Is a Disney Plus free trial available in 2022?

Once upon a time, Disney Plus allowed new subscribers to try the streaming service for a whole week. Unfortunately, our happy ending fairly promptly came to an end and currently there is no Disney Plus free trial for prospective new customers hoping to experience the vault of content from Walt Disney Studios and its partners, including National Geographic, Marvel, and Star Wars.

• Still want to subscribe Disney Plus? Head straight to its website now (opens in new tab)

While its free trial appears to have disappeared to a land faraway (perhaps Neverland?), there are still some means of getting the streaming platform without paying for it, which we've detailed below.

With $1.1 billion revealed in financial losses in August, it's also fair to say a reintroduction of a free trial period shouldn't be completely off the table in Mickey's marketing strategy going forward - especially if the new ad-supported tier about to be launched doesn't have the desired effect. We explain below ways to get a Disney Plus free trial, allowing new subscribers to sample some of the best Disney Plus shows. 

Disney Plus free trial: is there one?

Unfortunately, there isn't a Disney Plus free trial - and there hasn't been for some time.

Disney Plus free trials did allow users in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia to use the service in full for seven days before spending anything. However, this ended in June 2020.

Even as Disney Plus has rolled out elsewhere around the world, new territories where the platform has launched haven't received the same kind of offer. That is since Japan, anyway, where a Disney Plus free trial entitled customers to a whole 31-days. Sadly, as mentioned, this came to an end in late 2021. 

The Philippines and Vietnam are the final countries in the current roll out schedule, so it could be possible we'll see a Disney Plus free trial there. That said, we'd be more inclined to place our bests on a Black Friday discount instead.

• Get updates on when Disney Plus is landing in your country! (opens in new tab)

(Image credit: Disney Pixar)

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How else can I get a Disney Plus free trial?

The good news for Verizon customers in the States is that subscribers to select Unlimited plans will get a 6 months free subscription to Disney Plus (opens in new tab). But you’d need to subscribe to Verizon by May 31 to be eligible.

For those in the UK, if you're on an existing plan from O2 (opens in new tab) you can add Disney Plus as an extra and get £2 off your monthly airtime. Those new to O2 or upgrading, however, can enjoy this family-friendly streaming service absolutely free for six months.

Or why not ask for a Disney Plus gift card for your birthday or Christmas? Sure, someone is paying for it, but it won't be you.

What's the best way to try Disney Plus without a free trial?

The Disney Plus price for a monthly subscription is a reasonably lean $7.99/£7.99/AUS$11.99, but if you're prepared to commit with a hefty upfront payment of $79.99/£79.90/AUS$119.99 a year, saving just under 20% annually. Come December 8, though, this will all change.

Want even more for your money? US customers can benefit from the Disney Plus bundle, including Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu for just $13.99 a month (opens in new tab) or $19.99 a month if you choose to have Hulu without ads. This, of course, gives you access to even more content, including more content catered to adults on Hulu, while ESPN Plus more than covers sporting fans with a bunch of great entertainment.

Those who want Hulu with Live TV can pay £75.99 a month to throw in Disney Plus and ESPN Plus (opens in new tab).

(Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

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What could you watch with a free Disney Plus trial?

The Disney Plus free trial granted access to the entire streaming library to watch as much as you liked in a seven-day period. Functionally, it was a week-long subscription to the service, and as long as you cancelled before the end of the trial period, you got to enjoy every TV show and movie without spending anything.

That included a payload of Marvel, Star Wars, Disney and Pixar movies, alongside originals like The Mandalorian and The Clone Wars. 

For now, at least, you'll have to pay if you want to check it out, though it's fair to say there is a boat load more Disney Plus Originals and other excellent titles now landing on the platform, including new Pixar movies like Turning Red, and expansions of the MCU and Star Wars, like Ms Marvel and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Does Disney Plus have gift cards?

Needless to say, it's not quite on the same wavelength as a Disney Plus free trial. However, much like its competitors, gift cards do exist for the service. You can find out more in our Disney Plus gift card guide.