If you‘re an Xbox gamer, you‘ve probably heard about Xbox Game Pass – the Netflix-style gaming subscription service from Microsoft that gives you access to over 100 games for one monthly fee. It‘s an incredible deal, but before committing to a recurring subscription, you probably want to give Xbox Game Pass a test drive first.
The standard Xbox Game Pass free trial is 14 days. This allows new members to try out the service for two weeks before the monthly membership kicks in.
In this detailed guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about getting a free trial for Xbox Game Pass, so you can experience the benefits first-hand before paying. Let‘s dive in!
Overview of Xbox Game Pass Free Trial Options
Here‘s a quick look at the different free trial options available:
14-day standard free trial – The typical 2 week free trial for new Xbox Game Pass members
$1 for 1 month – Special promotional pricing of $1 for your first month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
1-3 months free – Periodic deals that offer 1-3 free months for new subscribers
Free perks – Free in-game content and partner offers for active Xbox Live Gold/Game Pass Ultimate members
The availability of these Xbox Game Pass free trial offers varies across regions and over time. Microsoft often runs special limited-time deals around major game releases or holidays.
How the 14-Day Free Trial Works
Let‘s take a closer look at how the standard 14-day free trial works:
It‘s only for brand new Xbox Game Pass members – previous or existing subscribers don‘t qualify.
You can sign up directly on your Xbox console, on the Xbox app for Windows 10 PCs, or via the Xbox website.
No credit card or payment details required! You can start the 14-day trial without entering any billing info.
Enjoy unlimited access to play from the Game Pass library of over 100 games during the trial.
Xbox Live Gold membership (sold separately) is required for online multiplayer gaming access.
You can take advantage of special member perks like exclusive discounts, free in-game content, and partner offers.
Cancel anytime before the end of the 14 days and you won‘t be charged a thing!
If you don‘t cancel, you‘ll automatically be charged the standard $9.99 monthly membership fee at the end of the trial period.
This gives you a nice risk-free 14 day window to play tons of games and decide if Xbox Game Pass is worth the monthly cost for you. And you don‘t even need a credit card to start, making it easy to try with zero commitment.
What‘s Included with Xbox Game Pass?
To help decide if Xbox Game Pass is worth it for you after the free trial, here‘s an overview of everything included with a paid subscription:
Over 100 high-quality games – Instant access to a Netflix-style library of games spanning action adventures, shooters, RPGs, family fun, indies, and more.
Xbox exclusives on day one – Play new Xbox exclusives like Halo Infinite on release day as part of your subscription.
Xbox, PC, and cloud gaming – Play Game Pass games on Xbox consoles, Windows 10 PCs, and Android devices via cloud streaming.
Multiplayer gaming – Online multiplayer requires an Xbox Live Gold membership, sold separately.
Perks & discounts – Access to free perks including member discounts, free in-game content, exclusive deals, and partner offers.
New games added all the time – Games are added every month, so the library is constantly evolving.
Considering a standard Game Pass subscription costs just $9.99 per month, you‘re getting a ridiculous amount of gaming value for your money. The library has tons of hits like the Halo and Gears of War franchises, Elder Scrolls Online, Forza Horizon 5, and recent additions like FIFA 23.
Getting Your First Month of Game Pass Ultimate for $1
For a limited time, new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can get their first month of membership for just $1!
Here are the details on this awesome one buck promotional offer:
It‘s only for brand new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members – existing subs don‘t qualify.
You‘ll need to enter valid payment details to sign up for the $1 deal, since it will auto-renew at full price after a month.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate combines Xbox Game Pass for console, PC, cloud gaming access, and an Xbox Live Gold sub.
The available games library can vary slightly across the console, PC, and cloud gaming catalogs.
All the usual member perks like discounts and free in-game content are included.
After the first month, the subscription will renew at the regular $14.99 monthly rate for Game Pass Ultimate.
For just a single dollar, you can gain a month of full access to evaluate whether Xbox Game Pass Ultimate‘s library and benefits are worth it for you. It lets you experience the variety of gaming options across Xbox consoles, PCs, and mobile cloud streaming.
At just a buck for your first month, why not give it a shot?
Periodic Promotions for 1-3 Free Months
Every so often, Microsoft runs special deals that give 1-3 months of Xbox Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate to new members completely free!
Here are some details on these limited-time free trial promotions:
They‘re usually offered to new Xbox Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate subscribers only.
The # of free months can vary – sometimes it‘s 1 month, other times up to 3 months for new members.
Xbox Game Pass vs Game Pass Ultimate offers may be different.
Online multiplayer requires the Xbox Live Gold sub, sold separately.
Perks like monthly free games and member discounts are included.
You‘ll need to enter payment details when you sign up, but won‘t be charged during the free period.
Cancel before the end of the free trial to avoid being charged monthly after it ends.
Scoring 1-3 free months gives you a ton of time to try out Game Pass before paying. You can experience the benefits of the subscription and play to your heart‘s content without it costing a dime initially.
