Netflix ends free one-month trial, but there’s still a way to watch free stuff

By Trevor Mogg Published October 29, 2020

Netflix has ended its offer of a free trial of its service for customers in the U.S.

The free trial gave people 30 days’ access to the company’s huge library of streaming video content, but for reasons we’re yet to establish, Netflix has decided to do away with the offer.

Recommended Videos

On a support page on its website with the title “Netflix free trial,” a message now reads: “Free trials are not available, but you can still sign up and take advantage of all Netflix has to offer. There are no contracts, no cancellation fees, and no commitments. You have the freedom to change your plan or cancel online at any time if you decide Netflix isn’t for you.”

Curiously, the information makes no reference to Netflix’s recently launched promotion that lets you watch a small selection of its online content for free, without having to sign up or register. The offerings currently include a number of movies, as well as the first episode of popular shows such as Stranger Things. The content can be viewed on computer or Android browser, though not via its mobile apps or a browser on an iPhone.

Free content is great, but it doesn’t give potential subscribers any idea of the amount and kind of content that Netflix has to offer. In that case, if you’re keen to take the service for a spin to find out more, you can try it for one month at a cost of $8.99. If you’re not happy with it, you can simply cancel at the end of the month without any penalty payment.

Netflix may have ditched its free trial, but similar services are continuing to offer one. Hulu, for example, offers a month of free viewing, while a monthlong trial subscription with Amazon Prime gives you access to its library of movies and TV shows. Apple TV+ currently offers a free 7-day trial (you get a year for free if you buy an Apple product), while Showtime offers 30 days for free.

Disney+ offered a free 7-day trial in its early days, but it has since ended the offer.

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Topics

Entertainment

5 underrated movies on Netflix you need to watch in February 2025

Ryan Reynolds cuddles up next to his young daughter.

This February, television dominates the upcoming Netflix slate. After Back in Action found a home in the Netflix top 10 last month, the streamer turns its attention toward TV in the next few weeks. Before she plays Abby in The Last of Us season 2, Kaitlyn Dever headlines the brand-new series Apple Cider Vinegar. Elsewhere, the final season of Cobra Kai arrives on February 13, while Robert De Niro's Zero Day streams on February 20.
While TV might be the focus this month, Netflix continues to have one of the best vaults on the streaming market. With the addition of Warner Bros. and Paramount movies, the Netflix library is packed with underrated gems that need attention. Our movie picks for February include an emotional music documentary, a delightful rom-com, and a charming kids' adventure.

We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Avicii – I'm Tim (2024)
Avicii – I'm Tim | Official Trailer | Netflix
Tim Bergling was a shy kid from Sweden who eventually became one of the world's biggest DJs. You probably know him better by his stage name, Avicii. After entering the music space as a teenager, Avicii strapped himself on a rocket to superstardom with 2011's Levels. After that song, Avicii's life changed, for better or for worse.
Avicii — I'm Tim goes behind the scenes into the life of Tim first and foremost. From his humble beginnings to his tragic death, Avicii became one of the defining artists of his generation. The emotional documentary features interviews with friends, family, and colleagues, as they try to answer one question: Who was Tim Bergling?

Entertainment

Stop! And watch these 3 great movies leaving Netflix by February 1

Three teens stand in front of a fire in Project X.

Netflix started January off strong with the new movie Back in Action, an action comedy starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz. Back in Action has been a resounding hit, registering the biggest Netflix premiere weekend since The Adam Project. While Back in Action will remain in the service, several notable movies will leave by February 1.
The list of movies leaving Netflix this month includes We're the Millers, Zero Dark Thirty, Dune, Despicable Me, and White House Down. The list continues below with three more movies: an action comedy, a high school party feature, and a sci-fi thriller.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
22 Jump Street (2014)

First, they conquered prom. Now, it's time to dominate spring break. When we last saw Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) in 21 Jump Street, they were infiltrating a high school drug ring. Two years later, the pair are asked to go undercover again. Instead of high school, the boys are heading to college in 22 Jump Street.
The unlikely pairing is looking for the supplier of a synthetic drug that killed a student. Jenko embraces his inner jock and joins the football team, while Schmidt enters the performing arts. A lot of the same humor used in 21 Jump Street is applied to 22 Jump Street. However, Hill and Tatum remain as charming as ever in this successful sequel.

Entertainment

5 movies leaving Netflix in January 2025 you have to watch now

Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty.

The start of the new year is starting to hit the rearview mirror. As we progress into January, Netflix will start to release more movies from its 2025 slate. One of the first major Netflix originals of 2025 is Back in Action, starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz. Released on January 17, Back in Action had the biggest premiere weekend for an English-language movie since 2022's The Adam Project.
Back in Action will remain on Netflix for a long time. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for these five movies, which are leaving at the end of the month. Schedule some time to watch some of these films before heading to a new streaming service or rental service. Our picks include a 2012 action comedy, a political thriller, and a hilarious spoof on teen movies.
We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
21 Jump Street (2012)

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum should not work as a comedic tandem on paper. However, the two actors form a hilarious tag team in 21 Jump Street, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's action comedy based on the 1987 TV show of the same name. In the early 2000s, high school students Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Greg Janko (Tatum) are complete opposites. Schmidt is a nerdy outcast, while Jenko is a popular jock.
Seven years later, the duo become unlikely friends while studying to become police officers. Their first assignment is to go undercover as high school students to infiltrate a drug ring and find the suppliers. This time, Schmidt fits in with the cool kids, while Janko bonds with the geeks. Yet the duo quickly realizes that high school isn't any easier the second time around.