Hulu Live TV Free Trial: Sign Up For 30 Days Free in September 2025

Only select plans offer free trials, but they're worth checking out before you commit to the service.
Updated
Couple sits and watches TV.

For years, Hulu has held a unique spot in the streaming world, offering everything from next-day episodes of your favorite network shows to award-winning originals. But with so many streaming options out there, committing to another monthly bill can feel like a big step. That's where a free trial comes in, giving you a risk-free chance to dive in and see if Hulu's bundled library is a good fit for your watch list.

And right now, there's even more reason to take it for a test drive. You've likely heard the big news that Disney plans to phase out the standalone Hulu app in 2026, folding the entire experience into Disney Plus. While that sounds like a massive shift, the key thing for deal-seekers to know is that nothing is changing overnight. For the time being, Hulu is still the service you know, and its valuable free trials are still very much available.

This guide is your map for navigating every free offer Hulu has on the table. We'll break down the different trials, show you how to sign up, and even uncover some hidden perks you might not know about. Let's get you streaming for free.

Top Hulu Free Trials

Hulu With Ads Streaming Subscription

30-day free trial

Get 30 days to explore exclusive series, hit movies, Originals, kids' shows, and more with this 2025 Hulu free trial offer. If you decide you don't want to keep the party going, be sure to cancel before your month-long trial is up; otherwise, you'll be charged $9.99 per month.

Hulu + Live TV Ad-Supported Streaming Subscription

Free 3-Day Trial

Give the Hulu + Live TV streaming service a try and check out everything it has to offer for three days; since the trial period is so short, it's best to plan your trial wisely to get the most out of it. You'll get Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ all with ads, plus unlimited DVR, among other perks. Once your three day trial is done, you'll be charged at the then-current rate of $82.99 per month for the service, so if you aren't sold on it, be sure to cancel before you're charged.

Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Subscription at Verizon

Free w/ mobile & internet bundle

You'll have to bundle qualifying mobile and internet plans to get this 2025 deal, but once you do, you'll save $15 per month on the services and also get the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle with ads at no additional cost.

Hulu w/ Ads Subscription at T-Mobile

Free w/ Experience Beyond plan

Join T-Mobile and sign up for the Experience Beyond plan to get a ton of great perks, including Hulu with Ads for no additional cost. Enjoy next-day TV, original series, hit shows, movies, and more with Hulu just for being a T-Mobile Experience Beyond customer. Customers on any Experience Beyond plan are eligible, as are those on Go5G Next plans including those using military, 55, or first responders plans.

Disney+, Hulu Bundle with Ads

$10.99/mo.

Get the best of Hulu and Disney+ with this 2025 bundle. You'll save 44% over subscribing to the two services separately and can conveniently watch select Hulu content in the Disney+ app.

Disney+, Hulu Bundle Ad-Free

$19.99/mo.

If you just can't bear to have ads, opt for this Disney+ and Hulu 2025 bundle! You'll be charged $19.99 per month, but that's still a savings of 42% over buying each of these services separately. You'll be able to enjoy select Hulu content in the Disney+ app and also be able to download content to watch offline. Note that ads will be served in select live and linear content, but overall it'll still be far less than the ad-supported tier.

Disney+ Hulu ESPN Select Subscriptions

From $16.99/mo.

Sign up for the Disney+ Hulu ESPN bundle and get premium entertainment plus access to sports via ESPN. Prices start at just $16.99 per month and you'll be able watch everything Hulu and Disney+ have to offer plus ESPN+ content with ESPN Select.

Disney+ Hulu ESPN Unlimited Subscriptions

From $29.99/mo.

Get premium content plus sports viewing with this bundle of services including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited. Prices start at just $29.99 per month right now, so take advantage of this new bundle while you can.

Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle w/ Ads

$16.99/month

Stream all your favorites from Disney+, Hulu, and Max for just $16.99 per month - as long as you don't mind ads, this is a great deal and provides a $13 savings each month over buying each service separately.

Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle Ad-Free

$29.99/month

If you can't stand ads in your premium content, this shiny bundle is for you! You'll get Max, Hulu, and Disney+, all without ads, for $29.99 per month. That means a savings of $22 per month compared to getting each service ad-free separately.

Hulu Student Discount Deal

$1.99 / mo.

