Legitimate Ways To Get Netflix For Free Or At A Discount In 2025

Nov. 2, 2025, 7:17 a.m.

Tags: netflix

Netflix has become a staple for many households, offering a vast array of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and original content. However, as with many popular services, it comes with a monthly subscription fee that can add up over time. Despite Netflix's reputation for rarely offering discounts, there are several legitimate ways to access the service for free or at a reduced cost. This article explores all the verified methods available to U.S. consumers in 2025 to enjoy Netflix content without paying the full price.

Current Netflix Subscription Landscape

Before diving into free and discounted options, it's important to understand the current state of Netflix offerings. As of early 2025, Netflix serves 301.63 million paid subscribers worldwide and continues to attract users with its catalog of original content. However, the company has made several changes that impact how consumers can access its content:

Netflix no longer offers a free 30-day trial in the U.S., having discontinued all promotional trial periods in 2020
The company has implemented strict password-sharing rules, allowing account sharing only within one household
Additional members outside the household need to pay an extra fee of approximately $7.99/month in the U.S.
Student discounts specifically for Netflix do not exist, though other streaming platforms like Paramount Plus do offer them
The most affordable legitimate way to get Netflix is through the Basic with Ads plan at $6.99/month

Carrier Promotions and Bundles

One of the most reliable ways to get Netflix for free or at a discount is through mobile carrier promotions. Several major carriers offer bundled deals that include Netflix subscriptions.

T-Mobile's "Netflix on Us" Promotion

T-Mobile offers one of the most well-known promotions for free Netflix. The program has evolved over time, with significant changes implemented in January 2024:

Eligibility: Customers with one or more qualifying Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, or Magenta Max lines in good standing
Current offering: Netflix Basic with ads subscription (value up to $9.99/month)
Benefit: One or two screens (based on the number of qualifying lines) in your household
Process: T-Mobile adds the $9.99 fee to your monthly bill along with a credit for the service

For existing Netflix subscribers with higher-tier plans (Standard ad-free or Premium ad-free), the T-Mobile promotion still applies as a discount rather than a free service. For example, if you currently subscribe to Netflix Premium for $22.99, T-Mobile will apply the $9.99 credit, and the remainder ($13.00) will be included with your T-Mobile monthly bill.

It's worth noting that the promotion was previously more generous, offering ad-free Netflix Standard plans to users on more expensive mobile plans like Magenta Max. However, this option was retired in January 2024, and all customers were downgraded to Netflix's ad-supported tier. This change means subscribers will encounter unskippable ads and may find that much of Netflix's film library is unavailable due to licensing restrictions.

Verizon's Netflix + Max (with Ads) Bundle

Verizon offers another alternative for accessing Netflix content:

Benefit: Up to $10/month in +Play credits with select Unlimited plans
Promotion: New customers can sometimes receive up to 12 months of Netflix included with certain promotions
Process: The +Play credits can be applied toward a Netflix subscription

While not as straightforward as T-Mobile's offer, Verizon's bundling option can still provide significant savings for qualifying customers.

Employee Benefits

Netflix employees enjoy several benefits as part of their compensation package:

Free Netflix subscription
Access to standard benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance
Life insurance and various other types of insurance

According to employee reviews on Glassdoor, where Netflix has a 4.4/5 star rating, these benefits make working for Netflix an attractive option for entertainment enthusiasts. While not a practical option for most consumers, this represents a legitimate way to access Netflix content at no cost.

Reward Programs and Cash-Back Sites

Several online platforms allow users to earn rewards that can be applied to Netflix subscriptions, effectively reducing the cost to zero or at a significant discount.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is one of the most well-known reward platforms that can help offset Netflix subscription costs:

How it works: Users earn points ("Swagbucks" or "SBs") by completing various online tasks
Activities include watching videos, completing surveys, shopping online, and browsing the web
Once enough points are accumulated, they can be redeemed for:
- Netflix gift cards (when available)
- Visa gift cards or PayPal cash (which can then be used to pay for Netflix)

The process involves creating a free account on Swagbucks, participating in activities to earn points, and then redeeming those points for rewards that can be applied to Netflix.

Microsoft Rewards Program

While the source material mentions the Microsoft Rewards Program as a way to potentially earn Netflix benefits, specific details about how it works with Netflix are not provided in the source documents.

