For the longest time, users knew and loved Netflix for their 30-day free trial offer, but they may no longer give it everywhere or at all. You’ll understand the reason we avoid making things unequivocal in a moment. For now, you need to understand it may not be your fault. Therefore, you don’t need to tweak your account, check your payment details, kick people out of a family plan or mess with your devices—at least not yet.
First, you need to examine the current state of things after we explain the situation, which can vary between countries. With all that said, let’s answer the question, “Why is Netflix not giving a free trial?”
Note From Netflix: No More Free Trials
Netflix has already stopped offering free trials and any similar offers throughout the entire global market. Although it might seem like a bold move on Netflix’s part, especially when other similar platforms are still offering free trials and such offers in 2023, with over 250 million subscribers, it is deemed by many to be simply a strategic choice.
The streaming giant had already stopped free trials across all markets by October 2020. If you visit the official website, you will see the same. Netflix claims that it has rolled back free trials because the user always has the freedom to cancel or change the plan without any cancellation fee or any other commitment.
Why did Netflix Stop giving Free trials?
While we have shared the official stance Netflix has taken on the issue, there are many who believe that it was done for a number of reasons, such as:
- More and more players are entering the streaming field.
- Netflix already has a great hold on the market and a huge number of subscribers to back it up.
- Some believe it to be another marketing trick.
Reasons why Netflix is not providing a free trial
While technically there is no direct way to get a free trial from Netflix, there is still hope. Before we move into that, below are the reasons why Netflix is no longer offering free trials:
1. Netflix stopped providing a free trial in your country
Netflix ceased supplying a free trial indiscriminately at the time of writing, which is the key reason you can’t benefit from the perk. In December 2019, Netflix began discontinuing the “try before you buy” perk that allowed unrestricted access to the catalog free of cost.
It’s important to know they spent years offering a 30-day free trial, more precisely, since 2013. Furthermore, in October 2020, Netflix reiterated its decision by giving up on offering a free trial in the United States. Judging by their statements, they did it for a reason, after analyzing their data and investigating the competition. The company also expressed a desire to look at other forms of marketing.
Other streaming services got rid of the free trial during the same year, too. During the pandemic, when streaming services were experiencing a boom, Netflix noticed that users tended to take advantage of the perk until they viewed a new release, and canceled the plan afterward. You can imagine how big of a loss that is when you remember they distributed a good deal of most-watched TV shows and movies.
The year 2021 could’ve been disastrous on old terms because Netflix began promoting a “new movie every week” benefit. Unsurprisingly, the streaming service slowly phased out the offer worldwide.
With all that said, though Netflix is no longer giving a free trial anywhere in the world, you can check the official Netflix Free Trial status page at any moment. If it doesn’t detect your country automatically, select one under Currently viewing information for:
Don’t give up hope—look for Netflix plan alternatives
However, as you can see from our tone, we’re not definitive with our statement. That’s because their decision depends on market research, business decisions, and the possibility of making a profit.
One example is the United Kingdom. For a time, the company made the second month free after you pay for the first. Some mobile carriers, such as Jio and Vi in India, gave away a free monthly or yearly subscription along with their postpaid SIM payment plans.
Another representation is the period between March and November 2021. It was a time when Netflix decided to revert the change to a degree for an undisclosed time. They reintroduced the 30-day free trial in some countries, but with restrictions. For instance, the Indian user base could:
- Head over to “www.netflix.com/in/watch-free”.
Tip. You can try replacing “in” with the short name for your country, such as “us” for the United States or “uk” for the United Kingdom to see if an offer exists there. - Type their e-mail address.
- Select the Try 30 Days Free banner or button on the rundown of payment plans.
- Create a user password when requested.
- Pick a fitting payment plan and fill out their payment details. Though they weren’t charged, Netflix wanted to collect data and request payment when the proposal expired.
- Users could now watch Netflix movies and TV shows ad-free but not download them. However, the choice consisted of a small portion of handpicked titles, not the entire library like in the past.
2. You’re ineligible for a free trial from Netflix
Unsurprisingly, if you inspect the trial status page and discover that a complimentary trial option is available, yet you still can’t activate it, double-check you meet the requirements. Netflix will update your country’s page with instructions and things they demand from users.
We also provided several examples of things Netflix requested above. A valid e-mail address and a Netflix account, whether an old or a newly made one, is a great starting point.
3. Your payment information didn’t pass the Netflix verification
If the account is in order, payment details are next in line. Verify that you entered the correct details. We know you’re tempted to cheat by making up a number or using a credit card generator. However, those won’t fly with Netflix—their system is too sophisticated after years in the business.
Remember, you will not be charged for the first month. You’re also free to cancel your Netflix payment plan or downgrade or upgrade to a different one at any point. The procedure is instant, free, and carries no negative consequences.
Can I Still Watch Netflix for Free?
Yes, there are no more free trials. But you can still watch Netflix for free. How? Well, these are mostly tricks, not workarounds. However, by using them, you might be able to access Netflix for free.
Sharing a Netflix Account with friends or family
The most obvious method is to ask your friends or family members to share their Netflix accounts with you. By doing this, you can log into Netflix and enjoy the content. It is possible because the subscription plans allow you to log in from multiple devices.
Get it for free in a package deal
There are times when your cable, phone, or internet provider might offer a bundle that contains a free Netflix subscription. You can avail yourself of those offers to gain access to Netflix for free.