DIRECTV Stream Free Trial: 5 Days Free, Who Qualifies, How to Cancel
DIRECTV's streaming service offers new customers a 5-day free trial if they don't lease a Gemini box. Cancel by 11:59 p.m. ET on day 5 or you'll be billed ($89.99/mo and up).
Yes, DIRECTV's streaming service (formerly DIRECTV STREAM) has a 5-day free trial for new residential customers who use their own streaming device. If you don't cancel by 11:59 p.m. ET on the 5th day after you enroll, you're billed for the package you chose. The Entertainment package is $89.99 a month.
Last checked: October 26, 2026 against the official site. Details can change.
How the DIRECTV free trial works
On October 26, 2026, DIRECTV's streaming page showed a "Try 5 days for $0" offer. The fine print says it's for "new residential customers only," that "a valid card is required," that a temporary hold may apply during the trial period, and that the service "renews monthly unless canceled."
The offer terms on that page list the trial as the "5-Day Free Trial for Signature Streaming Packages Without Device." In practice, that means:
- It applies to the main Signature streaming packages watched in the DIRECTV app on a device you already own.
- Your card "may have a temporary hold during the trial up to the amount of your selected service."
- "Select services do not begin until after the trial."
- The trial "can't be combined with some other offers."
Who qualifies (and who doesn't)
DIRECTV's general streaming terms say the account holder must be a residential customer, 18 or older, located in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). You need a compatible device and an internet connection, and DIRECTV recommends at least 25 Mbps.
The terms also name two groups that don't qualify for the free trial:
- Customers who disconnected DIRECTV service within the previous 12 months
- Customers with a leased Gemini device (DIRECTV's streaming box)
What you pay after the trial
The offer terms listed these monthly prices for Signature packages without a Gemini device, described as "for 2 years":
- Entertainment: $89.99/mo
- Optimo Más: $89.99/mo
- Choice: $118.98/mo
- Ultimate: $153.98/mo
- Premier: $198.98/mo
DIRECTV says the prices for Choice and above include a Regional Sports Fee of up to $23.99/mo. Taxes, other fees, premium add-ons and equipment fees are not covered by the 2-year price guarantee. In October 2026, a football promotion on the page also advertised Entertainment at $59.99/mo with one month of the DIRECTV Sports Pack included. It said the service "auto-renews after free trial & promotional period at the current rate ($89.99/mo. Entertainment & $14.99/mo. DIRECTV Sports Pack) unless you cancel." Read the summary on your checkout screen, because prices can change.
Genre Packs are a different deal
DIRECTV also sells smaller Genre Packs, such as MySports ($64.99/mo, listed at $49.99 for the first month). The offer terms list the 5-day free trial under Signature streaming packages. The Genre Pack offers they list are first-month or two-month discounts, not free trials. Check which kind of offer you're signing up for before you enter a card.
How to cancel the DIRECTV free trial
DIRECTV's trial offer disclosure gives a firm deadline: if you're eligible for the 5-day free trial, "you must cancel by 11:59 p.m. ET on the 5th calendar day after enrollment to avoid being charged." Its example: if you enroll on January 30, cancel by February 4 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Otherwise, the first charge comes on February 5.
The ways to cancel are:
- Online: DIRECTV's cancel help page says customers who get service over the internet (no satellite dish) can sign in and select "Cancel service."
- By phone: the trial disclosure lists 833.637.6444 for canceling before you're charged.
Save the confirmation email or screen after you cancel. If the trial was billed through an app store or a device platform, you may need to cancel there instead. See our guide on canceling a free trial before you're charged.
Bottom line
DIRECTV's 5-day trial is a no-cost way to test its streaming packages on your own TV or phone, as long as you haven't had DIRECTV in the past 12 months and you don't lease a Gemini box. Write down the exact cancel-by date (the 5th calendar day, 11:59 p.m. ET). If you're comparing live TV services, our posts on the Fubo free trial and the Philo free trial cover two other options.
Frequently asked questions
Does DIRECTV Stream have a free trial in 2026?
Yes. On October 26, 2026, DIRECTV's streaming page offered a 5-day free trial for new residential customers who sign up for a streaming package without a leased Gemini device.
When do I have to cancel the DIRECTV free trial?
DIRECTV's trial disclosure says to cancel by 11:59 p.m. ET on the 5th calendar day after enrollment. If you don't, the first charge happens the next calendar day.
Can former DIRECTV customers get the free trial?
Not always. DIRECTV's offer terms say customers who disconnected DIRECTV service within the previous 12 months don't qualify, and neither do customers with a leased Gemini device.
Will DIRECTV charge my card during the trial?
DIRECTV says your card may have a temporary hold during the trial, up to the amount of the service you selected. A regular monthly charge starts only if you don't cancel in time.