Free Trial Comparison: Hulu vs. YouTube TV vs. Sling (2025 Deep-Dive Guide)

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Cutting the cord is easy.
Choosing which streaming TV service to try first? Not so easy.

In 2025, Hulu, YouTube TV, and Sling TV are three of the biggest names in live TV streaming (“IPTV”). Each promises cable-style channels without the cables — but their free trials and intro deals are very different.

This guide is designed to help people anywhere in the world understand:

  • What these services actually offer
  • How their free trials / near-free trials work right now
  • Which one fits your viewing habits
  • What to do if you’d rather just pay and commit instead of playing the free-trial game

We’ll keep things practical, clear, and focused on real value, not marketing fluff.

1. Quick Snapshot: Who Offers What in 2025?

Before we go deep, here’s the big picture of where things stand as of late 2025:

  • Hulu (on-demand)
    • 30-day free trial for the standard with-ads plan (new/eligible returning users). TechRadar+1
    • After that, it’s a traditional on-demand library, not a full cable replacement by itself.
  • Hulu + Live TV
    • No free trial right now. Instead, there’s a limited-time discount: around $64.99/month for 3 months (vs $89.99 standard) through November 18, 2025. Hulu+2TechRadar+2
  • YouTube TV
    • Offers a 7-day free trial for its base live-TV plan in most current promotions. YouTube TV+1
    • Regular price is about $82.99/month in the US after any promo or trial. YouTube TV
  • Sling TV

Now let’s unpack each one properly.

2. Hulu: Free Trial King for On-Demand, Tricky for Live TV

2.1 What Hulu Actually Is (Two Different Beasts)

People often say “Hulu” like it’s one thing, but there are really two separate products:

  1. Hulu (on-demand only)
    • Netflix-style library of shows and movies.
    • No live channels; you watch series, films, Hulu Originals, etc.
  2. Hulu + Live TV
    • On-demand library plus ~95+ live channels (sports, news, local broadcast),
    • Often bundled with Disney+ and ESPN. Hulu+1

Their free trial situations are very different.

2.2 Hulu On-Demand: 30-Day Free Trial (As of Late 2025)

If you just want to check out Hulu’s library (The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, The Handmaid’s Tale, etc.), this is where Hulu really shines for free.

  • Offer: Extended 30-day free trial for new and eligible returning users on the standard with-ads plan. TechRadar+2Hulu Help+2
  • After trial: $11.99/month with ads (or $18.99/month without ads). TechRadar+1
  • Eligibility: New or eligible returning subs who haven’t had Hulu in the last 12 months. Hulu Help

How to claim the Hulu 30-day trial:

  1. Visit Hulu’s official site and choose the standard Hulu (With Ads) plan — not Live TV. TechRadar+1
  2. Click “Start your free trial”.
  3. Create or sign in to your Hulu account.
  4. Add your payment details (card/PayPal).
  5. Start streaming; set a reminder to cancel before day 30 if you don’t want to pay.

Who this is best for:

  • Binge-watchers who mostly want series & movies, not live TV.
  • People deciding whether to later upgrade to Hulu + Live TV or a Disney+/Hulu bundle.

2.3 Hulu + Live TV: No Free Trial Right Now, But a Big Discount

Hulu’s live-TV bundle used to have short trials (3–7 days), but right now the free trial has been swapped for a heavy discount.

  • Current deal (through November 18, 2025):
  • Official free-trial FAQ notes that only select plans offer a trial, and Hulu + Live TV currently doesn’t. Hulu Help+1

So you can’t watch Live TV completely free, but you can save a big chunk of money on the first three months and treat that as a low-risk test.

Who Hulu + Live TV suits:

  • Households that want a cable replacement: sports, news, local channels, plus on-demand Hulu & Disney+.
  • Viewers who like the idea of “one mega-bundle” rather than juggling multiple separate apps.

3. YouTube TV: Classic 7-Day Free Trial, Big Live-TV Heavyweight

Where Hulu feels split between on-demand and Live TV, YouTube TV is laser-focused on being a full cable replacement.

3.1 What YouTube TV Offers

  • 100+ live channels across US markets, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, cable news & entertainment. YouTube TV+1
  • Unlimited cloud DVR with 9-month retention. YouTube TV
  • Up to 3 streams and 6 profiles per household. YouTube TV
  • National availability across the US (channel line-ups vary by ZIP).

3.2 YouTube TV Free Trial (Late 2025)

Google’s own welcome page states:

“To start your free 7-day trial, just sign up online…” YouTube TV

Key points:

  • Length: Typically 7 days of full access to the base plan.
  • Price after trial: About $82.99/month in the US (subject to change). YouTube TV
  • Eligibility: New customers only; you generally can’t take the trial if you’ve subscribed or trialed before. YouTube TV+1

YouTube also runs special promos via YouTube Premium, devices (Chromecast, Pixel), or military discounts, but those are usually discounted months rather than extra free days. YouTube TV

How to start the YouTube TV free trial:

  1. Visit the official YouTube TV site (tv.youtube.com). YouTube TV+1
  2. Hit “Try it free”.
  3. Sign in with your Google account.
  4. Enter your ZIP code (for channel line-up) and payment info.
  5. Enjoy 7 days of full access; set a reminder for the renewal date.

