Best Free Trials UK: Streaming, VPNs, Meal Kits and More

What to Know Before Starting Any Free Trial

Free trials are a genuine way to test a service before committing to a subscription — but they rely on you actively managing the cancellation. Most free trials auto-convert to a paid subscription at the end of the trial period. The charge typically goes through on the same day the trial expires, which can catch people out if they planned to cancel on that day.

The safest approach: set a reminder two or three days before the trial ends, not on the final day. That gives you time to cancel through the provider's account settings without rushing.

Amazon Prime Free Trial

Amazon Prime is one of the most well-known free trials in the UK. New members get a trial period that gives access to the full Prime membership suite — Prime Video (streaming films and TV series including Amazon Originals), free next-day delivery on millions of eligible items, Prime Music (a curated music catalogue), and Prime Reading (a rotating selection of Kindle titles).

The trial is available to customers who have not been Prime members recently. After the trial, Prime automatically renews as a monthly or annual subscription — annual works out cheaper per month if you plan to continue. Cancellation is handled through your Amazon account under Manage Your Prime Membership, and you can cancel at any time during the trial without being charged.

If you regularly shop on Amazon, the free delivery benefit alone can offset a significant portion of the subscription cost. Check our Amazon discount codes page for any current promotions on Prime membership.

VPN Money-Back Guarantees

Most VPN providers do not offer a traditional free trial, but the major services provide a 30-day money-back guarantee on their subscription plans. This functions similarly — you pay upfront, use the full service for up to 30 days, and can request a complete refund if you are not satisfied. The refund is typically handled through customer support and processed within a few business days.

A good VPN will cover several simultaneous devices, work across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and browser extensions, and unblock a wide range of streaming services. The 30-day window is long enough to test one thoroughly across your usual devices and use cases before committing.

Longer-term VPN plans frequently carry a significant percentage discount off the standard monthly price, so if the guarantee period convinces you, a multi-year plan is usually the cheapest way to continue.

Streaming Service Trials and Introductory Offers

Free trials for streaming services have become less common across the industry in recent years, but introductory pricing and promotional offers remain widely available.

Apple TV+ — has historically offered free trials through device purchases and promotional bundles. Worth checking if you have recently bought an Apple device.

Disney+ — promotional pricing for the first few months has been available at various points, typically through third-party bundles or seasonal offers.

Paramount+ — available through Amazon Prime Video Channels, which sometimes offers a trial before billing begins.

ITVX Premium — the ad-free, higher-quality tier periodically offers trial access.

For any streaming trial, the same cancellation advice applies: set a reminder before the trial period ends, and cancel through the provider's website rather than the app store if possible (app store subscriptions require cancellation through App Store or Google Play settings, not the streaming provider's own interface).

Meal Kit Free Trial Boxes

Meal kit services — HelloFresh, Gousto, Mindful Chef, and others — run introductory offers for new customers that function similarly to free trials. You typically pay a nominal amount (often just delivery) for the first box, then receive subsequent boxes at the full subscription price unless you cancel or pause.

The important detail with meal kit services is the delivery schedule. If you do not actively pause or cancel within the subscription management portal before the next order cutoff, you will be charged for the following week's box. Cancellation windows are usually three to seven days before the next delivery date.

Meal kit boxes are a practical way to try new recipes and reduce food waste, but the ongoing subscription cost adds up. If you want the recipes without the subscription, many providers share their recipe cards online even after cancellation.

Fitness App Trials

Many fitness apps offer trial periods for premium features:

Strava Summit — periodically offers a trial of premium features including route planning, heart rate analysis, and segment leaderboards.

Nike Training Club — the premium tier has been offered free or at reduced cost through promotional periods.

Headspace and Calm — both offer free trials of their full libraries before converting to annual subscriptions.

For fitness services, the trial is a good time to assess whether you will genuinely use the features regularly enough to justify the ongoing cost. Many of the most useful features in fitness apps are available in the free tier.

Gym Memberships and Passes

Some gym chains offer free day passes or week trials for new members. PureGym allows a free day pass at many locations for prospective members. JD Sports' gym brand, JD Gyms, sometimes offers guest pass promotions.

Check JD Sports discount codes and the gym brand's own website for current trial offers — these are often promoted locally rather than nationally.

How to Manage Multiple Trials Without Getting Caught Out

Use a dedicated email address — a free Gmail or Outlook address specifically for trials means trial emails do not get lost in your main inbox.

Use a virtual card — services like Revolut offer virtual cards with a spending limit, which prevents a trial charge going through if you forget to cancel.

Track everything in a notes app — date started, trial end date, how to cancel. One line per service is enough.

Cancel immediately after signing up — most services let you cancel as soon as you sign up while retaining access until the trial ends. This removes the need to remember to cancel later.

For more ways to reduce recurring subscription costs, see our guide to best subscription boxes UK, which includes tips on managing cancellations and pause options across popular subscription services.

Once you have audited which trials are worth keeping, our guide on how to cut subscription costs in the UK covers rotating streaming services, downgrading to ad-supported tiers, and spotting forgotten payments.

For more savings tips, see our guide on Browser Extensions That Help You Save Money in the UK.

Sources & References

• Citizens Advice — Consumer Rights
• Advertising Standards Authority — UK Ad Rules

• MoneyHelper — Free Financial Guidance (UK Government-backed)