Multiple streaming services are offering free content options right now, providing a wealth of free-to-watch TV shows and movies on a temporary basis. Below, we've rounded up all of the watch-free deals that we've found so far, and this is a great list to check out if you need something to do this weekend.
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Apple TV+
Many people who have purchased a new Apple product lately already have a complimentary one-year subscription to Apple TV+, but for those that don't, Apple is offering several Apple TV+ shows for free, with content available through the TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung and LG smart TVs, and Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices.
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Shows and movies that are free are listed below:
- Dickinson
- Ghostwriter
- Helpsters
- For All Mankind
- Servant
- Snoopy in Space
- The Elephant Queen
- Little America
This is approximately a third of the content on Apple TV+, and it excludes some of the most popular shows like "The Morning Show." No subscription is required, but you will need to sign in with an Apple ID.
HBO
HBO is offering free access to many of its original TV shows, movies, and documentaries, with the content available sans subscription through the month of April using the HBO Go and HBO Now apps on iOS and Android.
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Some of the free shows include "Barry," "Big Little Lies," "Silicon Valley," "Veep," "True Blood," and "The Wire," while free movies include "Small Foot," "The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part," "Pokémon Detective Pikachu," and more. A full list along with instructions is available on HBO's website.
Free content from HBO is limited to those in the United States.
AMC Networks
AMC is offering free content that includes the first half of "The Walking Dead" season 10, along with BBC nature documentaries, Sundance movies, and free IFC programming like "Brockmire" and "Mystery Science Theater 3000."
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Free EPIX via Apple TV Channels
EPIX, a streaming service that offers a catalog of movies and TV shows, is currently free for those who access the service through the Apple TV Channels feature in the Apple TV app.
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To get to the free content, open up the Apple TV app, choose "My Channels" and then select EPIX. EPIX will be free until May 3. The TV app is available on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung and LG smart TVs, and Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices.
Showtime
Showtime is offering a one-month free trial, which will give people ample time to test out the service and watch some free TV shows and movies. It costs $10.99 per month after the one month trial, so make sure you set a reminder to cancel if you don't want to subscribe.
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You can sign up on the web or on platforms like the Apple TV using the TV app's Showtime Channel feature.
CBS All Access
CBS's All Access service is available for free for a one month trial period before the $5.99 to $9.99 per month fee kicks in. It offers access to all CBS television as well as live TV.
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You can sign up for a free month of CBS All Access using the TV app's CBS All Access Channel feature.
As with all subscription-based free trials, make sure to set a reminder to cancel so you don't accidentally get charged if this isn't a service you want to keep long term.
YouTube Originals
YouTube has made several of its original series available for free, with a list available through Google.
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PBS Kids
For the time being, PBS Kids has updated its iOS app to remove the requirement that people create a login to watch content, so kids can watch through the app with no hassle. PBS Kids content is free.
Amazon Prime Now
Amazon is offering free access to some kids movies and TV shows without a Prime subscription, in an effort to keep children entertained. Several movies and TV shows are available through IMDB TV, an Amazon-owned service that offers ad-supported content.
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Amazon Prime Video can also be accessed through a free one-month trial of Amazon Prime for those who have not yet had a subscription.
Sling Free
Sling TV is providing free SLING content through its apps and through the Sling TV website. Free content includes "Hell's Kitchen," "A Quiet Place," "The Cabin in the Woods," "Rick and Morty," and more. No login or credit card is required to access content through Sling Free.
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Hulu
For those who haven't previously signed up for a free trial, Hulu offers 30 days to try out the service. Hulu also allows free trial periods for some eligible returning subscribers. Pricing starts at $5.99 per month after the free trial for the ad-supported service.
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Netflix
For those who haven't previously signed up for a free trial, Netflix offers 30 days to try out the service. Pricing starts at $8.99 per month after the free trial.
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Quibi
Brand new short form streaming service Quibi is currently offering customers a 90-day free trial to test out the content. After the trial, Quibi costs $4.99 per month.
Other Services Offering One-Month Free Trials
Below, we've listed some other smaller streaming services that have free 30-day trial deals going on right now through the Apple TV Channels feature on the Apple TV. Some of these free trials are limited to the Channels feature, though others are also available on the websites for each service.
- A&E Crime Central
- Acorn TV (Use promo code FREE30 on website)
- Arrow Video Channel
- History Vault
- Lifetime Movie Club
- Noggin
- PBS Living
- Shudder (Use code SHUTIN on website)
- Smithsonian Plus
- Sundance Now (Use code SUNDANCENOW30 on website)
- Urban Movie Channel (Use code UMCFREE30 on website)
Subscription Services Suggested by MacRumors Readers
MacRumors readers have emailed us with many other useful suggestions for extended trials and free content, some of which is streaming television and some of which falls into other categories. We've added a list below, and it's well worth checking out if you're looking for something new to explore.
- HiDive for Anime - One month free trial
- VRV for anime and cartoons - One month free trial
- Digital Concert Hall - One month free trial for classical music and livestreams from the Berlin Philharmonic
- Metropolitan Opera - Free replays via the mobile app
- Pluto TV - Free ad-supported TV shows and movies
- Tubi - Free ad-supported TV shows and movies
Guide Feedback
Know of a streaming service offering an extended free trial or free content that we left out? Send us an email here and we'll add it.
Top Rated Comments
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That and tubitv.com I just watched the Alfred Hitchcock movie Dial M For Murder on Tubi and it was only broken up with about four sixty second commercials. No need for paid subscriptions if you are ok with watching older shows.One of my favorites is PlutoTV ('https://pluto.tv/live-tv/pluto-tv-lives?utm_medium=Search&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=UAcom_2020_March_April_PlutoTV_Drop-In&utm_content=Brand') and it's always free :).
I know full well that I'll probably sound like a paid shill, but I'll risk it.I watched the first (free) episode of Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet. The good news is it wasn't quite as bad as I was expecting based on the trailer. The bad news is, it wasn't that great and not compelling enough for me to sign up for Apple TV +. The first episode of See didn't impress me that much either.
I want to like Apple content but right now it's just not there for me, I think it's going to take a couple years.
I'm lucky enough to have a full subscription for aTV+ and while there is a dearth of programming, what little they do have is excellent.
I enjoyed Mythic Quest very much, even though I thought it was gonna suck bad.
Morning Show, [s]For All Mankind[/s], Amazing Stories, and Home Before Dark were all top notch. Unfortunately, none of them are a part of this free promotion. I would bet if you watched the first episode of any of these series', you'd be hooked. Especially For All Mankind.
EDIT - noelmel pointed out that For All Mankind is part of the free preview.
I just signed up for the trial and it most certainly did let me choose commercial free. After-all, what you sign up for during the trial is what they (optimistically) hope they will be billing you for after the trial. If they forced everyone to the cheaper plan for the trial, they wouldn't get any higher-tier new-adds.CBS All Access does NOT let you choose between limited commercial or commercial free for the free trial (like Hulu). The one month free trial is Limited Commercial. If you select Commercial Free, they immediately charge your credit card 9.95 without any caution or warning, terminating the free trial. Totally deceitful.
Thanks. I picked the no ads option (9.99/month), and got the 30 day trial. I then went back and added ENJOY as a promo code and my trial was instantly extended for another 30 days. Currently enjoying Tommy! Thanks again.The CBS one lets you pick. Not sure about Hulu as I’m already subscribed.
Also I’ve read on other sites once you do the cbs month free trial you go into your account enter a code “ENJOY” and it extends for another month so 2 months free. Plan to try myself soon and I’ll report back if it works