How To Get Netflix for Free

Netflix needs little introduction – if you have the Internet access to read this article and the tech savvy to know that TechJunkie exists, then there’s nothing we can tell you about what Netflix does and how they do it. It is the streaming service of choice for millions of people across the world. With a catalog of thousands of movies and TV shows, and with more being added every month, it’s one of the most comprehensive media libraries out there. It also costs money – $8.99 a month as of this writing.

In terms of what you get for your money, Netflix is a pretty amazing deal. For a little more than a quarter a day, Netflix gives you hours of high-quality entertainment. Some of the best TV shows from other networks and their own original programming, hundreds of new movies, thousands of new movies, and new content all the time. You definitely get a lot more than you pay for with Netflix. At TechJunkie, we advocate paying for content. It gives the company the funds it needs to continue working and developing original content. It allows Netflix to invest in more movies, TV shows, the development of its services and whatever else it needs to continue providing the kind of service we all enjoy.

However, maybe you just don’t have the $8.99 a month. We’ve all been there. So how can you enjoy access to Netflix without breaking the bank?

I know of two legal, non-cheating ways to get Netflix for free. One of them is honest (within reason) but might be difficult and one of them is kind-of honest and easy but a bit of a pain. Which you use is up to you.

Sharing an account

If you have a partner, friend or family member who has a multiple-stream Netflix account, you could ask them to set up a password for you on their account so that you can use it from your location. This isn’t easy, as most people with accounts rightfully feel that the account is for them, not some random hanger-on. However, if you only plan to use the account for a little while or just to watch a particular show, some people will be OK with trusting you with a password. Is this OK with Netflix? Kind of. They haven’t announced any plans to crack down on it, and they have described account sharing as being an overall positive for their business, so – within reason – you can probably do this without worrying about any negative consequences. The only difficult part is finding a friend who is willing to let you be a leech.

Continuous free trials

The second method is kind of honest – you aren’t technically breaking any rules – but it’s a hassle. It has been used for Netflix and other subscription services for years and still works now. All you need to do is sign up for an endless series of free trials on the service. Every time you want to sign up for a free 30-day trial, you’ll need a new credit card number and a new email address. However, the increase in free and disposable email services over the past couple of years has made getting email addresses trivially simple, and getting a prepaid credit card is easy too.

You may be able to recycle through your email accounts and credit cards again after six months or a year (reports vary) but you should count on needing a new set each month.

Prepaid credit or debit cards are widely available and some charge no monthly fee as long as you meet certain conditions. This page has a lot of information about such cards.

Then:

1. Set up a disposable email address. You can use Gmail if you like.
2. Register for a free trial at Netflix using your new email address and prepaid card.
3. Watch Netflix for 30 days, then cancel before the end of the free trial.
4. Set up a PayPal account with the prepaid card.
5. Register at Netflix again using a different email address and PayPal as payment method.
6. Cancel before the end of the free trial.
7. Rinse and repeat with a new email address and new card each month.

You can stretch that free month out more if you don’t mind talking to someone. Call Netflix (1-(866) 579-7172) and tell them you have been working away or studying for finals or something and haven’t yet been able to use your free trial. Ask them nicely if they will extend it for a couple of weeks so you can try it out. They will often give you an extra month just for asking.

A quick note on credit card number generators. There are some websites out there that suggest using credit card number generators to create fake credit cards to use when applying for a Netflix account. Don’t. Just don’t. Not only is it a crime to use a number you know to be fraudulent, most of the numbers generated don’t work. It isn’t a habit I want any TechJunkie reader to get into as it could end in tears. Use a prepaid card instead. It is much safer.

So there are two ways you can get Netflix for free. Know of any other (mostly) legal ways to do it? Tell us about it below if you do!