If you are looking for streaming services with real free trials in 2026, the list is smaller than it used to be. But there are still good options.
Also, “free trial” does not always mean the same thing.
Some services give you the full product. Others limit the offer to one plan. Some ask for a credit or debit card and place a small temporary hold on it.
Live TV streaming services with free trials
For live TV channels, you have the following options:
1. YouTube TV
- Free trial: 21 days
- Price after trial: $72.99/month for your first 3 months, then $82.99/month
- Availability: United States
- Device support: All devices.
If you want the longest popular live TV trial right now, YouTube TV should be at the top of your list. The current public offer is 21 days. During the trial, you get the full base plan rather than a stripped-down sampler.
With it, you can test the real things people pay for. This could be the live channel lineup, unlimited DVR, or the three streams.
Pros:
- Longer trial than most live TV rivals right now.
- You get the full base plan during the trial.
- If you cancel during the trial, access lasts until the trial period ends.
Cons:
- You still need a valid payment method to start.
2. Fubo
- Free trial: 5 days
- Price after trial: Fubo Pro $88.99/month
- Availability: United States
- Device support: Roku boxes, Fire TV sticks, Apple TV setups, LG and Vizio screens, Xbox consoles, iPhone and Android apps, and browser tabs for quick live sports checks
Fubo is a very useful trial if your main question is sports. It lets you test a sports-heavy live TV setup without paying up front for the first five days.
The service includes unlimited DVR and a large home-stream allowance, so the trial is not just about the channel count. It lets you see whether Fubo actually fits your real sports routine.
Pros:
- You can try eligible add-ons during the trial.
- Broad device support makes it easy to test at home and on the go.
- The trial is attached to a full paid plan, not a light demo version.
Cons:
- If you cancel during the free trial, access ends right away.
3. DIRECTV
- Free trial: 5 days
- Price after trial: Varies by plan; streaming plans currently start from $42.99/month + tax
- Availability: United States
- Device support: Gemini Air in the main room, Roku and Apple TV on TV sets, Fire TV sticks, plus phones, tablets, and browsers when you are away from home
DIRECTV’s trial is short, but it is still worth looking at if you want to test a more cable-like streaming setup.
The main appeal is not the length. It is the chance to see whether you like DIRECTV’s layout, channel packs, and sports handling before you commit.
Pros:
- Good test drive for people who want a cable-like streaming service.
- Useful for checking sports, local channels, and guide layout before paying.
- Plan choice is broad, from leaner genre packs to bigger bundles.
Cons:
- A valid card is required.
- The trial is shorter.
4. Hulu + Live TV
- Free trial: 3 days
- Price after trial: $89.99/month
- Availability: United States
- Device support: All devices.
This is a short trial for you to use when you already know what you want to test. You should use it to check the live locals in your area and the guide.
You could also have a feel for whether the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN content mix feels worth the money. It is not the trial you pick when you want two or three weeks to think.
Pros:
- Lets you test both the live-TV side and the bundled streaming libraries together.
- Good for quickly checking local channels and sports fit.
- Direct signup is simple if you already use Disney accounts.
Cons:
- Three days is very short.
5. Philo
- Free trial: 7 days on Essential
- Price after trial: $25/month for Essential
- Availability: United States
- Device support: LG and Samsung sets, Roku and Fire TV sticks, Apple TV, Vizio screens, mobile apps, and laptop browsers for quiet sign-up-and-watch testing
Philo has one of the cleanest free-trial setups in streaming. The free trial is once per household. So you do not get another one if you have already used it.
Also, the trial is on Essential, not Bundle+. You are not trialing the bigger plan that includes HBO Max Basic with Ads and discovery+.
Pros:
- The signup flow is easy on both apps and browsers.
- Payment options are unusually broad.
- No-card free-channels option if you only want to browse.
Cons:
- The trial is only on Essential, not Bundle+.
On-demand streaming services with free trials
If you want mainly series and movies to follow, here are the best options you should try:
1. Amazon Prime
- Free trial: 30 days
- Price after trial: $14.99/month for Prime
- Availability: United States
- Device support: Prime Video on smart TVs, game consoles, Fire TV, phones, tablets, and ordinary web browsers, plus the rest of Prime works through your normal Amazon account everywhere else
This is the longest mainstream trial in this article, but you need to think about it the right way.
