If you’re searching for a Sling TV free trial in 2026, you’re probably looking for a 7-day, 14-day, or even 30-day pass to test out its live TV service before you buy.
Let’s get the most important news out of the way first: As of 2026, Sling TV does not offer a traditional free trial for its paid “Orange” or “Blue” packages.
This offer was discontinued and replaced with two main alternatives that are arguably better for new users. Instead of a short-term trial, you now have two excellent options:
- Sling Freestream: A 100% free, ad-supported streaming service that gives you access to over 600 live channels and 85,000+ on-demand titles—no credit card required.
- A Steep “First Month” Discount: Sling almost always offers a deep discount, like 50% off your first month, allowing you to “trial” the full-paid service for a very low price.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to use both of these methods to try Sling TV, what’s included, and how to get the most value without a “free trial.”
The Best Free Trial Alternative: What is Sling Freestream?
Sling Freestream is Sling’s answer to the free trial. It’s not a “trial” at all, but a permanent free-to-watch service that’s ad-supported. It’s the single best way to “try” the Sling TV app and see if you like the interface.
Best of all, you don’t even need to create an account or enter a credit card. You can start watching right now.
What’s Included in Sling Freestream?
- Over 600 Free Live Channels: This includes a huge variety of news, entertainment, and specialty channels. You’ll find familiar names like ABC News Live, CBS Mornings, Ion, Family Feud, Sports Grid, TNA, and Crunchyroll.
- 85,000+ Free On-Demand Movies & Shows: A massive library of content you can watch anytime.
How to Watch Sling Freestream
Streaming on Sling Freestream is incredibly simple.
- On a Web Browser:
- Go to the Sling TV website.
- Click on “Stream Free” or “Freestream.”
- Browse the guide and start watching immediately.
- On a Device (Roku, Fire TV, Mobile):
- Download the Sling TV app from your device’s app store.
- When you open the app, look for the “Stream for Free” or “Explore Freestream” option.
- You can browse as a guest without signing in.
Key Takeaway: Sling Freestream is the perfect no-risk way to test the app’s performance and browse a large library of content. However, it does not include premium channels like ESPN, FS1, TNT, or USA Network. For those, you need a paid plan.
The Best “Paid Trial”: Get 50% Off Your First Month
If you want to test the real Sling TV—with its premium sports, news, and entertainment channels—the best way to do it is with their introductory offer for new subscribers.
Sling TV’s most common deal is 50% off your first month.
This is a fantastic way to “trial” the service. For a low cost (e.g., $20 instead of $40), you get 30 days of full access to either the Sling Orange or Sling Blue package. This is a much longer and more thorough “test drive” than a standard 7-day trial.
Sling TV Plans Explained: What Are You Trialing?
If you go for the 50% off deal, you’ll need to choose a plan. Sling’s “a la carte” model is different from other services, so here’s what you need to know.
| Feature | Sling Orange | Sling Blue | Sling Orange + Blue |
| Intro Price | ~$20 (with 50% off) | ~$20 (with 50% off) | ~$30 (with 50% off) |
| Full Price | ~$40/month | ~$40/month | ~$60/month |
| Key Channels | ESPN, Disney Channel, TNT, TBS, Comedy Central | FS1, USA, Bravo, MSNBC, Fox News, NFL Network | All channels from both |
| Best For | NCAA & NBA Fans | NFL & Entertainment Fans | Everyone (The “Cable” Experience) |
| Streams | 1 Stream at a time | 3 Streams at a time | 4 Streams at a time |
The bottom line:
- Choose Sling Orange if you need ESPN and Disney.
- Choose Sling Blue if you need FS1, NFL Network, and want to watch on 3 devices at once.
Other Sling TV Deals & Promotions in 2026
Beyond the main 50% off deal, Sling often runs other promotions for new customers who are willing to prepay.
- Free Device Offers: Sling frequently offers a free streaming device (like an Amazon Fire TV Stick or a TiVo Stream 4K) when you prepay for two or three months of service. If you know you’re going to stick with it and need a new device, this is an excellent value.
- Season Pass Deals: During major sports seasons (like NFL or NBA), Sling may offer special “Season Pass” deals where you can prepay for the entire season at a discounted rate.
Is Sling TV Worth It in 2026?
Even without a traditional free trial, Sling TV remains one of the best-value live TV streaming services for cord-cutters in 2026.
Its biggest strength is flexibility. You aren’t forced to pay $80/month for a giant bundle of channels you don’t watch. You can pick Orange or Blue as your base and add small “Extras” packs (like Sports Extra, News Extra, etc.) for $6-$11 each.
The combination of the robust Sling Freestream service and the 50% off first-month discount gives you more than enough opportunity to see if the service is right for you.
Conclusion: Your Two Paths to Trying Sling TV
While the classic Sling TV free trial is a thing of the past, your options for testing the service in 2026 are clear:
- For a 100% Free Look: Go to the Sling TV website or download the app and start using Sling Freestream right now. No credit card, no sign-up, no risk. You get 600+ channels and a feel for the app.
- To Test the Premium Channels: Sign up as a new customer and use the 50% off your first month deal. This gives you 30 days to test-drive the full power of Sling Orange or Blue for a minimal cost.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What happened to the Sling TV 7-day free trial?
A: Sling TV discontinued its 7-day free trial, replacing it with offers like 50% off the first month and the always-free Sling Freestream service.
Q: Is Sling Freestream really free?
A: Yes. It is 100% free and supported by ads. You do not need to provide a credit card or even an email address to watch.
Q: Can I watch ESPN on Sling Freestream?
A: No. ESPN, ESPN2, and other live sports networks are premium channels. To watch them, you must subscribe to the Sling Orange package.
Q: Does Sling TV have a 30-day free trial?
A: No, Sling TV does not offer a 30-day free trial. Any site claiming this is outdated. The best way to get a 30-day trial is to pay for the first month at a 50% discount.
Q: Can Amazon Prime members get Sling TV for free?
A: No. Sling TV is a separate service and is not included with an Amazon Prime membership.
