- Netflix is reportedly experimenting with free trial periods again
- The ‘try before you buy’ offer is not available since 2020
- Two of its biggest markets have been overlooked in promotional testing.
Netflix free trials are coming back, sort of.
More than six years after the time was called for its beloved 30-day free trial offer, users will soon be able to try out the world’s best streaming service for free once again.
According to What’s on Netflix, the streaming giant is not only exploring the possibility of reintroducing its “try before you buy” offering, but is also actively testing its return in some regions around the world. When asked for comment, a spokesperson simply told the aforementioned website: “We regularly test promotions to help potential members experience the value of Netflix.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, there are caveats. For starters, the United States and the United Kingdom are not among the countries where this experiment is being carried out. Considering that these countries are two of Netflix’s largest markets, I’m surprised that those responsible are not trying to attract new potential users by testing their free trial period on both sides of the Atlantic.
Speaking of new users, Netflix is said to only offer a free trial to those who have never signed up to the platform. Additionally, What’s on Netflix understands that these free trial periods vary in length, so the number of days you’ll be able to access Netflix for free appears to depend on where you live. Well, as long as you don’t reside in the US or the UK…
Opinion: Netflix needs an increase in subscribers and free trials are the only solution
Let me clarify the above subtitle before continuing: Netflix is not short of subscribers. As of January 2026, the entertainment giant’s global user base stood at a staggering 325 million (according to Yahoo Finance). That’s nearly 130 million more active subscribers than the combined total of 195.7 million from Disney’s two streamers on Disney+ and Hulu, and more than 100 million more than Prime Video’s estimated installed base.
However, Netflix has hit something of a roadblock in the battle to attract new users and keep them hooked on its offerings.
According to a recent Bloomberg report, the amount of time Netflix fans spent watching its vast array of content grew less than 2%. The same article also indicates that Netflix has only had two big television hits this year: For him and her and Bridgerton season 4. Since then, the streamer has scored another TV Original win in the form of I will find youbut the aforementioned Bloomberg article was published before I will find youAudience data is publicly available.
Bloomberg’s report doesn’t delve into the film aspect, but Netflix has also similarly struggled to offer must-see original movies. In fact, except for an action and science fiction movie war machineanimated family movie Interchangedcrime drama The RIPand survival thriller ApexNetflix can’t point to its motion division as proof that it’s still firing on all cylinders.
With returning shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Beef, one pieceand The night agentas well as new films including Enola Holmes 3By failing to achieve big numbers, Netflix’s 2026 lineup clearly hasn’t done enough (at least so far) to entertain the masses. Add to that the drop in stock prices after Netflix lost to Paramount Skydance in the fight to try to buy Warner Bros, and it’s no surprise to learn that fearful Netflix investors are putting pressure on executives to stop this decline in fortunes.
So what better way is there to attract new potential users by giving them the opportunity to try Netflix for free, especially in countries where user retention might not be as high as elsewhere?
Well, Netflix could do the unthinkable and reduce the cost of a monthly membership instead of increasing the price every year, but hell freezing over is more likely than that to happen. Therefore, revising its free trial offer and re-implementing it in certain territories could be the only option available to the streaming titan if it wants to maintain its position as the leader.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
