Live TV Free Trial – Best LiveTV Streaming Services 2026

January 13, 2026 By Nancy William No Comments 8 minutes

Nowadays, cord-cutting services have taken the lead from classic or traditional streaming services. More platforms have emerged, each giving you hours of streaming content. However, most users often look for premium services with free trials, especially where live TV channels matter. This guide highlights exactly that: the best streaming services with a live TV free trial. 

However, there are some users who can’t seem to decide which service they’d like to purchase, and here’s where you can use the free trial to find out. 

TIP – Not all live TV streaming services are available in every county, which can get frustrating if you’re traveling to another country. Plus, speed and bandwidth throttling do get in the way of a good streaming experience. To curb these issues, connect to the best VPN to change your IP address and to prevent other kinds of issues. 

Best Live TV Service With Free Trials 2026 – Quick List

Short on time? Here’s a list of the best streaming services with live TV free trials: 

• Fubo: 5-7 days free trial. 
• Hulu + Live TV: 3-day free trial only with the Hulu + Live TV (with ads)
• DirecTV – 5-day free trial.
• AMC+: 7-day free trial if you subscribe via the AMC+ website
• Paramount+: 7-day free trial.
• YouTube TV: 21-day free trial.

What are Live TV Streaming Services?

If you’re a fan of streaming, then live TV might take your experience to newer heights. Live TV streaming services let you watch TV channels in real time over the internet. It’s a little bit similar to cable or satellite TV, but without the lengthy contracts or extra hardware.

You can think of live TV channels as cable TV reinvented for today. So, instead of using a cable box or dish, you can use an app to watch on your smart TV, phone, tablet, or computer.

Why Do Streamers Prefer Live TV Streaming Services?

Here are a few core reasons why:

• Live and on-demand: You can access live news, sports, and other events, or choose from a collection of on-demand movies and shows.
• No special equipment: To set up, you only need a compatible streaming device, such as a Roku, Fire TV Stick, or smart TV, and the service’s app.
• Month-to-month flexibility: You can create your account and cancel it at any time. There are no long-term commitments needed.
• Pick the channels you need: You can choose from various plans that offer multiple channels, whether you’re into sports, family entertainment, or general viewing.

Best Legal Live TV Free Trial Streaming Services 2026

Now, we understand that most are looking for the best streaming services, but the most popular choices are ones that come with live TV channels. If you’re not sure which one you’d like to buy or settle for, there are some of the best that offer a live TV free trial. These include: 

1. Fubo

• Free trial – 5-7 days for new subscribers. Charged immediately after.
• Price – $48.99 per month for the Live TV plan

Fubo, previously called FuboTV, is a live TV streaming platform that was created as a flexible, internet-based alternative to traditional cable TV. The service gives you a wide lineup of channels.

Here, you get access to sports coverage, the news, and other kinds of entertainment, all without a long-term contract. It’s a favorite among sports fans for its strong selection of regional sports networks and live event coverage.

Fubo goes far beyond just live channels. It is also known for covering content from popular broadcast networks, many cable favorites, on-demand libraries, and handy features such as cloud DVR storage. The platform is compatible with a wide range of streaming devices, ranging from your TV to your phone. 

2. Hulu + Live TV

• Free trial – 3-day free trial only with the Hulu + Live TV (with ads) plan. 
• Price – $89.99/mo. with ads. 

Hulu is one of the best and most commonly accessed streaming services. What makes it more popular is Hulu + Live TV, its all-in-one streaming bundle. It gives users the best of both worlds: live TV and on-demand content. 

With it, you get access to Hulu’s huge library of shows and movies with a live channel lineup covering news, sports, and entertainment, all without a cable contract.

This Hulu + Live TV subscription includes access to Disney+ and ESPN+, streamed through their dedicated apps, plus unlimited cloud DVR storage. 

You’ll get local broadcast networks, popular cable channels, live sports, and thousands of on-demand titles. This is what makes it the most straightforward and flexible replacement for traditional cable, with no hidden fees.

3. DirecTV

• Free trial – 5-day free trial, and requires payment information. 
• Price – $89.99/mo. 

Next, we have DirecTV, which is a leading television provider in the U.S. It gives you two main ways to watch content. You can choose the classic satellite TV setup or go with a modern streaming option. Both deliver live TV channels, on-demand movies and shows, and great sports coverage.

To create an extra flexible service for you, it also gives DIRECTV Stream, which is a contract-free service. Here, you can stream your shows on compatible devices such as Roku or Apple TV. 

However, if you’re looking for a more traditional experience with channel numbers and a cable TV box, the satellite service uses the Gemini device. So, whether you want to stream or stick with a familiar setup, DIRECTV has you covered.

4. AMC+

• Free trial – 7-day free trial if you subscribe via the AMC+ website, Amazon Prime Video, or Roku.
• Price – $6.99 per month with ads. 

Another premium streaming bundle that offers a lot in one subscription is AMC+, a strong choice for live TV channels. It gives you access to hit shows and movies from AMC, IFC, BBC America, and SundanceTV. 

One membership also includes full access to three specialized services: Shudder for horror shows, Sundance Now for gripping dramas and thrillers, and IFC Films Unlimited for indie and cult favorites.

With a subscription like this, you can get early access to new episodes, enjoy exclusive series, and watch without ads. You can stream it all through the standalone AMC+ app or add it as a channel on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Roku.

5. Paramount+

• Free trial – 7-day free trial for new subscribers. 
• Price – $7.99 per month for the Paramount+ Essential tier. 

If you’re looking for a streaming service with a huge library of entertainment, look no further than Paramount+. This all-in-one streaming service brings you movies, TV shows, and even live content.

You can stream from popular networks like Comedy Central, CBS, MTV, Showtime, and Nickelodeon. Whether you love original series, family favorites, blockbuster films, NFL games, UFC fights, or the news, there’s something for everyone.

You can either choose from the ad-supported plan or go ad-free with the Premium tier. With thousands of hours of on-demand content and select live streams, it offers the ultimate streaming experience. You can either download Paramount+ on your phones, tablets, smart TVs, and gaming consoles.

6. YouTube TV

• Free trial – 21-day free trial 
• Price – $59.99/mo. for the first 2 months and $82.99/mo. after.  

YouTube is everyone’s go-to platform for the best streaming videos, tutorials, movies, series, and more for free. However, if you’re looking to stream from its live TV options, you need a YouTube TV subscription. 

This streaming platform functions like a cable replacement for the modern viewer. It gives you access to over 100 popular live channels, including major broadcast networks like NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX, and popular cable favorites such as ESPN, CNN, and TNT. 

If you go for the one-month package, you get unlimited cloud DVR storage, no long-term contracts, and access to stream on most compatible devices. There is an option to customize your subscription plan with extra add-ons like NFL Sunday Ticket or Max, all done via the app. 

FAQs – Live TV Free Trial

In Conclusion

There are many popular streaming services, but nothing beats the experience that live TV streaming platforms bring when merged with them. There are many to choose from, including free options, but each differs in features and content. For the best, we recommend only premium platforms that come with a live TV free trial, like those in the list above. Other than this, these platforms are not accessible everywhere. To regain access, you can use a VPN to change your IP address. It also helps secure your connection, makes your IP address private, and more.