Students get 75% off the monthly price of the Hulu (With Ads) plan in 2025 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.

Does Hulu Offer a Free Trial This September?

Good news for anyone looking to try before they buy: Hulu absolutely still offers a free trial. But it's not a one-size-fits-all deal. The trial you can get depends on the type of service you want to test drive. This is your chance to explore Hulu's massive library of movies, shows, and originals without spending a dime upfront.

Currently, you can snag a generous 30-day trial for the standard (ad-supported) on-demand plan, or you can opt for a shorter 3-day trial of the full Hulu Plus Live TV package. It's worth noting that not all plans are eligible. You typically won't find a trial for the ad-free plan or for most of the standalone bundle deals, so you'll have to commit from day one for those.

The 30-Day Hulu (With Ads) Free Trial

This is the classic, most popular trial offer from Hulu, and for good reason. It gives new and eligible returning customers an entire month to explore the Hulu (With Ads) plan for free. This means you get full access to the vast on-demand library. You can catch up on current seasons of shows from networks like ABC and FX the day after they air, or binge-watch acclaimed Hulu Originals like The Bear and Only Murders in the Building.

A full month is plenty of time to decide if the service is a keeper. If you choose to continue, the plan will automatically renew at its current price of $9.99 per month once the trial ends.

The 3-Day Hulu Plus Live TV (With Ads) Free Trial

If you're seriously considering cutting the cord with your cable company, this is the trial for you. While it's much shorter at only three days, it's an all-access pass to test-drive Hulu's most comprehensive package. When you sign up, you aren't just getting the Hulu library. You're also getting over 95 live TV channels, plus full access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, since the Disney Bundle is included. You also get an Unlimited DVR to record games and shows.

Because the trial is so brief, our advice is to activate it right before a weekend to give yourself the maximum time to explore everything. After the three days are up, the service continues at its regular rate of $82.99 per month.

How to Sign Up for a Hulu Free Trial

Ready to start streaming? Getting your Hulu free trial is a quick and simple process that only takes a few minutes. The key is knowing exactly where to click to make sure you get the trial you want. We'll walk you through it step-by-step. Just remember that you'll need to provide a payment method upfront, but don't worry—you won't be charged a thing until your trial period is over.

Here's a simple guide to unlocking your free trial:

  • First, head over to the main Hulu website on your computer or mobile browser. The homepage often highlights big bundles or the Hulu Plus Live TV plan.
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  • Next, you'll be prompted to create an account by entering your email, a password, and some personal info. This will also create your MyDisney login, which you can use for other Disney services.
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  • If you're interested in the Hulu Plus Live TV trial, simply follow the prompts. To find the standard on-demand trial, scroll down and look for the option that says "Sign Up for Hulu Only." On the plan selection page, choose the Hulu (With Ads) plan, which unlocks the 30-day free trial.
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  • Enter your credit card or PayPal information. You should see a confirmation that your trial is active and that you won't be billed until a specific date.

That's it! Click submit to complete the process and start exploring everything Hulu has to offer. The process is very straightforward, but it's designed to guide you toward certain plans. If you're interested in the 3-day Hulu Plus Live TV trial, you will typically see that offer more prominently displayed on the main sign-up page.

No matter which trial you choose, here's our number one pro-tip for any deal-seeker: set a calendar reminder on your phone for a day or two before your trial expires. This will give you plenty of time to cancel if you decide the service isn't for you, ensuring you don't get charged.

Other Ways to Get Hulu for Free

The official Hulu website isn't the only place to hunt for a deal. For savvy shoppers, some of the best offers are actually hidden gems tucked away as perks with other services you might already use. Certain mobile carriers and even music streaming platforms have partnerships that can land you a Hulu subscription for free or at a massive discount.

These deals are a fantastic alternative to the standard trial, with some offering long-term access that saves you money month after month. It's always worth checking to see if you have one of these benefits waiting to be claimed. Here are the best partner offers available right now.

The Unbeatable Spotify Student Deal

This might just be the single best value in all of streaming. Through a long-standing partnership, eligible college students can bundle a full Spotify Premium subscription with the Hulu (With Ads) plan for an incredibly low price of just $5.99 a month for both. You'll have to verify your student status through SheerID, but when you consider the services would cost around $17 a month separately, the savings are massive.

