| Written by: Kessin Rasor

Free TV With Credit Card Perks

Add this to your watch list: Even if you’re only just getting started in points and miles, you most likely have an option for some free TV courtesy of your credit card perks. I personally get multiple streaming services for free each month, thanks to the cards in my wallet. While many card benefits are straightforward, this one of the more “hidden” perks of the hobby. Here are some of my favorite ways to snag free TV with credit card perks.

Which TV Streaming Services Can You Get For Free?

Whether you are a ToP Chef fanatic or can’t get enough of For All Mankind‘s race to the moon, there’s a great way to get your TV fix for free. Here's how to use card perks to get free Paramount+, Peacock, Apple TV and more.

Paramount+

The popular streaming app Paramount+ is included as a benefit of a Walmart+ subscription. This is a perk of the American Express Platinum, Business Platinum and Business Gold credit cards. Additionally, there are often cardmember offers for discounts on this program available through other cards and issuers.

To get your free Paramount+, first use your card to register for the complimentary Walmart+ subscription. To do this, follow the instructions in your Amex account to activate the benefit. From there, you will sign up for the monthly Walmart+ plan. Eligible cardmembers will receive a monthly credit of $12.95 to their Amex accounts.

Once your account is established, navigate to your Walmart+ Membership details. Scroll down until you see Video Streaming Choice. Note that Walmart+ provides free access to either Paramount+ or Peacock. Since we have another great trick for snagging that Peacock service elsewhere (explained below), I'd recommend choosing Paramount+ for this card perk. Note: You can update your subscription to the other platform every 90 days, if desired. During setup, you will have the option to upgrade to ad-free for an additional monthly charge of $5, if desired. That’s it! Now, it’s time to get caught up on Yellowstone and Landman with your free Paramount+.

Free TV With Credit Card Perks

Peacock

Instacart credits are a popular perk of many Chase cards. And if you have just one of the below Chase cards, or any Mastercard debit/credit card, you may have options to catch up on Poker Face or the new season of Traitors through this benefit.

Each card listed below will give 3 free months of Instacart+, along with varying monthly credits for orders placed within the platform:

In this ToP guide, we outline how to use the credits and take advantage of 3 free months of Instacart+. While many choose to let these credits slip away unused, that Instacart+ membership has a hidden TV benefit you may be missing out on: Instacart+ users also have access to a free Peacock subscription. That’s right! As long as your Instacart+ account stays active (for free), you can take advantage of streaming all your favorite shows. The best part is that adding more cards to the account allows you to extend your membership by an additional 3 months. I set a calendar reminder to cancel my membership before the free time runs out, so I won’t be charged.

To activate this perk, navigate to your account settings and choose the option for “Your Instacart+ Membership.” From there, you will see Peacock listed as a benefit. Follow the instructions to activate your account with the free membership. It’s that easy. You can now stream all of your favorite reality TV while saving on those grocery delivery orders.

Free TV With Credit Card Perks

Apple TV

A newer benefit, the personal Apple TV/Music subscription perk was announced as part of last year's refresh of the Chase Sapphire Reserve personal card. And you don’t need to be an Apple/iPhone user to take advantage of these monthly benefits.

To activate your free Apple TV subscription, navigate to the “Benefits & Rewards” section of your Chase account. You will need to create an Apple ID, if you don’t already have one. For Apple users, the benefit should be linked to your devices upon activation. If you're on Team Android, you’ll want to download the Apple TV app on your preferred device(s).

Free TV With Credit Card Perks

If you already have an active Apple TV subscription directly through Apple, your complimentary subscription will automatically extend your existing subscription. Canceling the benefit through Chase will cause your paid subscription to resume. For those with Apple One or family plans, the complimentary subscription will not reduce the cost. You would ultimately have two active subscriptions. Don’t forget to activate your Apple Music subscription, as well, to catch up on all your favorite music and podcasts.

Even More Ways To Save On Your Favorite Shows

While we’ve built out quite a collection of great free streaming options, there are still additional ways to save on other platforms.

  • The Platinum Card from American Express offers a $25 monthly credit for Digital Entertainment. This credit can be applied to the following TV services:
    • Hulu/Disney +/ESPN
    • Paramount+
    • PeacockYouTube TV
  • I also like to watch the Offers section of my card accounts, especially Chase and Amex, for additional savings. Both banks allow you to filter available offers for “Entertainment” to see what’s available with a quick glance. At the time of writing, targeted offers include:
    • Chase: Savings on Paramount+, fuboTV, Sling TV, Disney+, ESPN, DIRECTV and Dish Network
    • Amex: Savings on YouTube TV, Peacock, Sling TV, AMC+, FOX One, Fubo, and Dish Network.
Free TV With Credit Card Perks

Earn Extra Points Through TV

While we love to save money (and get things for free!), sometimes our expenses are an earning opportunity. A few popular cards for earning on those digital entertainment expenses are:

Free TV With Credit Card Perks: ToP Thoughts

Once you’ve started in the hobby, you’ll likely build a great collection of cards and benefits. It’s always fun to dig in and see where your points-and-miles pursuits can save you money in other areas. Are you staying up to date on all your favorite shows with free TV options? Let us know over in the ToP Facebook Group.