Hulu Free Trial: Best Ways to Stream for Free in 2025

Disney+ and Hulu Basic Bundle

$2.99/mo. for 4 months

If you've been on the fence about trying Disney+ or Hulu, this March 2025 Disney+ Hulu bundle is the way to go! Get the combo service for just $2.99 per month for four months, which amounts to a 72% savings over the normal monthly price. After four months, your subscription will automatically renew at the then-current rate ($10.99 per month at the time of publishing) until you cancel. Note that this offer applies to the ad-supported Disney+ Hulu bundle and is valid only for new and eligible returning Disney+, Hulu, and/or ESPN+ subscribers.

Buy Now

Hulu Student Discount Deal

$1.99 / mo.

Students get 75% off the monthly price of the Hulu (With Ads) plan in 2025 and as long as their student status remains verified through SheerID. Once they're no longer college students, the monthly cost is $9.99, or whatever the then-current price is. Cancellation is allowed at any time.

Buy Now

Disney+ Hulu Bundle

Duo Basic for $11/mo., Premium for $20/mo.

There are a lot of Disney+ bundles to choose from, but one of the most affordable options in 2025 is the Duo bundle. You'll get Disney+ and Hulu for as little as $11 per month - up to 44% off versus buying these two services separately! With Basic, you'll get access to select Hulu content in the Disney+ app, but with Premium you'll get that plus ad-free streaming and the ability to download select titles for watching offline.

Shop Now

Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle

Trio Basic for $17/mo., Premium for $27/mo.

If you want to get everything Disney+ and Hulu has to offer, plus sports, then the Trio bundle is the way to go in 2025! You'll save up to 46% off compared to buying the three services separately, and with Basic you'll also get the ability to watch select Hulu content in the Disney+ app. If you opt for Premium, though, you'll get that, plus ad-free streaming on Disney+ and Hulu and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.

Shop Now

Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle

From $17

Get Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundled together in 2025. At the ad-free tier, you'll be saving 42% per month compared to paying for the services separately. Alternatively, the basic bundle is a savings of 43% per month in comparison. The Trio plan options, which include ESPN+ instead of Max, start from $17/month, and the Duo plans with Disney+ and Hulu start at $11/month.

Shop Now

Does Hulu Offer a Free Trial?

Curious if you can test out Hulu before footing the bill for the full subscription? Good news — Hulu does offer a free trial, giving you a chance to explore the platform's massive library without spending a dime up front.

Generally, new subscribers get 30 days free on the basic ad-supported plan and just three days for the premium package that includes live TV.

Naturally, the exact offer can sometimes vary based on promotions, eligibility, and whether you're bundling with other services. Here, we'll break down everything you need to know about Hulu's free trial: what you can watch, how to sign up, and any fine print to keep in mind.

Hulu (With Ads) Free Trial

Hulu (With Ads) is the most basic of the Hulu streaming plans, and also the one offering the most generous free trial. Customers opting for Hulu (With Ads) can net the first month totally free to see if paying the $9.99 monthly fee is worthwhile.

Viewers can enjoy up to six user profiles and multi-device streaming functionality, along with watching new episodes of their TV series available the day after it airs.

Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) Free Trial

Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) is the most expensive Hulu plan that offers a trial period, and you'd better be ready to go on a streaming binge if you're giving this one a go. The plan currently costs $82.99 per month, and your free trial period is only three days.

We highly recommend signing up for Hulu + Live TV ahead of a long weekend. That way, you have the full three days to sit uninterrupted and explore the offerings thoroughly, to see if this plan is worth it in the long run for your budget.

What's even better — or worse, if you consider the number of choices you'll have — is that this plan also includes Disney Plus, live sports with ESPN Plus in addition to Hulu.

How to Sign Up

Ready to give Hulu a try? Signing up for a free trial is quick and simple, and in just a few minutes, you'll be set up and ready to stream. Whether you choose the ad-supported plan or Hulu + Live TV, the process is pretty straightforward.

Here's how to unlock your free trial:

• First, confirm your eligibility. Free trials through Hulu are only available for new customers or certain eligible returning subscribers. The platform defines eligible returning customers as someone who has not held a Hulu subscription in the past month.
• Visit the Hulu website and scroll to the area where you can select your plan. Click the dropdown menu to select either Hulu or Hulu + Live TV to see the eligible free trials. The company does not currently offer free trials of any of the Disney bundles.

• Select your plan and start the free trial by clicking on the button with the normal pricing.
• You'll be prompted to create a MyDisney account to oversee your Hulu subscription.

• Enter your billing information (don't worry, there won't be any charges until the trial ends). The free trial should be automatically applied; be sure to take note of the trial's expiration date to make sure you cancel in time if you don't want to continue the subscription.

And that's it — you're all set to start streaming! If you run into any issues or have questions about your trial, Hulu's Help Center has plenty of resources, or you can reach out to their customer support for assistance.

How Else to Get Hulu for Free

Hulu's official free trial isn't the only way to stream without paying at first. Certain wireless carriers bundle their services with complementary platforms (cough, Hulu, cough cough) to eligible customers a few months (or more) on the house.