3.3 Things to Watch Out For

  • Channel disputes: As of November 2025, there’s a high-profile dispute between Disney and YouTube TV, temporarily pulling ESPN and ABC from the platform. New York Post
    • If you’re mainly signing up for ESPN, check the current status before committing.
  • Price: At ~$82.99/month after trial, YouTube TV is one of the pricier options. YouTube TV

Who YouTube TV is best for:

  • People who want a true cable replacement with a clean interface and strong DVR.
  • Households that value simplicity and are willing to pay for it.
  • Sports/news watchers (assuming current carriage agreements in your area).

4. Sling TV: No Free Trial, But Super Flexible + Sling Freestream

Sling sits in a very different niche: not a giant, full-price cable replacement like YouTube TV, but a cheaper, modular IPTV option.

4.1 What Sling Offers

  • Sling Orange – ~30–35 channels, focused on ESPN, Disney, family/sports. TechRadar+1
  • Sling Blue – ~40–47 channels, more news and general entertainment (Fox, NBC in some markets), but no ESPN. TechRadar+1
  • Orange + Blue – both together for broader coverage. Sling TV+1

And then you stack add-ons: Sports Extra, News Extra, Lifestyle Extra, etc.

4.2 Free Trial Status (Late 2025)

TechRadar and other deal watchers are very clear:

Instead, Sling uses “near-free” and free variants:

  1. 50% off your first month
    • New customers pay half price for month one.
    • Example: If Orange & Blue is typically ~$60.99/month, you pay about $29.99 for your first month. Yardbarker+3Sling TV+3dealnews+3
  2. Day / Weekend / Week Passes
    • Day Pass: $4.99 for 24 hours.
    • Weekend Pass: $9.99 (Fri–Sun).
    • Week Pass: $14.99 for 7 days. Yardbarker+3Sling TV+3Sling TV+3
    • You get Orange-style channels (including ESPN) during that time — great for one-off games or events.
  3. Sling Freestream (completely free)
    • A FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) tier with 600+ live channels and 40,000+ on-demand titles, no card required, no time limit. TechRadar+2Yardbarker+2

4.3 How to Use Sling as a “Trial” Without a Trial

If your goal is to try before you invest, here’s a smart path:

  1. Start with Sling Freestream
    • Download the Sling app or visit the website and choose Freestream.
    • Get used to the interface, channel guide, playback quality, etc.
  2. When you’re ready to test the “real” premium channels:
    • Either pay for a single Day/Weekend/Week pass to watch a big game or event…
    • Or sign up for half-price first month, which works like a low-risk extended trial.
  3. At the end of that first month/pass, decide whether to:
    • Cancel,
    • Keep a minimal plan, or
    • Add more channel packs.

Who Sling is best for:

  • Budget-conscious users who want some cable channels but don’t want to pay YouTube TV / Hulu Live prices.
  • Sports fans who only occasionally need ESPN or TNT for a specific event.
  • People who like to customise their lineup instead of paying for everything.

5. Free Trial Experience: Side-by-Side Comparison

Let’s compare the free/intro experience more directly.

5.1 Pure “Free Trial” Days

  • Hulu (on-demand):
    • 30 days free – longest of the three, but no live channels. TechRadar+1
  • YouTube TV:
    • 7 days free – full access to all live channels & DVR. YouTube TV+1
  • Sling TV:
    • 0 days free on paid plans – but:
      • Day/Weekend/Week Pass from $4.99,
      • Sling Freestream is permanently free (ad-supported). Sling TV+2Yardbarker+2

5.2 Risk Level (Money)

  • Hulu On-Demand:
    • Risk is zero if you remember to cancel; 30 days is generous.
  • YouTube TV:
    • Risk is zero if you cancel within 7 days; but if you forget, you’ll pay a full $82.99 for that first month. YouTube TV+1
  • Sling:
    • You’ll pay a small amount (half price or a pass) to test the live channels.
    • If you forget to cancel, your monthly cost is still lower than Hulu Live or YouTube TV, but it’s not free.

5.3 Best Use Cases

  • “I want movies and shows, not live channels.”
    → Hulu 30-day on-demand trial.
  • “I want a real cable replacement and don’t mind paying premium if it works.”
    → YouTube TV 7-day trial.
  • “I’m price sensitive and watch live TV only sometimes.”
    → Start with Sling Freestream → then half-price month or a $4.99 Day Pass.

6. Practical Tips to Maximise Any of These Trials

Regardless of service, you can squeeze more value out of your free/discounted period with a few simple tactics:

  1. Plan your timing
    • Start the trial when you’ll actually watch (vacation, sports tournament, holidays).
  2. Curate a watch list in advance
    • For Hulu: list shows & films you want to binge.
    • For YouTube TV / Sling: list channels & programmes (sports, news, series) you want to test.
  3. Try multiple devices and networks
    • Smart TV, streaming stick, phone, tablet, laptop.
    • Test at peak evening hours to see how your connection copes.
  4. Stress-test cloud DVR & catch-up
    • On YouTube TV and Hulu Live, record a few shows and see how playback & fast-forward feel.
    • On Sling, test any included DVR hours with your chosen plan.
  5. Set a cancellation reminder right away
    • As soon as you start, drop a reminder for a few days before the free period (or discounted period) ends.

