Sad news, gang: the Hulu free trial is no more as of June 15, 2026. Hulu's subscription-based free trial was introduced alongside the launch of Hulu Plus on June 29, 2010, meaning we've enjoyed 16 years of a 30-day pass... until now.
While the Hulu standalone will continue to be offered, the streamer hasn't given an official reason as to why the trial is being brought to a close. However, there are still deals to be found.
Whether you're looking to binge an old favorite or want to watch one of the many new Hulu movies added to the platform every month, we have the details on what deals you need to be looking out for, so you can stop thinking and start streaming.
We’ll also talk you through the cheapest way to sign up for an account as well, so you can pick the right plan for you.
Hulu free trial — are there any third party deals?
If you're in the market for a new phone contract, T-Mobile offers Hulu (with ads) for a whole year with any of its Experience Beyond and Go5G Next plans. A Hulu subscription is automatically added to your plan as an added benefit.
There's also the option of signing up to one of Verizon's 5G mobile plans. If you've got a 'GetMore or PlayMore' account, then you'll be eligible to get the Hulu (with ads), Disney+ Premium (without ads) and ESPN Select (with ads) bundle at no extra charge.
Eligible college and university students can also sign up for Spotify Premium for Students where you can get Hulu (with ads) for a 50% reduced rate. Spotify Premium for Students is free for one month, then it's just $5.99 a month after that.
What is the cheapest way to get Hulu?
There are two main Hulu plans if you're looking to get a subscription. You can either get Hulu's most popular 'With Ads' plan for $11.99 a month or its more expensive 'No Ads' plan for $18.99 a month – if those prices seem different to you, it's because there was a price hike on October 17, 2025 (Disney had also raised prices at the exact same time of year in 2024).
However, if you're after greater value for money, then signing up for one of the many bundles can be much more cost effective than getting separate subscriptions. The most popular is by far the Hulu and Disney+ bundle mentioned above, but there's also the Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN Unlimited package that gets you access to three streaming platforms, all with extensive libraries, for a really great price of $35.99 a month.
If you're looking for more Hulu bargains, check out our pick of the best streaming deals. However, if you can wait till Black Friday rolls around in November, then it is often the best time of year to get a discounted Hulu subscription – make sure to check our Black Friday Hulu deals guide closer to the time.
Other Hulu FAQs
What other Hulu sign-up offers are available?
You can enjoy 3-days by either signing up to the Hulu + Live TV base plan or bundle with Disney+ and ESPN Select.
If you don't want live TV but do want Hulu bundled in with the other two streaming services, then another one of the best streaming deals around is the Hulu and Disney+ bundle, which is currently discounted by 58% to just $9.99 a month.
How has the Hulu price changed over time?
Compared to rivals, Hulu has seen one of the steepest climbs in cost since launching, making it one of the most expensive streaming services to choose from at the time of writing.
While it originally launched at $9.99 a month, it surprisingly, very quickly lowered that price to $7.99, which it stayed at for many years. In fact, Hulu lowered its prices again in 2019, making it the only streamer to have actually decreased costs. That has since changed, with Hulu prices rising sharply since 2024.
It's been a similar story for Hulu's ad-free plan, which has steadily increased after its 2015 introduction. However, Hulu's Live TV plan has seen the biggest and fastest jump in prices by far; more than doubling from $39.99 in 2017 to $88.99 in 2025. Take a look at the historical prices for Hulu below.
What can I watch with on Hulu?
Promising "all the TV you love" (and you can see what we think about that in our Hulu review) it has an extensive library filled with incredible TV shows and movies.
It's home to some of the best Hulu Originals like Only Murders in the Building, Shōgun, The Handmaid's Tale, The Bear and The Dropout, as well as hit series like Abbott Elementary. There's plenty of kids shows and movies too, including How to Train Your Dragon and The Tom and Jerry Show.
Blitz through boxset after boxset with much-loved shows like The Mindy Project, Drake and Josh, and America's Next Top Model. Hulu is also home to FX, with over 40 horror titles like American Horror Story, as well as hit shows such as Sons of Anarchy, and Fargo.
For documentary lovers, watch environmentalist Greta Thunberg in I Am Greta, or find out more about the origins of The Handmaid's Tale with Margaret Atwood: A Word After a Word After a Word is Power. You can even watch 2020's Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Parasite, right here with the Hulu and Max bundle.
