Loopholes That Get You Free Streaming All Year (Or For the Rest of Your Life)

On this page:

• Swap out premium streamers for ad-supported platforms ↓
• Opt into free trials ↓
• Get free streaming with your phone or internet plan ↓
• Use your library card to get free streaming ↓
• FAQ ↓

Science shows that people actively seek out novelty, or newness. But you don’t have to get your dopamine rush from watching every new series the world is talking about. There are several free (and legal) streaming services you can access without coughing up a dime, provided you’re willing to forgo the jacked-up hype that accompanies the launch of the latest shows making their way onto premium platforms. Trust me, you won’t miss them.

Some of the best free streaming services include:

• Pluto TV: includes live TV, on-demand movies, binge-worthy favorites, and lots of current CBS TV shows
• Tubi: includes Spanish programming, live TV, free movies, and popular kids shows
• The Roku Channel: includes original exclusives, plus shows and movies adults and kids love. And, you don’t need a Roku TV to access it.
• Sling Freestream: Includes over 500 free live TV channels, including sports channels — no Sling TV subscription required.

Free trials can work to your benefit, but are hardly altruistic. The platform you’re opting into is hoping you’ll stay past the trial, and pay premium rates happily ever after. So a bit of strategy can go a long way here.

Keep in mind, you likely won’t be able to nab a free trial period for any platform more than once. If you’re a former subscriber you may not be able to get one at all, if you’ve used the platform within the last year. Streaming services keep a long-arm record of the payment options you’ve used, so trying to access it with a different email address will probably backfire.

Before you opt in, make note of the way the platform rolls out its content. Some streamers, like Netflix, usually release an entire season at one time. To avoid giving the whole ball of wax away for free, Netflix, sadly, no longer offers free trials.

Don’t despair! Some premium streamers even offer free episodes for top shows instead of requiring a subscription:

• Paramount+ offers free full episodes on its limited free episode website
• Amazon Prime Video offers a “Free to me” streaming collection
• ABC offers free episodes on its website

Streaming service free trial periods range from a couple of days to a month or more. The best one I ever had was for Apple TV. I bought a new iPhone and got three blissful months for free.

If you’re not currently shopping for a MacBook, iPhone, or iPad, Apple offers a 30-day free trial for new and qualified returning subscribers. This yummy nugget is set to expire on January 7, 2027. After that, Apple’s standard 7-day free trial period will likely resurface.  

YouTube TV does offer this perk. The trial period is often around 10 or more days, but you might want to wait until the game you want to watch is fully available before you start your free trial. 

 Here are a few to get you started:

In life, it helps to be good at math. Take a look at your current phone, internet, or bundled plan. Upgrading to faster internet, or a phone plan with more lines, may get you multiple streaming services for free. But for this to work, you have to run the numbers. Figure out how much more you’ll be paying for an upgrade, versus the cost of the streamers themselves. Then decide on your next steps.

Thad Hwang, founder of Goji Mobile, mentions that some wireless carriers offer free or discounted streaming subscriptions with a qualifying phone plan. “Some of these deals have requirements such as active military service or veteran status, or being 55 or older. But others are open to all,” he says.

AT&T no longer offers free streaming to new customers, but continues to maintain this perk for some older legacy plans.

Hwang notes that add-on perks are marketed to sweeten the pot, but that the underlying costs are already baked in. “You can often save more with a plan from a budget MVNO carrier, such as Mint Mobile or US Mobile, and just pay for the streaming service you want,” he adds.

I love the library and get most of my books there. However, you may not know that your library card can score you free streaming services.

No, you won’t get Netflix or Hulu, but the library includes wonderful options, such as Kanopy and hoopla:

• Kanopy, which includes Kanopy Kids, includes thousands of critically acclaimed movies, plus educational programming your little ones won’t hate
• hoopla features popular movies and TV shows, plus fun add-ons like comic books, music, and audiobooks

Not every library system offers both hoopla and Kanopy. Check your branch to see which streaming services they offer.