A channel with a name that speaks for itself, Cartoon Network has been home to some of the most beloved children’s programming in the United States. It’s also been home to Adult Swim, its adult-oriented late night block, and Toonami, its anime block.
You can watch Cartoon Network for free directly on the Cartoon Network website, which offers free episodes of some of their tv shows. But you can also watch the channel for free with certain streaming services’ free trials. We have our top 2 options below.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has undergone quite a few name changes and ownership shifts since it began in 2016, but, it still stands out for its impressive channel coverage. DirecTV, with nearly 30 years of satellite TV experience, provides a diverse content selection, including a wide range of regional sports networks (RSNs), major broadcast networks, and entertainment networks, including Cartoon Network.
DirecTV Stream free trial
DirecTV Stream’s free trial is on the shorter side, but it still gives you 5 days to try out Cartoon Network. The good news is the free trial is available at every subscription level, so you can get 5 days of any channel package: Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier. The other good news? You can also include a 3-month free trial of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz, and MGM+ with each package so you get 5 free days of those premium channels too!
To avoid being charged, just be sure to cancel your free trial within those 5 days. You can learn more about the DirecTV Stream free trial here.
DirecTV Stream plans and pricing
As mentioned above, DirecTV Stream offers 4 different channel packages: Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier. You only need the Entertainment package to get Cartoon Network, but we suggest trying out the Premier option since it comes with almost twice as many channels.
DIRECTV Stream Entertainment
$59.99 for the first month
- 90+ channels
- Local channels and ESPN Unlimited
- Unlimited cloud DVR
- Unlimited streams
$89.99/month
DIRECTV Stream Óptimo Más
- 100+ live TV channels
- Spanish and English programming
- Unlimited cloud DVR
$74.99/month
DIRECTV Stream Choice
$64.99 for the first month, then $10 off for 2 months
- 125+ channels
- Includes regional sports networks
- Unlimited cloud DVR
- Unlimited streams
$94.99/month
DIRECTV Stream Ultimate
$99.99 for the first month, then $10 off for 2 months
- 160+ channels
- Includes regional sports networks
- STARZ Encore and NHL Network
- Unlimited cloud DVR
$129.99/month
DIRECTV Stream Premier
- 185+ channels
- Includes HBO Max, Paramount+ Premium, STARZ and Cinemax
- Includes regional sports networks
- Unlimited cloud DVR
$159.99/month
YouTube TV
As you can probably tell from its name, YouTube TV is YouTube’s answer to internet live TV streaming. Since its launch in 2017, it has expanded to offer a wide range of sports, news, and entertainment content, including Cartoon Network. It’s an excellent choice for cord-cutters of all ages, making it a great option for just about anybody.
YouTube TV free trial
YouTube TV offers one of the longest free trials across streamers, giving you 10 days to try out the platform. Sign up for the free trial to get 10 days of Cartoon Network free and cancel within that time to avoid being charged.
If you decide you like the service, for a limited time only, you can get $59.99/mo for the first 2 months.
YouTube TV plans and pricing
YouTube TV only offers one main channel package, but it comes with over 100 channels in addition to Cartoon Network, including ABC, TNT, FOX, and HGTV—so you’ll have a ton of content to choose from. Outside of offering Cartoon Network, YouTube is also the new home for the NFL Sunday Ticket, so it’s a particularly enticing for football fans.
Davan Hamilton • Author
Davan Hamilton is an editor and writer based in Jacksonville, FL. Holding a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, her writing spans a wide range, from essays on film criticism and analysis to surreal poetry. Now, she works for Flixed as an editor, continuing to ignore the list of passion projects she’s accumulated. When she’s not glued to her computer, you can find her building endless amounts of Lego sets, binge-reading manga, or playing with (fighting) her cat.
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