Gone are the days when you need an expensive cable subscription to watch live TV. Now you can stream sports, news, and shows through the internet, with no messy installations. One such service that offers this is YouTube TV.
If you want to give YouTube TV a whirl, you should sign up for the free trial. We're going to show you how to do that, along with explaining what it costs afterwards for a paid subscription.
What Is YouTube TV?
YouTube TV is an internet subscription service available nationwide in the US that lets you watch national and local TV. It includes over 85 channels like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, with others like Showtime and STARZ available for an additional cost.
There are no contracts or hidden fees; it works like a subscription to Netflix or Hulu does, and you can cancel at any time. You get an unlimited amount of cloud DVR storage, six individual accounts, and three simultaneous streams. It's available on your TV, game console, phone, streaming stick, and a variety of other devices.
For more information, see our guide on everything you need to know about YouTube TV.
How Much Does YouTube TV Cost?
YouTube TV costs $64.99/month. There's no annual contract or installation fee. This grants you access to over 85 live channels, though the exact selection depends on your region. Some of the base channels are PBS, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon, and sports networks like NFL, NBA, and MLB.
You can purchase individual premium channels like Cinemax, HBO, Shudder, and Sundance Now. Prices for these range from $5 to $40/month. There's also a Sports Plus add-on that costs $10.99/month and includes Fox Soccer Plus, NFL RedZone, TVG, and others.
Finally, the 4K Plus add-on costs $19.99/month. This gives you 4K playback where available, unlimited concurrent streams at home (rather than three), and offline DVR viewing on mobile.
For a full cost breakdown, see our YouTube TV channel list and pricing guide.
How to Get a Free Trial to YouTube TV
As standard, YouTube TV offers a seven-day free trial. However, often this is extended during a promotional period. For example, at the time of writing, the free trial lasts for two weeks.
To claim your free trial, complete the following process on your desktop or mobile:
- Head to the YouTube TV homepage.
- Click the Try It Free button.
- Log in to your Google account.
- Enter your ZIP code and select Next.
- Review all the channels included in the base package in your area, then select Next.
- Select the premium add-ons you wish to include, then select Next.
- Finally, confirm the details of your subscription, enter your billing details, and select Start Trial. You won't be charged for the trial, but you will be charged afterwards if you don't cancel.
Once your subscription ends, you will automatically become a paid member at the $64.99/month rate. Again, this does vary depending on any active promotion. Currently, the post-trial cost is $54.99/month for the first three months.
If you decide the service isn't for you, you can cancel YouTube TV at any time during your trial or subscription (you can continue to use it until the end of your trial/billing period).
Is YouTube TV Right for You?
YouTube TV isn't cheap, but it's certainly not as expensive as traditional cable. If want to enjoy a range of live TV channels that you can record and watch back at any time, YouTube TV is an excellent choice. Besides, now you know how to sign up for the free trial, so you can test out the service and see if it's suitable before you hand over any money.
