How to Watch Netflix for Free: Is It Possible?: Netflix ended the 30-day free trial and scrapped the option to watch the first episodes of shows like Stranger Things at no cost. Keep reading to learn how to watch Netflix for free in the U.S. and Kenya. If you’re outside these countries, we’ll show you how to get Netflix for less than $2 a month.
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Netflix is an online streaming behemoth that keeps dropping blockbusters like Squid Game and The Queen’s Gambit to keep its 200 million subscribers entertained. However, it’s expensive and the content is rarely available for nothing, which is why we compiled this guide to show you how to watch Netflix for free.
Key Takeaways:
- Netflix no longer offers the 30-day free trial or the option to watch the first episode of select shows for free.
- You can access Netflix for free if you subscribe to a free plan in Kenya or make the most of T-Mobile’s “Netflix on Us” offer in the U.S.
- You can reduce the Netflix monthly subscription by splitting the cost with friends or family, using discounted gift cards, or subscribing to Netflix in countries like Turkey and Argentina using a VPN.
Whether you want to take the streaming service for a spin before committing long-term or cutting Netflix costs, we got you covered. We’ll show you ways to watch Netflix at a significant discount — or without paying a dime — using one of the best VPNs, so keep reading.
If you’re more of a visual learner, you can also check out the steps to get a cheap Netflix subscription in the video below.
How to Watch Netflix for Free: Is It Possible?
Until recently, Netflix had a 30-day free trial offer, which allowed new subscribers to watch unlimited content for free. It also had a “watch free” option, which let non-subscribers watch the first episodes of select TV shows such as Stranger Things, Love is Blind and Our Planet for free.
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Netflix offered free-to-watch options to attract new users, hoping the great experience would persuade them to upgrade to one of the paid plans.
However, some “new” subscribers were abusing the system — getting free trials, canceling, and then using a different email address to start up again — which didn’t bode well for Netflix’s marketing strategy.
As a result, Netflix phased out the free trial in October 2020 in the U.S. before scrapping the watch-free option from its website months later. The story has been the same for subscribers in the U.K. and other countries where these offers were available.
Though that limited the watch-free options, you could still access Netflix for nothing. However, the options available to you depend on your country of residence. Here’s how to get Netflix for free.
- Get a Free Netflix Subscription From Your ISP
The T-Mobile “Netflix on Us” promotion is one of the best ways to get Netflix for free in the U.S. The ISP foots your Netflix bill when you get data via their Magenta or Magenta MAX plans as part of its marketing strategy.
T-Mobile’s Magenta with two or more lines or Magenta MAX with a single line gets you the Netflix Basic plan, with support for standard-definition streaming on a single screen. If you want HD streaming, though, Magneta Max with two or more lines unlocks Netflix’s Standard plan subscription, which includes simultaneous streaming on up to two devices.
- Get Free Netflix in Kenya
Netflix launched a free plan in Kenya that allows new customers to watch content on an Android phone that supports version 8 or higher of the Netflix app. Though its content library is limited and users can’t download movies and TV shows, this is still a great plan.
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You get personalized recommendations and there are no ads to ruin the streaming experience. More than that, you can create profiles for different users (including kids) and even set parental controls to protect the little ones.
That being said, the offer is accessible to Kenyan residents only. We tried using a VPN to unblock the free content outside of Kenya, but our efforts bore no fruit — not even our best VPN for streaming could get around the system. Netflix has put in place strict algorithms that are detecting and blocking VPN users.
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If you plan to visit Kenya, though, you’ll have the pleasure of watching Netflix for free on your Android device. Unlocking the free plan is pretty straightforward. Open the Netflix app, enter your email, click “start a free plan” and follow the subsequent steps.
How to Get Netflix for Cheap
While the free Netflix offers are worthwhile, they aren’t viable for everyone. For example, the T-Mobile Netflix on Us offer isn’t available to users outside the U.S. Similarly, the free plan in Kenya offers a limited collection of movies and TV series and the free content is available to Kenyan residents only.
Plus, Netflix or the internet service provider (ISP) may decide to discontinue these offers at will. If you dread the uncertainty the free offer presents, you could try some of these options to get Netflix at a discount. These options save money and don’t limit the collection of movies and TV shows at your disposal.
- Save Money by Sharing a Netflix Account
If you live with Netflix content fans — your college friends, roommates, or family members — consider sharing the monthly Netflix cost.
For example, if you live in the U.K. with three friends, you could split the cost of the Premium plan, so everyone pays $5. Doing so will save you $15 every month.
Though Netflix would prefer that everyone have their own account, its terms of use support the sharing agreement. For example, you can stream Netflix content on up to four devices or have downloaded it on four phones or tablets with the Premium plan. This way, everyone can keep up with their favorite TV shows and movies without trouble.
- Reduce Your Bill With a Netflix Gift Card or Promo Code
Another great way to get Netflix for cheap is to use gift cards or promo codes. You can buy Netflix gift cards in-store or online on popular websites like Raise.com and MTCGame (hint: You’ll need this in the next guide).
If your Netflix account is tied to an iTunes or Google Play account, fret not. You can source discounted gift cards on MTCGame too. Besides gift cards, you can use Netflix promo codes to lower the cost of subscription plans. RetailMeNot, Coupons.com, and Slickdeals are great places to find verified Netflix coupons and promo codes.
Redeeming your gift card on Netflix is a cinch. Head over to the Netflix website and click the “redeem gift card” option in the footer. Enter your code or PIN and hit “redeem” to get the discount.
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- Get Netflix in Another Country
Netflix’s pricing structure differs from country to country. If you live in a country where Netflix is on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, like the U.S., you could subscribe to a Netflix plan in a cheaper country. Here’s how Netflix U.S. compares with Netflix in other countries in terms of price.
| Country: | Netflix Basic | Netflix Standard | Netflix Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $9.99 | $15.49 | $19.99 |
| Switzerland | $12.93 | $20.54 | $27.06 |
| United Kingdom | $8.16 | $13.61 | $19.06 |
| Turkey | $1.99 | $3.02 | $4.05 |
| Brazil | $5.01 | $7.72 | $10.82 |
| India | $2.65 | $6.65 | $8.65 |
In the steps and video below, we’ll show you how to buy Netflix in Turkey for under $2 a month. We’ll use ExpressVPN in this guide, but you can also try Windscribe — the best free VPN and best free Netflix VPN, as it offers a free server in Turkey.
- Buy a Turkish Netflix Gift Card
Go to MTCGame and buy a gift card in Turkish lira because Netflix will only accept payments in the currency of the country you’re creating an account in.
- Connect to a Turkish VPN Server
Open the VPN and connect to a server in Turkey, which has the cheapest Netflix we’ve found so far.
- Create a Turkish Netflix Account
Google “Netflix Turkey,” open the website, enter your email and click “get started.” Then, create your password and hit “next.” Choose your plan and click “next” again.
- Redeem Your Gift Card
From the payment options, select “gift card” and enter the gift card code sent via email to complete the signup process. Make sure to skip the option to “set up payment for later” and follow along with the sign-up wizard.
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- Enjoy Cheap Netflix
Sign in to your Netflix account and enjoy. Keep in mind that Netflix serves up content based on where you’re located, not the country where you’re subscribed, so you’re not stuck with watching Netflix Turkey. You’ll still get access to Netflix U.S. content, or content from any other country.
