Netflix is a streaming service with a ton of great content, including original shows and movies you can't watch anywhere else. Between increasing membership fees, and tough economic times, not everyone can afford to subscribe, but there are a few ways to watch Netflix for free.
You can follow these steps on any computer. This works with all the Netflix plans.
Sharing Netflix Accounts With Friends or Family
The basic Netflix plan only allows you to watch one show or movie at a time, but the standard and premium plans allow you to watch multiple things on multiple devices. With the standard plan, you can watch up to two things at once, and the premium plan allows you to stream up to four shows or movies at the same time.
The basic Netflix plan doesn't support HD streaming, so if you know anyone with a Netflix subscription, there's a good chance they have the standard or premium plan. If they trust you enough to give you their password, you can log in and watch whatever you want without interfering with their binge-watching.
How to Share Your Netflix Account
Netflix allows you to create up to five separate profiles, each of which can have their own watch lists and recommendations. This allows you to share your account without your friends or family clogging up your recommendations with shows you have no interest in.
Here's how to set up a separate Netflix profile:
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Navigate to Netflix.com.
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Select your user icon in the upper right corner. If you see the Who's watching? screen; skip down to Step 3.
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Select Manage Profiles.
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Select Add Profile.
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Enter a name for the new profile, and select CONTINUE.
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Select DONE.
You cannot assign a different password to each profile. New profiles log in using the same email and password you use. Only share your Netflix account with family members and friends you trust. As the account holder, you're responsible for the actions taken by anyone you allow to use your account.
How to Get Additional Free Netflix Trials
If you're patient and don't care about going for long stretches without Netflix, you can actually get multiple free trials. This isn't a guaranteed method, and there's no way to hurry it along, but it is completely legitimate.
When you sign up for a free trial on Netflix but cancel before your trial ends, Netflix will eventually reach out to try and secure your business. It will typically take at least several months for Netflix to send this email, and it could potentially be significantly longer.
If you do receive an email like this from Netflix, all you need to do is select the Start Your Free Trial link they provide. This will take you to a page on the Netflix site where you can renew your free trial membership.
How to Sign up for Unlimited Netflix Free Trials
Under normal circumstances, you can only sign up for a single Netflix free trial. This is how Netflix intended the free trial system to work, but it's actually possible to sign up for more than one free trial if you use different billing methods. You can even get a Netflix free trial without a credit card, but having several credit cards ready to go helps a lot.
To sign up for a Netflix free trial, you need a credit card, debit card, PayPal account, or Netflix gift code. You can also use a reward card or gift card if it's issued by a credit card provider like Visa.
Here's how to sign up for a Netflix free trial:
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Navigate to Netflix.com.
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Select JOIN FREE FOR A MONTH.
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Select SEE THE PLANS.
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Select your plan, then select CONTINUE.
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Enter an email address and password. (This must be an email address you've never used with Netflix before.)
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Select your payment method.
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Enter your name and billing information, then select START MEMBERSHIP.
Every time you want to sign up for a new trial, you need to repeat this process with a different email and billing method. If you have access to multiple credit cards, you can use those. If you don't, you can pick up a Visa gift card, put some money on it, and use that.
To reduce the number of cards you have to go through to keep signing up for more free trials, you can also set up a PayPal account, link it to your credit card or debit card, and use that as your payment method. Since Netflix doesn't see the credit card number, this allows you to use the same card more than once.
Don't Forget to Cancel Your Free Trials
If you decide to make a new Netflix account each time you want to take advantage of the free trial, it's important to remember to cancel before the trial period is over. Your billing method will be charged if you don't cancel in time.
Here's how to cancel your Netflix free trial without being charged:
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Navigate to Netflix.com, and log in.
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Select your user icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
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Select Account.
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Select Cancel Membership.
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Select Finish Cancellation.
If you cancel before your trial is over, you will not be charged. In most cases, you will still be able to use your account until the free trial period is over.
How to Get a Free Netflix Perk From Your Phone or Cable Company
Some companies, including cell phone providers and cable companies, offer promotions that include a free Netflix account. This isn't exactly free since you need to buy something to get it, but it is a valid way to get Netflix without paying for it directly.
If you're in the market for a new phone or cable provider anyway, it may be worth checking to see if this would be a good deal. And if you're already a customer of a company that provides free Netflix, there's no downside to taking advantage of the offer.
For more information, contact your phone or cable company and ask if they offer any plans that provide free access to services like Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Go.
How to Get Netflix for Free With T-Mobile
T-Mobile throws in a Netflix account at no extra charge, but the deal isn't available for all customers. If you opt for a plan that doesn't require a credit check or a prepaid plan, the free Netflix offer is off the table.
Here's how to get free Netflix from T-Mobile:
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Sign up for a T-Mobile One plan.
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Make sure you don't opt for a prepaid or no credit check plan.
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Add at least one additional line to your plan. The free Netflix offer is only available if you have at least two lines.
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Opt-in to the Netflix On Us feature.
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Wait for a text message from T-Mobile, and follow the instructions.