AMC Plus Free Trial: 7 Days and Why You Might Not Get One

AMC+ is also one of the few services that tells you exactly why you might not see a trial. Here's what its help centre says, and what you're getting during those seven days.

Why you might not get an AMC+ trial

AMC+ gives two reasons on its free trial help page:

• You used a promo code that already gives you a different benefit. AMC+ says a code like that replaces the trial rather than adding to it.
• You're rejoining on an old account that already had its free trial when you first signed up.

So if you have a promo code and you're new, compare the two before you use it. A 7-day trial may suit you better than a code that gives something else.

Signing up direct or through a provider

Where you sign up	Free trial?	Where to check
amcplus.com	7 days in most cases	AMC+ sign-up screen
AMC+ app	7 days in most cases	AMC+ sign-up screen
Cable provider	May or may not be offered	Your provider
Apple TV Channels	May or may not be offered	Apple
Roku Channels	May or may not be offered	Roku
Prime Video Channels	May or may not be offered	Amazon

The AMC+ FAQ backs this up, saying that for provider sign-ups you should visit your provider's website for free trial info.

What the AMC+ trial includes

AMC+ describes itself as a bundle. According to its FAQ, it includes everything in AMC Premiere plus the collections of Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films Unlimited, exclusive series, and ad-free access to shows from AMC, BBC America, IFC and SundanceTV. It's also the home of The Walking Dead Universe and the Anne Rice series, which is why many people start a trial in the first place.

The sign-in catch with Shudder and Sundance Now

This trips people up during a trial. AMC+ says your AMC+ sign-in won't work on the separate apps for Shudder, Sundance Now, IFC Films Unlimited and AMC. You watch their shows inside AMC+, or inside your provider's app if you signed up that way. If you download the Shudder app expecting to log in with your AMC+ trial, it won't let you in.

Watching AMC+ if you signed up elsewhere

AMC+ says that if you signed up through another provider, such as Apple, Roku or Xfinity, you get the app for that provider and find AMC+ as a section inside it. AMC+ also says it's available without a cable or satellite service, so you don't need a TV package to use the direct trial.

How to make the most of a 7-day AMC+ trial

1. Sign up at amcplus.com or in the AMC+ app so you get the 7-day trial in most cases.
2. Don't enter a promo code unless it gives you more than the trial.
3. Make a list of the shows you want to see from AMC, Shudder and Sundance Now, and start with the longest.
4. Watch inside AMC+, not the separate Shudder or Sundance Now apps.
5. Set a reminder for day six so you can decide before the trial ends, and cancel with whoever handles your plan.

Shudder fans, read this

Shudder has its own help centre, and it lists several ways to join, including through Apple, Prime or Roku. If you only want horror, a Shudder-only plan may be a better fit than AMC+. If you want horror plus AMC's dramas, the AMC+ trial covers both. If horror's your thing in general, these free offline horror games for Android fill the gap between episodes, and my list of Netflix alternatives compares other services.

You watch where you sign up

AMC+ sums up its own rule simply: you watch where you sign up. If you sign up directly, you use the AMC+ app on your device. If you sign up through Apple TV Channels, Prime Video Channels or The Roku Channel, AMC+ lives inside those apps instead. That's worth deciding before the trial starts, because moving between them later means starting again on a different route, and AMC+ says an old account that's already had its trial won't get another.

It's also why the trial terms differ by route. AMC+ controls the 7-day offer on its own site and app, but a provider such as Amazon or Roku sets its own, so check their sign-up screen for the length before you commit.

My verdict on the AMC Plus free trial

Sign up direct, skip the promo code unless it beats the trial, and watch everything inside AMC+. Seven days is enough to tell whether The Walking Dead Universe and the Shudder collection are worth keeping, and the help centre is clear enough that you won't be surprised by the rules.

Frequently asked questions

Does AMC Plus have a free trial?

Usually. AMC+ says that when you sign up at amcplus.com or in its app, you'll be offered a 7-day free trial in most cases.

Why didn't I get an AMC+ free trial?

AMC+ says it's usually because you used a promo code that gives another benefit, or you're rejoining on an old account that already used its free trial.

Does AMC+ have a free trial through Prime Video or Roku?

It may or may not. AMC+ says trials through cable providers, Apple TV Channels, Roku Channels and Prime Video Channels vary, so check that provider.

Does the AMC+ trial include Shudder?

Yes. AMC+ says it includes the collections of Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films Unlimited.

Can I use my AMC+ login in the Shudder app?

No. AMC+ says your AMC+ sign-in won't work on the separate Shudder, Sundance Now, IFC Films Unlimited and AMC apps.

Where do I watch AMC+ if I signed up through Roku or Apple?

AMC+ says you watch where you sign up, so you'd find AMC+ as a section inside the Roku, Apple or other provider's app.

Do I need cable for AMC+?

No. AMC+ says you can get AMC+ without a cable or satellite service provider.