50 Best Streaming Services With Free Trials

If you're a fan of TV shows, then Hulu has a lot to offer, with a pretty comprehensive list of popular shows from major networks, including classic sitcoms, as well as children's programs like Sesame Street. Hulu is also acclaimed for its ace original programming, with hit shows from comedies like The Mindy Project to dystopian dramas like Handmaid's Tale.

DirecTV Stream is a live TV streaming service that offers four different subscription plans, all of which gives you access to unlimited simultaneous streams and DVR storage, as well as a free 5-day trial. Compared to other live TV services, DirecTV Stream’s free trial is on the shorter side (Fubo offers a 7-day free trial while YouTube TV has one that lasts up to 14 days), but it’s considerable that DirecTV has one at all, given the sheer heft of its package plans. They range from $74.99 to $154.99 per month, with the cheapest plan carrying more than 75 channels covering basic news, sports, and entertainment and the most expensive plan carrying more than 150 channels. The former includes channels like CNN, ESPN, and AMC, while the latter has everything you could ever hope for in TV: local and national live sports coverage, prestige channels like HBO and Showtime, and all of the major news networks.

More than 60 live channels, unlimited DVR storage, and streaming on multiple devices for $28 a month? It’s hard to find a sweeter cord-cutting deal. As good as it is, you do go without some cable mainstays: Philo doesn’t carry any sports channels. But if you get that content elsewhere and you’re fine without it, Philo’s deal is unbeatable.

Hulu with Live TV ties up its subscribers’ streaming needs in one tidy bow. You get access to all the movies and shows in Hulu’s library, plus over 75 local, regional, and national live channels for $82.99 a month. Since several other streamers offer add-on premium content packages for a fee, with this plan you cut out the middleman and have everything under one roof.

Frndly is perfect for families who like to spend their TV time together. Its channel offering is very limited, but if your family is on a budget, or if you have other ways for family members to get on-demand films and shows, it's a good option.

Apple TV+’s catalog has almost exclusively original shows and movies, so the catalog is small, with launch titles so far including Dickinson, The Elephant Queen, The Morning Show, Ted Lasso and Oprah's Book Club. It’s also growing: they have promised to release new content while they try to acquire more shows from other networks.

With approximately 800 feature films, documentaries, and shorts available on the Library at one time, and a very consistent refreshing of the library in the Now Showing section, Mubi is one of the go-to services for dedicated film buffs who want to be surprised.

Fubo is a live TV streaming service that puts a serious emphasis on sports content. Apart from carrying a good mix of entertainment and news channels, it also features more than the usual number of sports channels, including ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, NFL Network, and NBA TV. Fubo currently has four main plans you can choose from—Pro ($75/month), Elite ($85/month), Ultimate ($100/month), and Latino ($33/month)—which you can all try for free with Fubo’s seven-day free trial. This should be enough time to test the breadth of Fubo’s channels and try out other features, like DVR storage and simultaneous viewing. It should be noted that Fubo’s trial feature is only available to new users, who in turn can only pick one plan to test for free. If you don’t cancel the trial once the seven days are up, Fubo will use the payment details you’ve entered to create an account to automatically charge you for a monthly subscription.

If you usually watch a lot of Discovery content, like programming from the Discovery Channel itself or TLC, Animal Planet, etc, then this is the streaming service for you. There is so much to watch, over 2500 series and 55,000 episodes.

You'll find all the classics and big block-busters. When it comes to on-demand streaming services, Amazon Prime probably has the largest catalog, with more than 12,000 movies alone. Amazon is also producing more of its own TV shows, which range from hits like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to irreverent comedies like Fleabag.

Amazon Kids+ is for you if you have a kid, and ideally already have Amazon Prime, as the monthly price for a single child subscription goes down from $4.99 to $2.99.