Get Hulu on Us With T-Mobile

This is one of the best ongoing streaming perks out there. T-Mobile includes a standard Hulu (With Ads) subscription at no extra cost for customers on some of its top-tier plans. If you have the Go5G Next or an Experience Beyond mobile plan, this benefit is included. It's not a limited-time trial; you get to keep the subscription for as long as you have your qualifying T-Mobile plan in good standing.

Score a Major Discount With Verizon

While not a complete freebie, the deal for Verizon customers is too good to ignore. If you have an eligible Verizon Unlimited plan, you can add the Disney Bundle as a perk for just $10 a month. This bundle gets you Hulu (With Ads), Disney Plus (With Ads), and ESPN. Considering the bundle costs significantly more on its own, this perk offers huge monthly savings and is a no-brainer if you're a Verizon customer.

Other Things to Know About Hulu Free Trials in 2025

Getting your free trial is the easy part. To truly make the most of it like a pro, it helps to know the fine print. Understanding the rules around cancellations, eligibility, and what happens when your trial ends is key to making sure you have a great experience and don't get hit with an unexpected bill.

We've gathered the most common questions our readers have about Hulu free trials. Think of this as your guide to becoming a streaming expert, with all the answers you need to navigate your trial with confidence.

What Does the Disney Plus Merger Mean for My Hulu Trial?

For now, nothing changes. The free trials we've described are for the current, standalone Hulu service. The full integration into a single "unified" Disney Plus app isn't expected to be complete until 2026. Taking a free trial now is a great way to experience the Hulu library as it exists today before the big merger reshapes the platform.

Will I Still be Able to Get Just Hulu After the 2026 Merge?

According to Disney, yes. While the goal is to create a unified app, the company has stated that customers will still have the option to subscribe to Hulu content as a standalone service. This would likely mean you could pay to unlock just the "Hulu tile" within the main Disney Plus app, but the exact pricing and mechanics have not yet been announced.

What Happens When My Free Trial Ends?

This is the most important thing to know: your free trial will automatically convert into a paid subscription. The credit card or payment method you put on file when you signed up will be charged the regular monthly rate for the plan you chose. Hulu doesn't typically send a reminder that your trial is about to end, so it's on you to keep track.

Can I Cancel My Trial Before I'm Charged?

Yes, and you absolutely should if you don't plan to keep the service. You can cancel your subscription at any time during the trial period without being charged. Simply log in to your account on the Hulu website, navigate to your Account page, and look for the "Cancel" option. Just follow the on-screen steps to confirm.

Who is Eligible for a Hulu Free Trial?

Hulu's free trials are designed for new subscribers and "eligible returning" customers. Generally, this means you haven't had a Hulu subscription in the past month. Hulu uses information like your email address, device ID, and payment method to determine eligibility, so creating a new account with a different email might not work if you've been a subscriber recently.

What Can I Actually Watch With a Free Trial?

You get the full experience of whatever plan you are trying. For the 30-day trial, that's the entire Hulu (With Ads) on-demand library. For the 3-day trial, you get all of that plus over 95 live channels, the complete Disney Plus and ESPN libraries, and the Unlimited DVR. There are no content restrictions during your trial period.

When is the Best Time to Get a Deal on Hulu?

Hands down, the best and most predictable time to score a fantastic deal is during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season. Almost every year, Hulu offers its best promotion during this late-November period, often dropping the price of the Hulu (With Ads) plan to just a dollar or two per month for a full year.

Can I Download Shows to Watch Offline With a Free Trial?

No. The ability to download content for offline viewing is a key perk of the premium Hulu (No Ads) plan. Since the free trials are only offered for the ad-supported plans, you will need an active internet connection to stream during your trial.

How Do Hulu's Free Trials Compare to Competitors?

In the ever-shifting world of streaming, the free trial has become something of a rare species. Not long ago, nearly every service would let you take a week-long test drive, but those days are largely over. This is what makes Hulu's current offer stand out so dramatically. While many of its biggest rivals have ditched free trials entirely in favor of other promotions, Hulu continues to provide one of the most generous try-before-you-buy periods on the market. To give you a clear picture of how things stack up, we've put together a quick comparison of the top streaming services.

Service

Free Trial?

Typical Offer Details

Hulu

Yes

30-day trial for the ad-supported plan; 3-day trial for Hulu Plus Live TV.

