One of a handful of local channels, The CW has found its niche with dramas catered to teen/young adult audiences along with news cycles and sitcoms.
You can catch your local CW station for free using streaming services’ free trials, and we have our top 3 options for you to consider. Keep in mind that since The CW is a local channel, its availability is based on region. This means that even though these streamers offer The CW in their packages, it may not be available where you live, so be sure to check before signing up for your free trial.
YouTube TV
As you can probably tell from its name, YouTube TV is YouTube’s live TV streaming service. Since its launch in 2017, it has expanded to offer a wide range of entertainment, sports, and news content, including The CW. It’s an excellent choice for cord-cutters of all ages, making it a great alternative to traditional cable for many users.
YouTube TV free trial
YouTube TV offers one of the most generous free trials across streamers, giving you an almost unheard of 21 days to try out the platform. Sign up for the free trial to get three free weeks of The CW and cancel before the end of your trial to avoid being charged.
If you decide you like the service, for a limited time only, you can get $20 off your first three months.
YouTube TV plans and pricing
YouTube TV only offers one main channel package, but it comes with over 100 channels in addition to The CW, including CNN, NBC, FOX, and ESPN. Outside of offering The CW, YouTube is also the new home for the NFL Sunday Ticket, so it’s a particularly good deal for football fans.
YouTube TV Spanish
Only $24.99 for the first 6 months
- Unlimited DVR space
- 6 accounts to share at home
- Stream on three screens
- 30+ Spanish channels
$34.99/month
YouTube TV
Only $54.99 for the first 3 months
- Unlimited DVR space
- 6 accounts for one price
- Stream on three screens
- 100+ live TV channels
$72.99/month
Fubo
Fubo has positioned itself as a top choice for cord-cutters seeking a live TV streaming service. Originally focused on sports content, it has secured deals with major networks like Fox, CBS, and of course The CW, which has broadened its content offering even further. Whether you’re looking for sports, entertainment, or news, Fubo is a great choice.
Fubo free trial
Fubo gives you 7 days to try its free trial, which is pretty average across streamers. This means you get a full week to watch The CW, in addition to any of its other channel offerings. The free trial is available for every plan so that means you get the option of watching 260+ channels for free during your trial period, making it a pretty sweet deal.
Just be sure to cancel your trial within those 7 days if you don’t want to be charged after it ends. You can click here to read more about the Fubo free trial.
Fubo plans and pricing
Fubo offers 3 main English plans: Pro, Elite, and Ultimate. The CW is available in each plan, so feel free to try out any one of them. As mentioned before, Fubo made its name as a sports-centric streamer, so if you’re a sports fan, you’ll find a variety of other channels that may interest you outside of The CW.
Fubo Pro
Try 7 days free
- 1000 hours of cloud DVR
- Stream on ten screens
- 180+ channels
$84.99/month
Fubo Elite
Try 7 days free
- Stream on ten screens
- 1000 hours of cloud DVR
- 250+ channels
- HD and 4K video quality
$94.99/month
Fubo Premier
Try 7 days free
- Stream on ten screens
- 250+ channels
- HD and 4K video quality
- 1000 hours of cloud DVR
- Showtime included
$109.99/month
DirecTV Stream
Since its launch in 2016, DirecTV Stream has undergone a number of name changes and ownership shifts, but, it still stands out for its impressive channel coverage. The company, with nearly 30 years of satellite TV experience, provides a diverse content selection, including a wide range of regional sports networks (RSNs) and major broadcast networks, like The CW.
DirecTV Stream free trial
DirecTV Stream’s free trial is on the shorter side, but it still gives you 5 days to try out the service and watch The CW. The good news is the free trial is available at every tier, 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 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 before those 5 days are up. 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 The CW, but it may be worthwhile to try out the Premier option since it comes with the most channels and the free trial is available for it as well.
DirecTV Stream Entertainment
Try 5 days free
- 75+ channels
- Stream on unlimited devices at home
- Unlimited DVR space
$84.99/month
DirecTV Stream Optimo Mas
- 100+ live TV channels
- Spanish and English programming
- Three months of Max free
- Unlimited DVR space
$86.99/month
DirecTV Stream Choice
Try 5 days free
- 105+ live channels
- Unlimited DVR space
- Includes regional sports networks
- Three months of Max free
$114.99/month
DirecTV Stream Ultimate
Try 5 days free
- 140+ live channels
- Unlimited DVR space
- Includes regional sports networks
- Three months of Max free
$129.99/month
DirecTV Stream Premier
- Unlimited DVR space
- 150+ channels
- Includes Max Cinemax SHOWTIME and STARZ
- Includes regional sports networks
$169.99/month
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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