Is the Discovery+ Free Trial Really Free?

✦ Edited and fact-checked by Mia Carter, our Contributing Writer with over 27 years covering tech and mobile apps.

Seven days, zero dollars, but read the fine print

Discovery+ still offers new subscribers a seven-day free trial, and yes, it’s genuinely free during that window. Your subscription automatically renews when the trial ends unless you cancel at least one day before your next billing date.

This guide breaks down exactly what the Discovery+ trial includes, how much you’ll pay once it ends, and the steps to sign up or bail out before you’re billed. We’ll also cover where Discovery+ stacks up against other trial-friendly streaming services, and answer the questions people search most before committing.

One thing worth knowing upfront: Discovery+’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is under agreement to be acquired by Paramount Skydance. As of August 18, 2026, the deal is paused pending a federal antitrust challenge from California and 11 other states, with a trial scheduled for March 2027. Paramount has said it plans to combine Paramount+ and HBO Max if the acquisition closes, but it hasn’t announced what will happen to Discovery+ specifically. For now, Discovery+’s seven-day free trial remains available.

What does the Discovery+ free trial include?

During your seven free days, you get access to whichever plan you pick at sign-up, choosing either the $5.99/month ad-supported tier or the $9.99/month ad-free tier. Both plans include the same content, while the ad-free plan also includes offline downloads. CableTV.com’s current Discovery+ review puts the U.S. on-demand library at more than 55,000 hours, with shows from Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, OWN, Travel Channel, and Science Channel, plus licensed programming from A&E, Lifetime, and History.

Keep in mind that Discovery+ has no live channels on either U.S. plan, so the trial won’t help you replace a cable package for live TV. If you sign up directly at discoveryplus.com, you’ll also need a major credit card or PayPal account to activate the trial. Discovery+ does not accept prepaid credit cards for direct subscriptions.

How do I sign up for the Discovery+ free trial?

Signing up takes just a few minutes on desktop or mobile.

1. Go to the Discovery+ website and select “Start Free Trial” or “Try for Free.”
2. Choose your plan: ad-supported ($5.99/month after the trial) or ad-free ($9.99/month after the trial).
3. Create an account with a valid email address and password.
4. Enter your credit card or PayPal information — required to activate the trial, but you won’t be charged unless you keep the subscription past day seven.
5. Confirm your sign-up and start streaming on any supported device.

How do I cancel my Discovery+ free trial?

Cancel before the renewal deadline shown for your trial if you don’t want it to convert to a paid subscription. The cancellation path depends on who bills you.

1. Sign in at discoveryplus.com and open your Subscription settings.
2. Check which company or platform bills your subscription.
3. If Discovery+ bills you directly, select the cancellation option and confirm.
4. If a third party such as Amazon, Apple, Google Play, or Roku bills you, cancel through that provider’s subscription settings instead.
5. Confirm that the subscription is canceled and note the expiration date shown for your access.

Deleting the Discovery+ app does not cancel your subscription.

What other live TV streaming services have free trials?

Discovery+ is on-demand only, so if live channels matter to you, here’s how other free trials compare.

Data effective as of post date.

Discovery+ free trial FAQ

CableTV.com editors created this article using original analysis and proprietary inputs, with AI tools assisting in drafting. The final content was reviewed and edited for accuracy and quality.