Discovery+ is the streaming home for HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, and basically every cable lifestyle channel rolled into a single app. Plenty of viewers want to bingo a season of House Hunters or 90 Day Fiance before paying. The trial situation has changed over the past two years as Discovery+ overlapped more with Max.
Discovery+ Free Trial: The Definitive Answer
Yes, Discovery+ still offers a 7-day free trial in most cases. New subscribers can sign up and access the full ad-free library for a week before the first charge.
It's a useful way to confirm the channel lineup, streaming quality, and overall experience on your preferred devices before committing to a paid plan.
Trial Duration and Eligibility for Discovery+
The Discovery+ free trial is typically seven days for new subscribers. Eligibility is tied to your email and payment method, so if you've previously subscribed or used a trial under the same account you may not qualify again. The signup flow requires a valid credit card, debit card, or PayPal, and the trial auto-converts into a paid subscription unless you cancel before day seven.
Remember to cancel before the trial concludes if you don't want to be charged. Setting a calendar reminder for day 6 is the cleanest way to avoid an unintended renewal.
Discovery+ Free Trial via Bundles and Promotions
Discovery+ has a few alternative paths beyond the standalone trial:
- Max bundle: Most Discovery+ content is now also available inside Max via the Standard or Premium tiers. A Max signup gives you HGTV, Food, TLC, and ID without needing a separate Discovery+ account.
- Verizon promotions: Verizon has historically included Discovery+ as a perk on select Unlimited wireless plans, often for six months or longer.
- Amazon Prime Channels: Subscribing through Amazon Prime Video Channels sometimes unlocks a short trial window. Useful if you already manage subscriptions through Amazon.
- Cricket and other carrier deals: A handful of prepaid wireless carriers have bundled Discovery+ as an included perk.
Track these promos around major launch windows: new seasons of flagship shows, NFL kickoff, and the holiday shopping window are the usual peaks for Discovery+ bundle deals.
Alternative Streaming Services with Free Trials (Like Discovery+)
If you're looking for similar lifestyle-and-reality content with a trial, these options come closest:
- Max: Max's Standard tier now carries the bulk of HGTV, Food Network, TLC, and ID content from Discovery+. No standard free trial, but ad-supported pricing is lower.
- Hulu: Hulu's on-demand library includes a lot of next-day cable content, plus a 30-day trial.
- Philo: Philo carries HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TLC, ID, and the rest of the lifestyle bundle live for $28 a month with a 7-day trial.
- Fubo: Fubo carries the linear feeds of HGTV, Food Network, TLC, and Discovery with a 7-day trial.
Comparing trial lengths, channel mix, and current promotional pricing is the fastest way to find the right fit if Discovery+ doesn't quite work for you.