Hulu has ended its direct 30-day free trial, joining several other streaming services that have removed introductory free access. The article highlights alternative ways for viewers to obtain Hulu at no extra charge or at a lower effective cost, chiefly through partner mobile and live-TV packages rather than Hulu itself.

DirecTV’s Signature plans include the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN bundle and offer new customers a five-day trial, while T-Mobile’s $100-per-month Experience Beyond plan includes Hulu and Netflix. Hulu alone costs $11.99 a month, matching the price of the Disney+ and Hulu bundle; larger bundles start at $19.99 with HBO Max or $35.99 with ESPN. Eligible college students can subscribe to Hulu with adverts for $1.99 a month, an 83% reduction.