Yardbarker
STARZ Logo in teal blue hue against a black background
STARZ

STARZ free trial 2025: What you need to know

Affiliate Disclosure Statement: If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a share of the revenue from our affiliate partners.

Once a premium cable network in the 1990s, STARZ has since grown into one of the top premium streaming services available. The popular service is owned by Lionsgate and competes with the likes of Max and SHOWTIME, offering some of the top movies and shows around, including “Outlander,” the “John Wick” series and “Power Book.” At $9.99 a month, it fits nicely under the price of some of its premium competitors.

It’s also fairly easy to find a STARZ free trial so you can test out the service. You may have to check out a few avenues to find an option that works for you, but it’s well worth it so you can give the platform a test drive. Read on to find out how to get STARZ for free.


What can I watch with my STARZ free trial? 

Like many other premium over-the-top streaming platforms, STARZ only offers one plan. That means your STARZ free trial will give you access to everything on the platform. The service features many exclusive originals along with a rotating selection of popular and critically acclaimed films and shows. Currently, this includes top-tier dramas like “Hightown,” popular new releases like “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and comedy series like “Minx.”  All of this premium content plays ad-free, so you can enjoy your free trial without any interruptions.

How to sign up for STARZ’s free trial

Although STARZ sometimes offers a free trial for its stand-alone streaming service, that option is currently unavailable. If you sign up for STARZ directly, you’ll get three months for $3 per month. 

However, free STARZ is still available through several third-party platforms. Currently, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Hulu, Roku and YouTube TV all offer seven-day free trials for STARZ as an add-on channel. Each service has a slightly different sign-up process, but you’ll typically be able to proceed to a STARZ channel page within the platform, and then select the seven-day free trial option to start your subscription. Once your STARZ free trial ends, you’ll be charged an additional $9.99 per month from the third-party service you choose.

The best deal for a STARZ free trial, though, is currently offered by DIRECTV STREAM. The service currently features a three-month free trial of STARZ, Max, MGM Plus and Cinemax if you add it to your new or existing subscription. Simply add this option during the sign-up process or go to your account settings to modify your subscription.

How does STARZ’s free trial compare to others?

STARZ’s free trial is comparable to what other premium streaming platforms currently offer. It’s a better deal than Max, which no longer offers free trials, but similar to competitors like MGM Plus and Cinemax. SHOWTIME still offers a 30-day free trial, so that’s the best option on the market today — unless you nab the three-month free STARZ trial through DIRECTV STREAM.

The real question, though, is whether you’ll enjoy the content STARZ offers. The platform doesn’t quite compete with Max and SHOWTIME for a deep library of award-winning original content, but it still has quite a bit to offer. Getting everything without ads at this price point is a nice perk, too, so if you decide to keep STARZ after your free trial, you can keep enjoying it without any interruptions.

How to subscribe to STARZ once my free trial expires

After your free STARZ trial ends with your chosen third-party platform, you’ll automatically start paying $9.99 a month for STARZ. You won’t need to do anything else to begin your subscription, and there is only one STARZ plan. You’ll continue to have access to everything on the platform, ad-free.

How to cancel STARZ

If you decide you don’t want to continue your STARZ subscription after your free trial, you can cancel anytime through your third-party provider. Steps vary depending on the service you choose, but you’ll typically need to proceed to your account page and look for a section on managing subscriptions or add-on channels. 

If you signed up for STARZ directly, simply proceed to your account settings in a web browser and select “Cancel Subscription” under Billing Plan & Information. From a mobile device, look for the “Account Management” section under the Settings menu, then select “My Subscription” and then “Cancel Subscription.”

Is STARZ’s free trial worth it?

A STARZ free trial offers an easy, cost-free way to try out the service and explore its massive library of premium shows and movies. As long as you set a reminder to decide before your seven days are up, you can enjoy the service without any worries about wasting your money. Plus, a week is just long enough to try out a few shows or films you’ve been considering. The real question is — what have you got to lose?


FAQ

Is there a 30-day free trial for STARZ?

STARZ doesn’t offer a 30-day free trial, but you can actually get it free for three months if you subscribe to DIRECTV STREAM. You can also get a seven-day trial of the service through several third parties. If you currently subscribe to Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Hulu, Roku or YouTube TV, visit your account or channels pages to see if you can add free STARZ to your plan.

Is STARZ free on Amazon Prime?

If you’re trying to find out how to get free STARZ, Amazon Prime is one of your best bets. You can add a STARZ channel to your subscription with a seven-day free trial, then pay $9.99 a month to keep the add-on.

Is STARZ bundled with anything?

STARZ can be bundled with several other streaming services, either as a stand-alone channel or, in some cases, part of a package of premium channels such as Max, SHOWTIME and MGM Plus. Amazon Prime, Apple TV, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu, Roku and YouTube TV all offer bundle deals with STARZ.

Luke Daugherty is a freelance writer, editor, and former operations manager based in St. Louis. His work covers business, marketing, and personal finance, as well as many of his personal passions, including coffee, music, and social issues.