Sign Up for a T-Mobile Mobile or Home Internet Plan

T-Mobile is known for handing out perks to its subscribers, and free Hulu is just one of the latest. You'll need to sign up for the Go5G Next mobile plan or the All-In Home Internet service. Once you do, you can get Hulu (With Ads) at no additional charge — for as long as you keep your T-Mobile account in good standing.

Sign Up for a Verizon Unlimited Plan

If you'd rather go with Verizon over T-Mobile, you can get Hulu and then some when you sign up for select Verizon Unlimited plans. Choose from the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate packages, and you'll have the option to add a Disney Bundle for $10 per month — that's a discount of over 50%.

The collection includes Disney Plus Premium without ads, along with ad-supported versions of Hulu and ESPN Plus. However, the offer is only good for six months. After that, you'll have to pay $10 per month to keep the service.

SEE ALSO: The Best 2025 Streaming Bundle Deals for Peacock, Hulu, and More

How Long Do Hulu Free Trials Last in 2025?

The duration of Hulu's free trials remains consistent with previous years. The Hulu (With Ads) trial period lasts for your first month using the service, while the Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) trial period is only three days. As for Hulu plans with no ads, they don't have a free period at all.

SEE ALSO: Hulu's 2025 Student Discount: Join for $1.99 per Month

Can You Cancel Before the Free Trial Is Over?

You can absolutely cancel before your Hulu free trial is over (and probably should if you don't want to get charged). You can find instructions in the Help Center, but the process is relatively simple.

Sign into your account and navigate to your account settings page. Under the "Your Account" section, simply click "Cancel" and follow the next instructions to confirm your decision.

Once your plan is terminated, you should receive an email from Hulu confirming the cancelation was successful.

When is the best time to save on Hulu?

Special discounts on Hulu are available throughout the year, with student discounts offering up to 75% off the regular price. Holiday sales and bundle offers with Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and Max also provide opportunities for savings.

Hulu often features discounts during major events, such as the back-to-school season, Black Friday, and after Christmas — keep an eye on these periods to maximize your savings.

Has Hulu Offered Free Trials Before?

Unlike other streaming platforms, whose discounts and free trials always seem to be changing and disappearing, Hulu has remained consistent in giving customers an opportunity to experience its platform for free since at least 2020.

While the Hulu (With Ads) plan trial has remained steady at a lengthy 30 days, the company shortened its trial period for the Hulu + Live TV service from seven to three days in 2022.

Pricing In Previous Years

Historically, Hulu's rates have ranged from $5.99 to the current $9.99 per month since 2020, with occasional discounts and promotions reducing these prices. The live TV package rates have stayed considerably higher.

Prices jumped most recently in late 2024, but an annual price hike is not a for-sure thing. Hulu kept the price of its live TV service the same for three years before the increase, and the ad-supported plan has remained constant the two years prior.

What Can You Watch on Hulu?

Hulu offers a wide selection of content, including popular series, exclusive originals, and highly anticipated releases coming in 2025. One of the biggest upcoming titles is the final season of The Handmaid's Tale set to premiere on April 8, 2025. New episodes will release weekly until the series finale on May 27.

Fans of legal dramas can look forward to Suits LA, a spin-off of the original Suits series, which premiered earlier this year and brings high-stakes legal battles to Los Angeles. For those who love a good sci-fi mystery Paradise stars Sterling K. Brown and has quickly gained popularity since its debut in January 2025.

Hulu's other most popular franchises are also slated to release new seasons in 2025. The critically acclaimed series Only Murders in the Building is set to return for its fifth season, with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez reprising their roles as the unlikely trio of amateur sleuths. Similarly, fans of The Bear will get to return to The Original Beef for season four later this year.

While official premiere dates for the two series haven't been announced yet, fans can anticipate many more comedic twists and dramatic turns in the coming year.

Comparing This Year's Streaming Alternatives

When it comes to free trials, streaming platforms differ wildly in what they offer. Some, like Hulu, provide generous 30-day trials, while others, such as Netflix, Max, and Paramount Plus, don't offer a free trial at all.

Meanwhile, certain bundles — like those from wireless carriers or credit card perks — can grant access for several months. Check out the details of each platform's free trial, so you can compare and find the best option for your streaming needs.

Why Trust DealNews?

DealNews has been saving its readers money for upward of 25 years. We deliver deal seekers hundreds of deals every day, on everything from clothes and accessories to vacations and laptops. Or, in this case, Hulu streaming. Those years of experience go into making sure that every deal we post is the best price you'll find, regardless of our relationship with the store.

Consider signing up for the DealNews Select newsletter, which drops a bunch of handpicked hottest deals into your inbox every weekday. You can also set a deal alert for products you're interested in and receive a notification when they go on sale.

Related DealNews Blog Posts:

• YouTube TV is a premium streaming option, but it doesn't come cheap. The good news is you can get a YouTube TV's 30-day free trial to see if the cost is worth it.
• Peacock's current discount codes can help you save faster than ever.
• Disney Plus has a lot going for it, but can you get a Disney Plus free trial this year? We've got the 2025 breakdown exploring free subscriptions.