 days free, with monthly recurring payments of $4.99 afterwards.
11. Netflix
- Free Trial Period: 30 days
- Cost: $8.99 to $15.99/month
The streaming juggernaut has become just as well-known for its original series as its massive collection of mainstream TV shows and films. Plans start at $8.99 per month, and customers can enjoy their first month free with zero commitments.
12. SHOWTIME
- Free Trial Period: Thirty days
- Cost: $10.99/month or $109.90/year
SHOWTIME’s streaming service gives you “instant access to commercial-free, award-winning series, movies and sports.”
While the service costs $10.99 per month, you can get a 30-day free trial when you first sign up.
Customise it – Make it your own
13. YouTube Premium
- Free Trial Period: One month
- Cost: $11.99/month
Experience YouTube, YouTube Music and YouTube Originals ad-free with a YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) subscription.
The company offers a one month long free trial followed by a fee of $11.99 per month once the trial ends. You can also choose from a $17.99/month family plan that accommodates up to six family members (ages 13+) in the same household or a student plan that costs $6.99 per month.
14. Sling TV
- Free Trial Period: 14 days
- Cost: $20 to $35/month
Sling TV gives its subscribers “live TV, only better” by letting them personalize channels as they please. They typically offer a free 7-day trial, but recently extended it to 14 days for new subscribers — no credit card necessary!
Plans range from $25 to $40 per month, but a limited time offer is available that will give you your first month of Sling Orange or Blue for just $5.
For a limited time, Sling is offering the Blue service for free at select times of the day. This “Happy Hour” promotion runs from 5:00 pm to midnight every night; to watch, just enter your email address, password and zipcode on the related page, then download the Sling app on any compatible device.
15. AT&T TV Now (Formerly DirecTV Now)
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $65 to $80/month
For $65 to $80 per month, AT&T TV Now gives you 40 to 60+ channels, including HBO.
The service typically lets new subscribers try their streaming plans for seven days free of charge, but new accounts can occasionally a free month with promo codes. Remember to set a Deal Alert for AT&T TV Now if you’re interested in a longer trial.
16. Xfinity Flex
- Free Trial Period: 30 days
- Cost: $29.99 to $49.99/month
Xfinity’s Flex service offers a generous 30-day free trial and grants you access to top networks, live sports and local news with various channel packs so you can customize your experience.
The service starts at $29.99 per month.
Sign Up for Xfinity Instant TV
17. Philo
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $20/month
You can try Philo risk-free for seven days to see if its streaming collection of 59 channels and unlimited recordings is right for you. Be aware, however, that the service isn’t great if you’re interested in sports or the news.
Cartoons and Anime
18. Boomerang
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $4.99/month or $39.99/year
Boomerang makes every day feel like Saturday morning (before 2014, anyway) with its streaming selection of new and classic cartoons and zero ads.
Indulge your inner child with old-school favorites like Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones, Garfield, Looney Tunes, Popeye, Tom and Jerry and Bugs Bunny. Your first week is totally free, and plans start at just $4.99 per month (or $39.99 per year).
19. VRV
- Free Trial Period: 30 days
- Cost: $9.99/month
Considered “the best in anime, gaming, tech, cartoons and more,” VRV features exclusive series and new episodes of your favorite shows with no ads getting in the way. Plus, it includes access to Nick, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Cartoon Hangover and more.
You’ll pay $9.99 after your 30-day free trial if you choose to continue your subscription.
20. Crunchyroll
- Free Trial Period: 14 days
- Cost: $7.99/month
Love anime and manga? Crunchyroll is for you.
This streaming service simulcasts “fresh from Japan” with ad-free shows in HD. Experience your first two weeks free of charge with monthly rates starting at $7.99 thereafter. It really is the most efficient way to watch My Hero Academia.
21. DC Universe
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $7.99/month or $74.99/year
DC Universe offers a comprehensive collection of DC movies, animated series, shorts and specials. It’s available on iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Android TV and the Roku platform, as well as the web and mobile web, with more platforms coming soon.
Try it for free with a seven-day trial, and choose to continue your subscription for either $7.99 per month or $74.99 per year (a 20% savings).
Available on Redbubble.
Horror & Suspense
22. Shudder
- Free Trial Period: 7 days
- Cost: $5.99/month or $56.99/year
Horror lovers, rejoice. Shudder TV lets you stream your favorite thrillers and slasher movies for one low monthly fee of $5.99.
You can also pay upfront for an annual membership to drop the price to $4.75 per month, or $56.99 total.
And you can set a Deal Alert with us to make sure you don’t miss any more Shudder promos in the future.
Sports
23. fuboTV
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $59.99-$79.99/month
fuboTV offers a mix of live sports and TV without the need for cable. It’s also your best option for checking out international soccer games, as well as MLS.
With more than 100 channels and 30 free hours of Cloud DVR space, you can use this streaming service to “record what you love and access it from anywhere.” You can even replay any game, show or movie that aired within the last three days.
The base monthly cost is a hefty $59.99 but you can try it for free for your first week.
International Content
24. Rakuten Viki
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $4.17/month or $49.99/year
Rakuten Viki describes itself as “a global TV site where millions of people discover, watch and subtitle global primetime shows and movies in more than 200 languages.” If you’re looking to sate your need for Korean dramas, this is the streaming service for you.
Plans start at $4.17 per month or $49.99 per year, but you can try it out for seven days free of charge.
25. BritBox
- Free Trial Period: Seven days
- Cost: $6.99/month or $69.99/year
BritBox prides itself on being the largest streaming collection of British TV, with everything from dramas and comedies to documentaries and soaps.
If you love the BBC and ITV, you can try BritBox free for a week, and then choose from a $6.99 monthly membership or a discounted annual rate of $69.99 (around a 16% discount).
Look Out for Extended Free Trials and Promo Codes
While we’ve discussed the standard free trials for all of these services, most of them also offer extensions and special promotional deals from time to time. For example, Verizon is offering a full year of Disney+ for free when switching to their 5G Home Internet plan.
Make sure to stay updated on all the relevant free trial promo codes and streaming discounts by picking your favorite services and setting a Deal Alert with us.
Other Streaming Deal Guides
Any product or service prices/offers that appear in this article are accurate at time of publish, and are subject to change without notice. Please verify the actual selling price and offer details on the merchant’s site before making a purchase.
