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

Hulu is a veteran streaming service at this point. But that doesn't mean new users are ready to jump in without first trying it.

Hulu debuted to the public in early 2008, less than a year after Netflix began enabling customers to watch shows and movies online instead of waiting for a DVD to arrive. That makes Hulu more than 10 years older than Disney Plus, MAX, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, and Peacock.

For those looking to explore Hulu's vast library of TV shows, movies, and original content without committing to a subscription, the platform offers a free trial as a great way to test the waters. Whether you're interested in catching up on hit series, streaming classic films, or diving into Hulu Originals, a free trial lets you experience the service before deciding if it's right for you.

Disclaimer: As of February 2025, Hulu shared that a few select programs in its "no ads" plans may now include ads, especially for certain types of content. Review their current ad terms to learn more.

Top Hulu Discounts

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.

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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.

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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.

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Disney+, Hulu Bundle Subscription

From $10.99

Curious about all the content you can stream with Hulu and Disney+? Bundle the two services together to save up to 44% compared to subscribing separately. Stream all your favorites with this 2025 deal, whether you prefer the latest dramas, highly-rated original series, or any other genre. Opt for the ad-supported bundle at $10.99 per month for a more affordable price, but you can also spring for ad-free streaming for just $19.99 per month.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Hulu + Live TV Ad-Free Streaming Subscription

$95.99/mo.

Get access to more than 95 live TV channels as well as ad-free Hulu and Disney+ with this bundle. You'll also have access to ESPN+, but unfortunately it comes with ads, so you won't get everything ad-free. You also won't get a three-day trial with this plan, unlike the ad-supported one, so you'll need to commit to at least a month of the service at this price to try it out. The good news is you'll get plenty of perks to explore and cancellation is easy, so if you aren't sold after a month, you can drop your subscription without any hassle.

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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.

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