It lets you kick the tires thoroughly before deciding if you want to keep the membership after the trial ends. Be sure to snag these deals when you see them!
Free Perks for Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass Ultimate Members
On top of game access, active Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers get access to some nice free perks as part of their membership:
Free Play Days – Play full versions of select games free for a limited 3-day period. Games rotate weekly, so there‘s always something new to play.
Exclusive deals & discounts – Save up to 20% on digital Xbox games, DLC, and add-ons in the Xbox store.
Free in-game content – Get free player skins, boosts, weapons, currency, bonuses, and more for popular games.
Partner offers – Special limited-time free trials and deals from Xbox partners.
Free Games with Gold – Xbox Live Gold members get up to 4 free Xbox games to keep each month.
These perks deliver additional value on top of the core game library subscription. And the exclusive discounts can end up saving you a nice chunk of change.
What Happens When the Free Trial Ends?
Of course, all good things must come to an end. So what happens when your Xbox Game Pass free trial concludes?
Here‘s what goes down depending on the type of free trial:
14-day trial – You‘ll automatically be charged the standard $9.99 monthly fee. Cancel before the trial ends to avoid this!
$1 for 1 month – It will renew at the full $14.99/month for Game Pass Ultimate. You‘ll need to cancel to prevent this.
1-3 months free – You‘ll be charged the usual monthly rate after the free period ends. Be sure to cancel to avoid this.
Perks – Access to free games, deals, and in-game content ends until you re-activate your paid membership.
The key is this – if you just want to try Game Pass but don‘t plan to keep the subscription, be sure to cancel before the trial ends to avoid getting charged. Set a reminder if you think you might forget!
Tips to Maximize Your Free Trial
Follow these tips to make sure you make the most of your Xbox Game Pass free trial before it expires:
Download games in advance – Use the trial time to pre-install your most-wanted games so they‘re ready to play once your paid membership kicks in.
Prioritize must-play titles – Focus on must-play Game Pass titles in case you decide not to continue after the free trial ends.
Set reminders to cancel – Mark your calendar close to the end of the trial so you don‘t forget and get charged accidentally.
Redeem all available perks – Take advantage of all the free games, DLC, and in-game content to maximize the value.
Try cloud gaming – Test Xbox cloud gaming on mobile if you want to see how well it works before paying.
Have fun! – Most importantly, have a blast gaming during your trial. It‘s free after all!
Using these tips will ensure you get the most out of the Xbox Game Pass free trial before making a decision on whether to continue with a paid subscription or not.
Can You Get Another Free Trial After Canceling?
Once you cancel after using a free trial, you might wonder if you can sign up again for another free trial later on.
Unfortunately, in most cases the answer is no. The same Microsoft account/gamertag generally can‘t redeem additional free trials after canceling the first one.
However, there are a few rare exceptions and loopholes for sneaky ways to potentially score another free trial:
Creating a brand new Xbox/Microsoft account entitles you to grab trial offers again.
Sometimes lapsed previous Game Pass users may get targeted with free trial offers after canceling for several months.
Adding new payment methods/credit cards can possibly unlock new free trial eligibility.
Using a different gamertag on the same account may work in specific situations.
Free trial codes from giveaways or Xbox purchases can provide additional free months.
But in general, you shouldn‘t expect to continuously redeem free trials over and over with the same account. Most gamers will have to settle for a single free trial before needing to pay.
Legit Ways to Get Game Pass Without Paying
For gamers trying to score ongoing free access to Xbox Game Pass without paying monthly fees, here are a few legitimate options to get free subscriptions:
Microsoft Rewards – Earn points through Bing searches and other activities that can be redeemed for Game Pass membership.
Giveaways and contests – Enter to win free 1-month or 3-month Game Pass subscription cards.
Hardware bundles – Buying Xbox consoles or controllers sometimes comes with free Game Pass trial codes up to 6 months.
Microsoft employee perks – Full-time Microsoft employees get free 12-month Game Pass Ultimate codes.
Account sharing – Set your Xbox as the account‘s Home Xbox to share benefits with other local profiles.
Game sharing – Share games with a friend who has an active Game Pass subscription.
Though it takes more luck and effort, these options do offer ways to keep enjoying Game Pass on the cheap or free if you don‘t want to pay monthly. Free trials remain the best way to sample Game Pass risk-free initially.
The Bottom Line
Test driving Xbox Game Pass through a free trial is a great way to experience the service before paying a monthly subscription fee. You can access 100+ games and take advantage of valuable membership perks completely free for up to 3 months depending on promotions.
The standard 14-day free trial is available anytime for new members. And be on the lookout for special deals offering 1-3 months free, or $1 for your first month of Game Pass Ultimate.
Take full advantage of the trial‘s gaming library, exclusive discounts, and free in-game content. Set a reminder to cancel a few days before the trial ends if you decide Game Pass isn‘t for you.
With smart use of Xbox Game Pass free trials, you can maximize your risk-free gaming time and determine whether the subscription provides enough value before paying up. Give it a shot and see for yourself! Game Pass freeloaders welcome.