Other Reward Sites

The source material also references cash-back sites like Rakuten and TopCashback as sources for discounted Netflix gift cards. These platforms typically offer:

Discounted Netflix gift cards, saving users 5-10% on subscription costs
Cash-back offers when shopping through their portals
Various other rewards that can be converted to funds for Netflix subscriptions

Netflix Free Content Options

While not providing access to the full Netflix library, the service does offer legitimate ways to watch some content without a subscription:

Rotating Free Selection

Netflix maintains a rotating selection of free content available without a subscription:

Content type: First episodes of popular series and some movies
Availability: Typically includes Netflix original content
Limitation: Not the full library, but a legitimate way to sample some content

YouTube Channel

Netflix has a curated collection available on YouTube where users can watch:

Full episodes of selected shows
Examples include "Blue Eye Samurai," "Explained," and "Our Planet"
No payment required to sample Netflix's content

Account Sharing Options

While Netflix has cracked down on password sharing, certain sharing arrangements remain possible:

Household Sharing

As of 2025, Netflix allows account sharing within one household at no additional cost. This means:

Multiple people living at the same address can share one account
Each household can have multiple profiles
No extra charges for users within the same household

Friends and Family Members

The source documents suggest that users can still ask to be added to a friend or family member's Netflix account, though the long-term viability of this approach is uncertain given Netflix's crackdown on password sharing. The documents specifically note "Ask to be added to a friend or family member's Netflix account (for now)" with the implication that this option may not be available indefinitely.

Discount Strategies

For those who cannot access Netflix through the methods above, several strategies can reduce subscription costs:

Choose the Basic with Ads Plan

At $6.99/month, the Basic with Ads plan is Netflix's most affordable option. While it includes advertisements and may have some content limitations due to licensing restrictions, it provides access to the majority of Netflix's content at the lowest price point.

Share Costs with Household Members

Even within the new sharing policy, multiple people in the same household can share the cost of a subscription:

Basic with Ads plan ($6.99/month) supports one screen
Standard plan ($15.49/month) supports two screens
Premium plan ($22.99/month) supports four screens

Dividing the cost among multiple users can significantly reduce the individual expense.

Purchase Discounted Gift Cards

As mentioned earlier, purchasing Netflix gift cards through cash-back sites or other retailers offering discounts can reduce the effective cost of subscription by 5-10%.

Utilize Free Preview Weekends

Netflix occasionally offers free preview weekends where non-subscribers can access the full library. While not a consistent method, keeping an eye out for these promotions can provide temporary free access.

Use Cash-Back Apps and Credit Card Rewards

Many cash-back apps and credit cards offer rewards that can be applied to Netflix subscriptions:

Cash-back portals like Rakuten offer percentage back on Netflix gift card purchases
Some credit cards offer streaming service credits as part of their benefits
Rewards programs may offer statement credits that can be applied to Netflix charges

Important Considerations

When pursuing any of these methods to access Netflix for free or at a discount, several factors should be considered:

Legitimacy

The source documents emphasize that while there are legitimate ways to get Netflix for free, using unauthorized streaming sites or sharing passwords outside your household violates Netflix's terms of service. The documents specifically state: "Yes, it's legal to get Netflix for free through official promotions, carrier deals, and rewards programs. However, using unauthorized streaming sites or sharing passwords outside your household violates Netflix's terms of service."

Terms and Conditions

Each promotion or method comes with its own terms and conditions that should be reviewed carefully:

Carrier promotions may require maintaining specific plan levels
Reward programs may have minimum redemption thresholds
Free content availability may change periodically

Long-Term Viability

Some of these methods may not be available indefinitely:

Carrier promotions can change or be discontinued
Reward programs may adjust their reward structures
Netflix's policies on sharing and free content may evolve

Conclusion

While Netflix has made it more challenging to access its content without paying the full price, several legitimate options remain available for U.S. consumers in 2025. The most reliable methods include carrier promotions like T-Mobile's "Netflix on Us" and Verizon's bundling options, employee benefits, reward programs that can generate Netflix gift cards, and Netflix's own selection of free content. For those who must pay, strategies like choosing the ad-supported plan, sharing costs within households, purchasing discounted gift cards, and utilizing cash-back offers can reduce the effective cost.

As Netflix continues to evolve its offerings and policies, consumers should stay informed about changes that may affect their access to the service. By taking advantage of the legitimate methods outlined in this article, viewers can enjoy Netflix content while minimizing their expenses or even accessing it completely free of charge.