What to watch with every streaming service free trial

As worldwide quarantine measures mitigate the spread of coronavirus, many of us are at home more than ever. But safety protocol surrounding the virus present new problems: Many have lost jobs and livelihood, and those lucky enough to still work still face pay cuts, furloughs, and unprecedented amounts of time to fill.

With so many people cutting costs and staying in, many streaming services have extended their free trials. The time might be ripe for those of us at home to start streaming — to try the service you were holding off on, the one you’ve never heard of, the one you canceled and wanted to restart with a new email address. 

For the sake of your sanity (and ours), we didn’t include entirely free streaming services like Crackle, Vudu, Tubi, or anything that streams live TV. We tried to keep to original programming and not to recommend 10-season dramas or other massive projects that will dominate a free trial period, but if that’s your jam, you have our blessing. 

(Free trial: 1 month)

If you aren’t already a subscriber or living happily with someone else’s login, Netflix’s free trial is a merciful month. That’s nowhere near enough time to piece through its now gargantuan library, but you can sample some essentials and come back with a paid subscription later.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
When They See Us
Stranger Things
Homecoming King
Sex Education
Big Mouth
Astronomy Club
The latest Big Thing – It seems like there’s always a new Netflix show or movie dominating discussions. Recently it was Tiger King, before that it was Love is Blind, and back in December it was YOU Season 2. You’ll know what this is because roughly everyone in your life will be talking about it and you’ll hit Play just to shut them up. Happy bingeing. 

Like Netflix, Hulu is an excellent source for full seasons of current TV shows, including many you’ve wanted to start, even if you can’t finish in a month. Its original programming includes award winners and critical darlings, so there’s plenty to explore.

(Free trial: 1 month)

Ramy
Killing Eve
Castle Rock
Harlots
Pen15
The Handmaid’s Tale
Letterkenny

If you haven’t had the chance to watch Amazon darlings like Fleabag or The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, you’re probably sick of hearing others sing their praises by now, so why wait! Start that trial and you’ll probably finish both within a week — and after that, well, we’ve still got a few recs.

(Free trial: 30 days)

Fleabag
Catastrophe
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Downton Abbey
The Big Sick
Good Omens

(Free trial: 7 days)

To incentivize people to stay indoors and keep safe from coronavirus, HBO announced that many of its most popular programs, including The Sopranos, Veep, and Barry, would stream for free on HBO Now and HBO Go without a paid subscription.

But if you’re still willing to sign up for a paid account, the free trial lasts a week, and that’s enough time to dip into some of its latest originals and whet your appetite for more.

Watchmen
Avenue 5
Chernobyl

(Free trial: 7 days)

If you have kids, our recommendations will not matter against theirs. But if they’re amenable (and you are too), we recommend picking something from each of Disney+’s critical categories: Star Wars, Marvel, classic films, and Disney Channel Originals.

The Mandalorian
Avengers: Endgame
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century
Mulan
Forky Asks a Question

(Free trial: 30 days)

30 days is enough time to stream all of Homeland, but that’s a heavy task. If you’re going to try it, at least take breaks for other shows, and maybe you’ll get hooked on one of these instead.

Kidding
Homeland
Escape at Dannemora
Desus and Mero
Hustlers
The Chi

(Free trial: 7 days)

As with Showtime, we can’t healthily recommend bingeing all of Outlander in a week, but we can’t deter you from trying. For less episodes but still a solid viewing experience, we have other suggestions.

Vida
Party Down
Survivors Remorse

(Free trial: 7 days)

Like Netflix or Hulu, Cinemax’s movie library sometimes feels utterly chaotic in its offerings (which is only amplified when they sometimes don’t appear alphabetically). 

Crazy Rich Asians
C.B. Strike


The Meg

(Free trial: 7 days)

Apple’s grand streaming experiment made the bold decision to offer nothing but original programming, but there’a already enough on there to keep you occupied well beyond a weeklong trial.

Little America
The Morning Show
Visible

(Free trial: 7 days)

Craving some programming from across the pond but tired of rewatching Sherlock and Downton Abbey? Britbox has an exhaustive library of British television dating back to early seasons of Doctor Who from before you were born. That’s a lot to take in in a week, but browse the offerings for more legendary British TV, docudramas, and comedy legends.

A Bit of Fry and Laurie
Meghan and Harry: A Revolutionary Romance
Fawlty Towers
Mary Berry’s Absolute Favorites
Mr. Bean

(Free trial: 30 days)

This streamer is an essential destination for small- and big-screen indie darlings, with dozens of original series you’ve never seen but will soon be urging your friends to watch, too.

A Discovery of Witches
McMafia
Next of Kin
The Restaurant
Killing for Love

So you used up your Britbox trial, maybe even bought a subscription, but you want to be up-do-date on the best new British television — try Acorns. What better way to connect with those U.K. pen pals you now video chat with once a week?

(Free trial: 7 days)

Ackley Bridge
Delicious
MIdsomer Murders
The Boy with the Topknot

(Free trial: 60 days)

It might not be the buzziest streaming service, but CBS All Access has been steadily producing a manageable amount of content for years now without overwhelming or disappointing the average viewer. That kind of dependability is special these days, and with a two-month free trial you can finally give the streamer the attention it deserves.

Star Trek: Picard
Why Women Kill
Star Trek: Discovery
The Good Fight

(Free trial: 14 days)

There is truly no way of fulfilling one’s lifelong aspiration of being a noted ~cinephile~ than by finding more time to watch films. Two weeks isn’t limitless time, but if it’s freer than normal for you during quarantine, the Criterion Collection is essential. Browse literally thousands of international and acclaimed films and become the smartest and most insufferable movie buff at your first post-quarantine party.

The Fits
Rashomon
The Red Balloon
On the Waterfront
Pather Panchali
The Thin Blue Line
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

(Free trial: 30 days)

Like others on this list, Epix is accessible as an add on to existing streamers or as a standalone app full of films and original series. Come for a killer movie selection, stay for Batman’s horny butler.

Belgravia
Annihilation
The Cabin in the Woods
Pennyworth
A Quiet Place
Rocketman
A Simple Favor
Fast Color

(Free trial: 7 days)

Horror fans can find plenty of good selections on services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and Prime Video — but if you’re looking for a niche, new fright there’s no place like Shudder. Tons of foreign language films and 20th century classics make this the perfect place to find something fresh to go bump in the night.

Audition
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Train to Busan
Mandy

(Free trial: 90 days)

Oh, buddy, that’s a whole list of its own.

Alison Foreman contributed to this article.