Disney+ no longer offers a free trial

Customers new to Disney's recently launched streaming service - Disney+ - are no longer eligible for a tree trial when they sign up, with the entertainment giant axing its seven-day test period. This means new customers will now get hit with a minimum of $8.99 right on sign-up, or $89.99 for those willing to commit to a year upfront.

The decision comes ahead of the July 3 premiere of the Hamilton movie adaptation, which Disney reportedly paid USD$75 million for. While the film was originally meant to have a theatrical release in October 2021, Disney brought forward the release date by over a year in light of the global pandemic.

Disney+ isn't the only streaming to ditch free trials. Netflix stopped offering free trials locally at the start of this year, marking a significant change from its initial 30 days free offer. Netflix's free trial decision isn't global, however. While new Australian Netflix customers may no longer be able to get themselves a month free, customers in the United States still can. On the other hand, Disney's decision appears to be global.

Local competitors such as Stan, Binge, and Amazon Prime Video still offer free trials, albeit varying in length.

Alex Choros

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Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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