This is not just a Prime Video trial. It is a full Amazon platform trial with Prime Video included.
Pros:
- Longest mainstream trial here.
- Includes full Prime benefits, not just video.
- Prime Video works on a very wide range of devices.
- Younger users and students get an even longer Prime trial in some cases.
Cons:
- You need a valid card to start.
2. Apple TV+
- Free trial: 7 days
- Price after trial: $12.99/month
- Availability: United States
- Device support: Apple OS, smart TVs, game consoles, Android phones, Windows devices, cable boxes, and plain browser watching on tv.apple.com
Apple TV+ is one of the easiest on-demand trials to understand because there is only one main service tier. If you start the seven-day trial, you are testing the full Apple TV+ catalog.
There is no “lite” version hiding behind the offer. That is good for people who want a clean yes-or-no answer fast.
Pros:
- Straightforward one-service trial with no confusing tiers.
- Works well beyond Apple devices now.
- Simple sign up if you already use an Apple Account.
- Hardware buyers qualify for a longer free offer.
Cons:
- You need billing info to start.
- The catalog is much smaller than Prime Video or Netflix, even if the quality is often high.
3. AMC+
- Free trial: 7 days in most cases
- Price after trial: From $7.99/month with ads or $10.99/month premium
- Availability: United States
- Device support: Works on almost any normal screen in the house.
AMC+ is a good trial when you know exactly what kind of shows you want. You are not shopping a giant general streamer here.
You are trying a bundle built around AMC+, Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Films Unlimited. That makes it a much better trial for horror, prestige TV, and niche movie fans than for people who just want “a bit of everything.”
Pros:
- Fits horror, thriller, and prestige-TV fans.
- Good device coverage on TVs and mobile devices.
- Gives you a bundled niche library rather than just one small catalog.
Cons:
- Third-party signup makes account management messier.
4. Crunchyroll
- Free trial: 7 days standard
- Price after trial: From $9.99/month for Fan
- Availability: United States and other supported regions
- Device support: All the major Operating Systems and gaming consoles.
Here, the standard free trial lasts 7 days. But this platform also runs longer promotional offers from time to time. So if you land on a 14-day or 30-day promo, great.
The trial itself gives you the real Premium experience. You get ad-free viewing and full library access.
Pros:
- Includes the real Premium feature set.
- Device support is excellent.
- Best fit if you mainly want anime and same-day Japan releases.
Cons:
- The best value is only there if anime is a regular habit for you.
5. discovery+
- Free trial: 7 days
- Price after trial: $5.99/month with ads or $9.99/month ad-free
- Availability: United States
- Device support: All connected devices.
discovery+ is still one of the best low-cost trials if you want reality TV. It is also the best for home shows, food, travel, paranormal, and true crime. The big point here is value.
Even after the free week ends, it is cheaper than most on-demand services in this article.
Pros:
- Works on the usual mix of devices.
- Good for heavy reality, home, food, and true-crime viewers.
- Ad-free plan adds downloads if you keep it.
Cons:
- Less useful if you mainly want premium scripted originals.
6. BritBox
- Free trial: 7 days
- Price after trial: $10.99/month
- Availability: United States
- Device support: Smart TVs, Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, Xfinity, Xumo, LG, Vizio, Chromecast, Fire TV, and the normal mobile-and-web setup you already use
BritBox is a very focused trial. So, use it when you already know you want British TV. Do not start it when you want a general streaming service.
This service feels either fantastic or narrow, depending on what you expected going in. If your idea of a good evening is detective drama, cozy mysteries, soaps, and British comedy, a week is enough to tell whether it should stay.
Pros:
- Easy fit for British mystery and drama fans.
- Good short-term service if one or two shows brought you in.
- No messy plan ladder to compare.
Cons:
- It is a niche service, not a broad one.
7. Hallmark+
- Free trial: 7 days
- Price after trial: $7.99/month
- Availability: United States
- Device support: Roku, Fire TV devices, Apple TV, and other supported TV apps. It also works on phone, tablet, and web.
Hallmark+ is a good trial for a very specific viewer. This is somebody who already knows they want Hallmark originals and feel-good movies.
If that is you, the service is easy to test and fairly cheap to keep. If that is not you, no free trial will change your mind.
Pros:
- Low monthly cost after the trial.
- PayPal is supported.
- Best fit for Hallmark-heavy households.
Cons:
- It is a niche service, not a general one.