Free trials used to be a standard part of signing up for any streaming service. Most of the biggest names have quietly dropped them. Here's an honest read on what's actually still offered in 2026, so you're not searching for a trial that no longer exists — or worse, assuming one is available when it isn't.
No longer offering free trials
Netflix, Disney+, and Max currently offer no free trial to new subscribers. Hulu ran a 30-day trial for select customers in the first half of 2026, but that promotion ended in mid-June 2026 — as of now, Hulu has no standing trial either. Don't assume any of these four will let you sample before paying; go in expecting to pay from day one.
Still offering a trial — with caveats
| Service | Trial | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV+ | 30 days for new/qualifying returning subscribers | The most reliable trial of any major service right now; also comes free for 3 months with a new Apple device purchase |
| Prime Video | 30 days via Amazon Prime signup | Tied to the broader Prime membership trial, not a standalone Prime Video trial — confirm current terms at checkout |
| Peacock | No standard trial | 7-day trial available through Prime Video's Peacock Premium Plus channel add-on; also occasionally bundled free via Walmart+ or Instacart+ memberships if you already have one |
| Paramount+ | Conflicting as of mid-2026 | Some reporting says the trial was dropped alongside recent price increases; other reporting points to a limited-time 7-day trial tied to a promotional offer. Check paramountplus.com/account/signup directly before counting on it — this one changes month to month |
Reality check on "trial stacking": stacking trials across several services to watch everything for free for a month sounds great in theory, but only two of the eight major services (Apple TV+ and Prime Video) currently have a dependable trial. Treat a free trial as a nice bonus for one specific service you were about to pay for anyway — not a repeatable strategy for free TV.
The reliably free alternative: ad-supported free platforms
Separate from trials entirely, Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Plex are all free, ad-supported, and require no trial or credit card — they're just permanently free, with a smaller but real catalog. They're worth checking before assuming you need a paid trial to watch something for nothing.
If you do use a trial, protect yourself from the auto-renewal
Every trial on this list converts to a paid subscription automatically unless you cancel first. Set a reminder two to three days before the trial ends — that's the single habit that prevents a "free" trial from quietly becoming a permanent line item on your bill.
FAQ
Is there any way to get Netflix, Disney+, or Max for free right now?
Not through an official trial as of this writing. Occasionally these services run limited-time promotional offers through a third party (a phone carrier perk, for example) — those aren't standing trials and vary by region and time.
Why did Paramount+ and Peacock drop their standard trials?
Reporting points to both moves coinciding with broader price increases and major sports/content investments (World Cup coverage for Peacock, UFC for Paramount+) — trials are one of the first things providers cut when they're trying to boost per-subscriber revenue.
What's the safest way to use a trial without getting charged?
Sign up, watch what you came for, and cancel immediately rather than waiting until the trial's final days — cancelling right away still lets you keep access through the end of the trial period on nearly every service, and removes the risk of forgetting.
Find the cheapest paid lineup once your trial ends
StreamStretch tells you which services to keep and which to cancel.
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