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Whether you're craving epic nature documentaries or heartwarming pet stories, we've got your guide on how to watch Animal Planet for free without cable.
Animal Planet has been bringing the animal kingdom into our living rooms since 1996, when it first made its way onto television screens as a collaboration between BBC and Discovery Communications. While Discovery (now Warner Bros. Discovery) eventually took the reins, the channel's mission has remained unchanged: connecting humans with the fascinating world of animals.
Gone are the days when Animal Planet was just about peaceful nature documentaries (though we still love those!) Today, the network serves up an addictive mix of heart-pounding wildlife rescues, incredible vet stories, and unforgettable family adventures. Fan favorites like Crikey! It's the Irwins keep the spirit of Steve Irwin alive while introducing a new generation to wildlife conservation. Meanwhile, shows like Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet and The Zoo give us an intimate look at the dedicated professionals who devote their lives to helping animals.
With Animal Planet reaching over 80 million American homes and inspiring countless wildlife enthusiasts, it's no wonder so many viewers are eager to tune in. If that includes you, here's your guide to watching Animal Planet for free, no cable required.
Animal Planet is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Philo, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $86.99 per month after the trial ends (with $10 off your first three months). Meanwhile, Philo offers a seven-day free trial and costs $28 per month after the free trial ends.
Hulu+ With Live TV doesn't have a free trial, however, they offer more bang for your buck than the other options. Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $81.99 per month and offers plans that include free subscriptions to both Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.
Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch Animal Planet live for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. Direct TV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $86.99 per month; Choice, which costs $114.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $129.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $169.99 per month. Animal Planet is available with all four plans.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Animal Planet with DirecTV Stream's free trial.
Philo is our best budget pick to watch Animal Planet shows for its price and free trial length. Philo offers a seven-day free trial and costs $28 per month after the trial ends. Along with Animal Planet, Philo also offers similar channels like Discovery Channel, Discovery Family, and Discovery Life. As for what else it includes, Philo offers more than 70 channels, as well as an unlimited DVR service. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Animal Planet with Philo's free trial.
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch Animal Planet based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $81.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $87.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $95.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. Animal Planet is included in all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Animal Planet with Hulu+ Live TV.
See below for a list of current programs on Animal Planet.