Is the Peacock Free Trial Really Free?

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

The short answer: There isn’t one

If you searched “Peacock free trial” hoping for a straightforward, no-cost sign-up window, we’ve got some news: Peacock doesn’t run one anymore. Sign up directly through the Peacock website and you’ll enter payment details and get billed right away, no matter which plan you choose.

That said, a handful of legitimate side doors like Instacart+, Walmart+, and Amazon Prime Video can still get you into Peacock without paying Peacock directly, at least for a little while.

Below, we’ll break down what a paid Peacock plan actually includes, how those workaround trials function, and how to cancel cleanly once you’re done exploring.

What does the Peacock free trial include?

There’s no dedicated “Peacock free trial” tier, so there’s technically nothing built exclusively for trial users.

As of August 18, 2026, Peacock sells three plans: Select at $8.99 a month (a stripped-down tier without movies, live sports, or Peacock Originals), Premium at $12.99 a month (the full library plus live sports, with ads), and Premium Plus at $19.99 a month (the same library as Premium, largely ad-free, with offline downloads and a 24/7 local NBC livestream). Those prices apply to new and returning subscribers starting August 18; existing subscribers move to the new pricing on their next billing date on or after September 17, 2026.

The closest things to a trial come from partners: eligible Amazon Prime Video customers can get a 7-day free trial of Peacock Premium Plus as a Prime Video add-on, while eligible new Instacart+ members may receive a 14- or 30-day Instacart+ trial that includes Peacock Premium.

Walmart+ also includes Peacock Premium as a membership benefit, but its standard promotion currently costs $1 for the first 30 days rather than offering a free trial. Partner offers and eligibility can change, so check the current terms before signing up.

Verified: Peacock officially changed its pricing on August 18, 2026: $8.99 Select, $12.99 Premium, and $19.99 Premium Plus. Amazon currently advertises a 7-day Premium Plus trial; Instacart officially says eligible trial members may get 14 or 30 days and Peacock Premium, while Walmart’s public offer is currently 30 days for $1.

How do I sign up for the Peacock free trial?

Since Peacock doesn’t currently offer a free trial for its base plans, the signup process depends on which partner offer you use.

Instacart+: Eligible new members may receive a 14- or 30-day Instacart+ trial. Once the trial is active, open your Instacart+ membership settings, find the Peacock offer under special offers, and select Activate. Instacart will open Peacock’s website, where you can sign in or create a Peacock account. A valid payment method is required before trial members can activate the Peacock benefit.

Walmart+: Sign up for an eligible Walmart+ membership or promotional trial, then open your Walmart+ Benefits Hub and select Peacock Premium. From there, sign in to an existing Peacock account or create one and follow the activation steps. The standard Walmart+ promotion currently costs $1 for the first 30 days rather than offering a free trial.

Amazon Prime Video: Eligible Prime Video customers can start a 7-day free trial of Peacock Premium Plus as a Prime Video add-on. This subscription is managed through Amazon rather than activated as an Instacart- or Walmart-style Peacock membership benefit.

If you already pay for Peacock directly, check the partner’s eligibility rules before activating another offer. Instacart and Walmart may require you to cancel your existing Peacock subscription and wait for it to expire before activating their included Peacock benefit.

Instacart explicitly requires a valid payment method and sends users to Peacock for activation. Walmart provides its own exact Benefits Hub process and tells existing Peacock subscribers to cancel and wait for the existing subscription to expire.

How do I cancel my Peacock free trial?

Because these trials run through a partner, canceling Peacock alone often isn’t enough. You’ll usually need to cancel the partner membership too.

1. If you’re using Peacock through an Instacart+ trial, cancel the Instacart+ trial in your membership settings before it converts to a paid membership. If you want to keep Instacart+ but stop using its Peacock benefit, you can manage the Peacock benefit through your Instacart account.
2. If you’re using Peacock through Walmart+, manage or cancel your Walmart+ membership through Account > Walmart+ > Manage Membership. Peacock Premium is tied to your active Walmart+ membership.
3. If you started the 7-day Peacock Premium Plus trial through Amazon Prime Video, go to Amazon’s Manage Your Subscriptions page, find the Peacock add-on, and select Unsubscribe.
4. Finally, check your billing details to make sure you haven’t also maintained a separate Peacock subscription. Peacock says its charges are generally non-refundable, although it reserves the right to issue refunds at its discretion and exceptions may be required by law.

Amazon’s cancellation instructions specifically say Manage Your Subscriptions → Subscriptions → Unsubscribe. Instacart confirms trials auto-enroll into paid membership unless canceled and gives the cancellation workflow; Walmart has its separate membership cancellation workflow. Peacock’s own refund policy uses “generally non-refundable,” not an absolute prohibition.

What other live TV streaming services have free trials?

Peacock is a video-on-demand and sports service rather than a full live TV bundle, so if a true multi-day trial matters most to you, a live TV streaming service might be a better fit. Here’s how the major players compare on trial length right now.

Data effective as of post date.

Peacock 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.