Youtube TV is one of the best live TV packages out there. For $73/month, you’ll have access to more than a hundred channels, unlimited DVR space, and, for an additional fee, the option to stack on extras like an HBO subscription or an NFL Sunday Ticket to your base plan. Like most streaming services, Youtube TV’s standard free trial period last seven days, and it allows you to try all its features—including DVR and simultaneous viewing. But unlike most services, Youtube TV occasionally extends the trial period to 14 or even 21 days, and it allows you to try their add-ons in addition to their base plan for free too. You should note, however, that the base plan and the add-ons are billed separately, which makes sense considering their trial lengths are likely to vary. Another unique perk of Youtube TV’s free trial is that in the event you forget to cancel it on time, you can actually request a refund. It’s a case-to-case basis, but it’s worth noting since it’s not something most services will even allow. Although, like most services, once you’ve canceled the trial, you won’t be able to regain access to it.

Paramount+ is an easy sell for its on-demand programming, but if you're a sports fan or if you watch local CBS channels, it's also a good option to consider. The platform offers over 1000 sporting events live, like the NFL, Champion's League, The Masters, PGA Tours, and more.

In addition to all the on-demand content under the Paramount umbrella, Paramount+ Premium customers get multiple live sports broadcasts, live local CBS, and the ability to download shows to watch them later. For $9.99 a month, it’s a low-cost option that keeps viewers current without taking away the freedom to watch what you want, when you want.

DirecTV Stream Ultimate is one of the meatier live TV packages offered by DirecTV Stream. It includes unlimited streams, cloud DVR, and over 140 channels, many of which are entertainment and regional sports networks, making it quite the bundle for families with a variety of needs. Its $109.99/month subscription is no joke, however, so it’s great that the platform offers a handy 5-day free trial. You can see for yourself if the features all work, if the package is worth the price, and if it’s an overall good fit for your household. Just remember to cancel the trial before it ends if you don’t want DirecTV to automatically charge your card and renew the subscription monthly.

If you’re into the classics, MGM+ broadcasts a lot of older films – from Orson Welles movies to westerns like Aces and Eights and iconic horrors like Night of the Living Dead. There’s also a decent selection of contemporary movies including compelling original documentaries, with a fair share of stand-up comedy specials, as well as family-friendly content.

There seems to be a little something for everyone on Magnolia Selects, though with a particular focus on arthouse films. You will also find a variety of genres including drama, horror, documentary and stand-up. The library is curated by Magnolia Pictures.

Fubo Elite costs $10 more than Fubo’s basic $75/month plan, but this additional charge gives you access to 245 channels (that’s 77 more than the basic plan) and 4K viewing. Like all of Fubo’s plans, you can try Fubo Elite for up to seven days free. In those standard (and quite reasonable) seven days, you can try all of the plan’s features, including its 1,000-hour DVR storage, 10 simultaneous streams, and of course the aforementioned 4K viewing. If you don’t cancel the trial after seven days, Fubo will assume you’ll want to push through with the subscription and charge you $85/month.

Fearless is a Toronto-based streaming service built around inclusivity. Their focus is on showcasing films highlighting stories from LGBTQ+ people, Women, BIPOC, and stories on disability. They also enable creators to directly submit their work on either a Free license basis (for creators only interested in traction) or a paid/exclusive license.

Britbox is for you if you enjoy British-made shows like The -original- Office or films like Pride and Prejudice.

It may be a newcomer in this part of the Atlantic, but Viaplay has been streaming films and TV shows in Europe for years. Its main attraction is Nordic noir, that distinctly cold and shocking version of the mystery genre. Based in Sweden, Viaplay is one of the top producers of noir, but it also carries internationally known films like Another Round (starring Mads Mikkelsen) and A Somewhat Gentle Man (starring Stellan Skarsgård). Nordic Americans will find much to enjoy here, but Viaplay also serves as a convenient and affordable option for viewers wanting to dip their toes deeper into European thrillers.

Univision NOW is a premium streaming service that specializes in Spanish-language content, both live and on-demand. Because it is operated by the largest Latino-targeted network in the United States, Univision NOW boasts a wide and varied catalog of movies, TV series, reality shows, and sporting events (the streamer has exclusive rights to air many football matches, making it a favorite among football fans). Aside from hosting exclusive content, Univision NOW also makes its cable and daytime programs available online and on-demand the next day.

