How to Get Showtime’s Free Trial, Deals, and Bundles

Are you a fan of Billions? Do you want to catch the latest season of The Chi? Or maybe you want to see what the big deal is about Shameless? If the answer is yes to any of those questions (or all of them), then you’re likely interested in what Showtime has to offer.

At its inception, Showtime was a premium channel you could subscribe to for an additional fee with your cable package. These days, you can subscribe directly to it as an on-demand streaming service. Showtime is one of the premier streaming destinations with over a hundred original TV shows and a constant rotation of hit movies and documentaries.

But you don’t have to take our word for it! Showtime offers a seven-day free trial, so you can start watching today without any commitment. Plus, occasional Showtime subscription deals sweeten the pot even further. Below, we’ll walk you through exactly how to get them.

What is Showtime?

Showtime is an over-the-top streaming (OTT) service, which means you can subscribe to it directly without the hassle of traditional cable packages.

Showtime produces original TV series and documentaries, which are exclusive to its platform. It also licenses popular movies and even broadcasts select sporting events. That said, Showtime’s focus is on its in-house series, like The L Word: Generation Q or the recently wrapped Homeland. For that reason, many consumers choose to package Showtime with another streaming service (such as Hulu or fuboTV) to expand their viewing options and consolidate billing.

How do I sign up for a Showtime free trial?

The easiest way to sign up for a Showtime free trial is by visiting the website. You can also download the Showtime app on your smartphone or tablet. With either option, you’ll need to create an account (credit card and email address required). After you set up your account, you’ll have full access to Showtime’s entire library for one week free of charge!

Whether you sign up via the website or app, the free trial offer remains the same: one week.

What types of free trials does Showtime typically offer?

Showtime offers an automatic seven-day free trial for new customers when you create an account. Alternatively, you can choose to purchase Showtime as an add-on to another streaming service, although the free trial offer then depends on the provider. For example, you can subscribe to Showtime through Amazon Prime or Hulu and still get Showtime’s standard seven-day free trial. With fuboTV, on the other hand, the free trials vary by plan. The two lower levels offer a one-week free trial where you can select Showtime as an add-on, but the Ultra package (which includes Showtime in its price) doesn’t.

Another great option is to check out the network’s app: Showtime Anytime. You can download the app from the App Store or Google Play, or you can access the site via a web browser. There, Showtime offers a small selection of free episodes for potential viewers to peruse. You can watch the pilot episodes of Black Monday, On Becoming a God in Central Florida, and Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, all without even creating an account!

In the past, Showtime has made surprise announcements that extended the free trial period to 30 days. Unfortunately, there’s no way of telling if, or when, that might happen again.

Are there bundle deals with Showtime?

Everyone’s always looking to save money with packages like the Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu bundle, which discounts all three services for one competitive price. Unfortunately, Showtime isn’t a part of any such bundles at this time.

As mentioned, Showtime is available as an add-on to several services, but there’s not much cost relief on that front, either. Whether you subscribe directly to Showtime or through another streaming service, the price for Showtime remains the same ($10.99/mo.)

Even though there are limited financial incentives, there are some benefits to having all your content in one place. If you’re subscribing to another provider (for example, Hulu), you’ll have the ease of accessing all your Showtime content right alongside your Hulu shows. However, if you want to watch Showtime specifically, you can download the Showtime Anytime app (for mobile or smart TVs) and sign in using your provider credentials.

Current 2020 Showtime deals

The standard free trial for Showtime runs for one week. It’s available for all new customers and is automatically applied to your account when you sign up.

At this time, Showtime is not running any additional special promos or deals.

What should I do after my Showtime trial expires?

After one week, your Showtime free trial will upgrade to a full membership. When this happens, Showtime will charge you $10.99/mo. Your subscription will automatically renew once a month. Showtime only offers this single, no-commercial plan. Assuming you’ve gotten hooked on one of Showtime’s addictive dramas, there’s nothing left for you to do but keep watching.

On the other hand, if you’ve decided Showtime just isn’t for you, canceling your subscription is straightforward. If you subscribed directly through Showtime, then sign in to the website and click on “Your Subscription” under “Account Settings.” There, you’ll be able to cancel your subscription. Slight variations apply if you subscribed through another service, but you can find specific instructions on Showtime’s website.

If Showtime’s not for you, then there are certainly other streaming services out there that might fit the bill like Starz or Hulu. Just like Showtime, both of these providers have free trials so you can test them out and feel confident you’ve found the best match.

The final cut

For years, Showtime has been synonymous with quality television. If you’re a fan of addictive TV shows, popular movies, and exclusive sporting events, then chances are Showtime will be a great addition to your streaming line-up. And with the one-week Showtime trial period, there’s no reason not to give it a try! Check out our Showtime review for a comprehensive round-up of what the service has to offer.