Netflix

No

Free trials are not offered. Savings come from carrier bundles or other partner deals.

Disney Plus

No

Standalone free trials are not available. Can be sampled during a Hulu Plus Live TV trial.

Max

No

A 7-day trial may be available as an add-on via Hulu or Amazon Prime Video.

Amazon Prime Video

Yes

A 30-day trial is included with a Prime membership; students get a 6-month trial.

Apple TV Plus

Yes

7-day trial. A longer period (usually 3 months) is often included with a new Apple device.

YouTube TV

Yes

Trial length varies, often between 7 and 14 days, with a discount for the first few months.

Paramount Plus

Yes

Typically offers a 7-day free trial for new subscribers to either of its plans.

Peacock

No

Does not offer a standard free trial but does have a free tier with limited content and ads.

As you can see, a full 30-day trial like Hulu's is a true outlier in today's streaming landscape. Most services that still offer a trial stick to a much shorter 7-day window. The major players like ESPN, Netflix and Disney Plus have moved on completely, focusing instead on getting you into their ecosystem through bundles or discounted plans. This makes the Hulu free trial an especially valuable opportunity for deal-seekers who want to thoroughly explore a service before committing any cash.

What Happens if I Try to Change My Plan During the Free Trial?

Be careful with this one. If you try to switch plans during your free trial — for example, upgrading from Hulu (With Ads) to Hulu (No Ads) — your free trial will most likely end immediately, and you'll be charged the full price for the new plan. It's best to stick with the plan you chose for the duration of the trial to avoid any surprise charges.

How Many People Can Watch at the Same Time During a Free Trial?

During the trial, you get the same features as a paid subscriber. All standard Hulu plans allow you to stream on two different devices simultaneously. This is perfect for households where one person wants to watch a movie while another catches up on a TV show. You can also set up to six different user profiles to keep everyone's watch history and recommendations separate.

How Do I Cancel My Hulu Subscription?

Canceling your Hulu subscription is refreshingly straightforward, as long as you signed up directly on the Hulu website. To do so, just log in to your account on a computer or mobile browser and navigate to your main Account page. Under your subscription details, you'll find the option to cancel. Hulu will guide you through a couple of confirmation screens, and you're all set. The best part is that you can typically continue watching until the end of your trial or current billing period, so there's no penalty for canceling early.

Now, this is the part that often trips people up. If you got your Hulu subscription through a third party, you must cancel through that same service. Whether you subscribed through Roku, the Apple App Store, Spotify, or your mobile provider like T-Mobile or Verizon, that company is the one that handles your billing. This means you'll need to go into your Roku channel subscriptions, manage subscriptions in your iPhone's settings, or log in to your carrier's website to end the service. Trying to cancel on Hulu.com won't work in this case, so always check who sends you the bill.

What to Watch on Hulu This Year

So, you've activated your free trial and you're ready to stream. The big question is: where do you even begin? Hulu's library is massive, but it's best known for its powerhouse lineup of current TV and exclusive originals. You can dive into the critically acclaimed chaos of the restaurant world in The Bear, solve a new mystery with the star-studded cast of Only Murders in the Building, or get swept up in the epic scale of Shōgun. Plus, as the streaming home for networks like ABC and FX, you can catch up on hit shows like Abbott Elementary the day after they air, making it essential for anyone who wants to stay in the loop without a cable subscription.

Looking ahead, the rest of 2025 and into 2026 is shaping up to be just as exciting. While official premiere dates are often kept under wraps, fans can expect the eventual return of Hulu's biggest hits for new seasons. Hulu also remains the go-to spot for everything from FX, meaning more prestige dramas and edgy comedies are always on the horizon. As the 2026 merger with Disney Plus gets closer, expect Hulu to fully embrace its role as the platform for compelling, adult-focused entertainment, making it the premier destination for the kind of stories you won't find anywhere else.

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The Roundups Team
Editors

An amalgamation of the roundup writers into a singular roundup-creating organism of questionable biological validity. From many, one. (One idiot.) Come for the convenient consolidation of deals, stay for the rapid descent into absolute nonsense.
DealNews may be compensated by companies mentioned in this article. Please note that, although prices sometimes fluctuate or expire unexpectedly, all products and deals mentioned in this feature were available at the lowest total price we could find at the time of publication (unless otherwise specified).

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