7. If You Prefer to Buy

If you prefer to buy or upgrade rather than join a free trial, here are some options you can consider.

Below is a clear list of paid and upgrade paths for each of the three services, based on what’s available as of late 2025. Always double-check pricing in your region before purchasing, because promotions change frequently.

7.1 Hulu: Paid Plans & Bundles

1. Hulu (On-Demand Only) TechRadar+1

  • Hulu (With Ads) – around $11.99/month.
  • Hulu (No Ads) – around $18.99/month.
  • Student Plan – around $1.99/month (ad-supported, no free trial).
  • Annual or bundle discounts may be available via partners (T-Mobile, Verizon, Spotify, etc.).

2. Hulu + Live TV Bundles Hulu+2TechRadar+2

  • Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV with Disney+ & ESPN:
    • Promo: $64.99/month for 3 months through Nov 18, 2025.
    • Then standard pricing: around $89.99/month.
  • Add-ons:
    • HBO/Max, Starz, Cinemax, etc., at extra monthly cost.
    • Enhanced DVR or unlimited screens options in some bundles.

3. Disney-Led Bundles Including Hulu GamesRadar++1

  • Disney periodically offers combo bundles (e.g., Disney+ + Hulu + Max, or Disney+ + Hulu + ESPN).
  • These may not include free trials but can be cheaper than buying services individually — sometimes effectively giving one service “free” as part of the bundle.

7.2 YouTube TV: Pay-Upfront Options & Discounts

1. YouTube TV Base Plan YouTube TV+1

  • Standard price: About $82.99/month in the US.
  • Includes:
    • 100+ live channels (depending on region),
    • Unlimited DVR (9-month retention),
    • Up to 3 simultaneous streams & 6 profiles.

2. YouTube TV Add-Ons & Upgrades YouTube TV+2YouTube TV+2

  • 4K Plus – adds 4K streaming, offline DVR downloads on mobile, and more simultaneous streams.
  • Sports Plus – extra sports networks.
  • Premium add-ons: Starz, Paramount+ with Showtime, Shudder, etc.

3. Discounted / Promo Paths YouTube TV

  • Military Discount via ID.me – first 4 months around $52.99/month, then standard $82.99/month.
  • Device & Premium Promos – e.g., YouTube Premium, Chromecast, or Pixel may include discounted months (e.g., $20–$25 off for 3–4 months).
  • These aren’t “free trials” but effectively lower the price for your early months if you’re ready to buy.

7.3 Sling TV: Paid Plans, Passes & Free Tier

1. Monthly Plans Yardbarker+3Sling TV+3Sling TV+3

  • Sling Orange – around $45.99/month, focused on ESPN & family channels.
  • Sling Blue – around $45.99/month, focused on news & entertainment (Fox, NBC in some markets).
  • Orange + Blue bundle – around $60.99/month.

2. Intro Discount Yardbarker+3Sling TV+3Sling TV+3

  • 50% off your first month for new customers on monthly plans.
    • Example: Orange + Blue may drop to ~$29.99 for month one.

3. Short-Term Passes (Great “Mini-Buys”) Yardbarker+3Sling TV+3Sling TV+3

  • Day Pass – $4.99 for 24 hours of Sling Orange (ESPN, TNT, Disney Channel, etc.).
  • Weekend Pass – $9.99 (Fri–Sun).
  • Week Pass – $14.99 for 7 days.
  • Optional cheap add-ons (Sports Extra, News Extra, etc.) on top.

4. Sling Freestream (Always Free) TechRadar+2Yardbarker+2

  • 600+ live channels & 40,000+ on-demand titles.
  • No subscription, no trial expiry, no card required.
  • Essentially a permanent free “buy” where you pay with time (ads) instead of money.

8. Which One Should You Start With?

There’s no single winner — it depends on your priorities:

  • Best long free trial (but no live TV):
    • Hulu (on-demand) – 30 days is fantastic if you mostly binge shows and movies.
  • Best all-in-one live-TV experience (if you can afford it):
    • YouTube TV – 7 free days, huge channel list, excellent DVR.
  • Best budget-friendly, flexible live-TV setup:
    • Sling TV – cheaper base prices, half-off first month, small paid passes, and Sling Freestream if you want to stay free forever.

If you’re completely undecided, one smart path could be:

  1. Start with Hulu’s 30-day trial (on-demand) – see if you’re satisfied with mostly on-demand viewing.
  2. Then, when ready for live TV, try YouTube TV’s 7-day trial to see the premium “cable replacement” experience.
  3. Finally, experiment with Sling’s Freestream + a Day/Weekend Pass to see if a more modular, cheaper setup could work just as well.

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