Strong Voices TV (SVTV) Network is a subscription-based internet streamer specifically catered to and created by members and allies of the LGBTQI+ community. Not only does the service offer inclusive films and TV shows, but it also provides exclusive access to podcasts, music, and video games. If you are looking for a queer community-based streamer and would love to expand your entertainment horizons by adding a few unique elements into the mix, then you may want to consider subscribing. The website invites you to “join the movement” for just $5.99/month. SVTV was founded in 2016.

Like its namesake festival, Sundance Now focuses on indie movies and documentaries. You’ll find a fair share of less-represented shows, so it’s a go-to if you’re seeking to discover new content that is a little out of the mainstream.

StackTV is a streaming channel available to either Amazon Prime subscribers or Rogers customers. It's one of the rare Canadian services that hosts premium broadcast networks, including Global, Food Network Canada, HGTV Canada, History, Adult Swim, National Geographic, and Lifetime, among others. It's a bit steep at $12.99 a month, but its wide availability via Amazon and its exclusive access to notable American networks is worth considering.

Unlike other streaminUnlike other streaming services, Sling doesn't have just one but six Spanish-language plans that you can choose from. The base Sling Latino plan just costs $10/month and includes more than 20 channels, including BeinSports so you can tune into soccer games live. You can subscribe to this without signing up for Sling's Orange and/or Blue plans. When you combine the Sling Latino plan with another regional Latino plan, like Sling Mexico (11 channels), Sling Sudamérica (11 channels), Sling Caribe (9 channels), Sling España (4 channels), or Sling Centroamérica (3 channels), you only have to pay $5 more on top of your existing plan. On their own, however, they also cost $10/month each. Following the same logic, combining any of these Latino plans with either Sling Orange (which has the Disney networks) or Blue (which has more news and sports channels) will cost you anywhere form $50-$55/month. That's one thing about Sling: the options may get overwhelming, but at least you know you can customize your plan to your specific liking. Needless to say, every single one of these plans comes with the usual Sling TV features like 50 hours of cloud DVR (which you can upgrade for a fee) and three simultaneous streams.g services, Sling doesn't have just one but six Spanish-language plans that you can choose from. The base Sling Latino plan just costs $10/month and includes more than 20 channels, including BeinSports so you can tune into soccer games live. When you combine that with another regional Latino plan, like Sling Mexico (11 channels), Sling Sudamérica (11 channels), Sling Caribe (9 channels), Sling España (4 channels), or Sling Centroamérica (3 channels), you only have to pay $5 more on top of your existing plan. On their own, however, they also cost $10/month each. Following the same logic, combining any of these Latino plans with either Sling Orange (which has the Disney networks) or Blue (which has more news and sports channels) will cost you $45/month. That's one thing about Sling: the options may get overwhelming, but at least you know you can customize your plan to your specific liking. Needless to say, every single one of these plans comes with the usual Sling TV features like 50 hours of cloud DVR (which you can upgrade for a fee) and three simultaneous streams.

With over 500 horror, thriller and supernatural fiction titles, Shudder is one for real horror fans. The platform curators offer categories like "Urban Decay", "Slashics", and "Not Your Ordinary Bloodsucker," among many others. 

Rather than horror blockbusters, you’ll rather find rarer movies new and old, including exclusives like The Devils (1971) and originals like Mayhem starring Steven Yeun and Samara Weaving, as well as horror shows and podcasts.

Short film streaming service Shortly has a wide array of titles, but it's especially focused on four genres: horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and thrillers. The films are sourced from around the world, which makes sense given that the team behind them is based globally, and they're available to watch on major streaming devices. Signing up for an account is free, as is your first day of usage, but after 24 hours most titles will only be available if you subscribe to any of their two tiers. The lower one costs $2.99/month while the higher tier, which gives you access to even more short movies, costs $4.99/month.

Screambox as its name would indicate is a horror-themed streaming service that offers up a selection of chilling titles to keep you entertained through the darkest nights. They try to offer a mix of indie and classic movies and shows.

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