Hulu Free Trial: Best Ways to Stream for Free in 2024

Hulu is a veteran streaming service at this point, but that doesn't mean new users are ready to jump in without giving it a try first. So you may feel relieved to know you can get free trial periods of at least a couple of the Hulu plans.

Read on for the details on how to get a free trial of Hulu and which plans are eligible to try before you buy.

Top Hulu Discount

Hulu Student Discount Deal

$1.99 / mo.

Students get 75% off the monthly price of the Hulu (With Ads) plan as long as their student status remains verified through SheerID. Once they're no longer college students, the monthly cost is $7.99, or whatever the then-current price is. Cancellation is allowed at any time.

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SEE ALSO: Hulu's 2024 Student Discount: Join for $1.99 per Month

Hulu Free Trials

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 of the service. At the time of publication, customers opting for Hulu (With Ads) for $7.99 per month netted the first month totally free, meaning they got ample time to explore the catalog of exclusive series, movies, Originals, kids programming, and more.

If you're seeking this plan during your sign-up process, select "Hulu" under the Base plans on Hulu's website to get started.

Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) Free Trial

Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) is by far the most expensive Hulu plan that offers a trial period, and you better be ready to go on a streaming binge if you're giving this one a go. The plan is $76.99 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+, live sports with ESPN+, and Hulu; all show ads when you watch. You'll be able to watch plenty of Hulu Originals, as well as more than 95 channels with live TV and get unlimited DVR recording to boot. Because of all those options, you might find it difficult to decide in just three days if this is the plan you want to subscribe to. So try it out, but don't be afraid to downsize to a cheaper plan — you can upgrade at any time.

How Else to Get Hulu for Free

Sign Up for a T-Mobile Go5G Next Plan

T-Mobile is a company 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 plan, but once you do, you can redeem the offer and get Hulu (With Ads) at no additional charge.

Note that after 12 months, you'll need to take action to ensure you keep the service at its complimentary status, Otherwise, you'll begin being charged $7.99 per month, or whatever the current monthly price is.

SEE ALSO: The Best 2024 Streaming Bundle Deals for Peacock, Hulu, and More

Sign Up for a Select 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 either the Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plan, and you'll have the option to add on a Disney Bundle. Said bundle includes Disney+ Premium without ads, Hulu with ads, and ESPN+ with ads for free. However, the offer is only good for six months. After that, you'll have to pay $10 per month to keep the service.

Note that eligible plans start at $45 per line, per month, and that the discount will be applied as a plan credit for the duration of the promotion.

Hulu Free Trial FAQs

Is There a 30-Day Free Trial for Hulu?

Yes, a 30-day free trial of Hulu is available! If you sign up for the basic Hulu with ads plan, which is $7.99 per month, you'll get your first month free. However, the lengthy trial period is only available for this plan — others have shorter trial periods, or none at all.

How Long Do Hulu Free Trials Last?

The Hulu (With Ads) trial period is the length of 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.

How Do You Become Eligible?

Hulu free trials are only available to new and eligible returning subscribers. What defines an "eligible returning subscriber," you might ask? Well, it seems that can vary depending on the promotion. Often, it seems like eligible returning subscribers are those who canceled their previous Hulu subscription more than a year ago. But other times eligibility may be more restrictive. The best thing you can do is read the fine print before trying to sign up, lest you find out too late that you don't qualify.

Can You Cancel Before the Free Trial Is Over?

You can absolutely cancel before your Hulu free trial is over. You can find instructions in the Hulu Help Center, but the process is relatively simple.

1. Sign in to your account and navigate to your account page
2. Select "Cancel" under the "Your Account" section, and follow the instructions to complete the process

What Can You Watch on Hulu?

Like other streaming services, the lineup on Hulu can and does change. Though you may have a decent amount of time to watch some items, others may only have a short run. So it's worth signing up for emails and noting anything you want to watch before it leaves the platform again. The New & Upcoming page on Hulu can also be a great place to check for updates on what's available or will be soon.

At the time of publication, some of the more popular options for viewing included:

• Smile
• Only Murders in the Building
• The Bear
• Futurama

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