SiriusXM is a popular satellite radio service that offers hundreds of channels covering every genre of music, sports, news, comedy and more. While most plans require a paid subscription, there are a few ways listeners can tune into SiriusXM programming for free. This article will explore the options for accessing free SiriusXM content legally, without paying for a subscription.
Getting a Free Trial
The easiest way to get free access to SiriusXM is to sign up for a free trial. SiriusXM frequently offers free trials for new subscribers. The standard free trial period is usually 3 months, but sometimes promotional offers increase that to 6 months or longer.
To get a free SiriusXM trial, you can sign up on the SiriusXM website or app. You’ll need to provide some basic contact information and a credit card number, even though you won’t be charged during the trial period. SiriusXM will send you instructions on how to activate your trial subscription and start listening.
Just be sure to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want to pay for a full subscription. Otherwise, your credit card will automatically be billed for the next month or longer subscription term. As long as you cancel ahead of time, you can enjoy SiriusXM for free throughout the entire trial period.
Listening in a New or Used Car
Many new and used vehicles come installed with SiriusXM satellite radios. When you purchase one of these cars, trucks, or SUVs, the previous owner’s SiriusXM subscription is typically still activated. That means you can tune in and listen for free until that original subscription expires.
Depending on the age of the vehicle, you could potentially get weeks, months, or even over a year of free SiriusXM this way. To take advantage, simply turn on the radio and tune to a SiriusXM channel when driving the new or used vehicle. If you hear music instead of a sales pitch to activate service, you know the free listening period is still ongoing.
The downside to this method is that you’ll eventually lose access when the previous owner’s subscription runs out. But if you’re lucky, you may get free SiriusXM for a satisfying period of time before having to sign up yourself.
Listening on Inactive Radios
Many SiriusXM satellite radios continue receiving signals even if the subscription is inactive. For example, you may have a radio in an older car or your home that was used with a previous subscription. Or you might purchase a used radio online or from a thrift store.
In many cases, turning on and tuning these radios will still grant access to SiriusXM programming despite no active subscription. This seems to be a quirk in SiriusXM’s system, likely because the radios are technically capable of receiving the satellite signal.
Of course, there is no guarantee this loophole will work forever. SiriusXM could potentially detect and shut off unpaid listening on inactive radios. But for now, you can often get free listening time on radios with expired or non-existent subscriptions.
Listening to Promotional Channels
SiriusXM frequently offers special promotional channels accessible to anyone without an active subscription. For example, during the holiday season they may create a free Christmas music channel. Or they might open up a channel just for a special concert or live event.
These free channels usually play audio promos encouraging you to sign up for paid subscriptions. But in between, you can enjoy the free programming without any commitment.
SiriusXM publicizes these promotions on their website and through social media posts. So check their online platforms to find when free channels become available. Then tune in on any satellite radio, even without an active account.
Signing Up for a Free Streaming Trial
In addition to satellite radio service, SiriusXM offers online streaming and smartphone app access. New subscribers can get a free trial for this streaming access just like with the regular satellite service.
Sign up online or in the app to get your free trial. You’ll need to provide credit card information again, but you won’t be billed during the trial period.
This grants you access to hundreds of channels on your computer and mobile devices. Be sure to cancel before getting charged if you don’t plan to continue the paid subscription. But during your trial you can stream SiriusXM anywhere completely free.
Using a Friend or Family Member’s Subscription
If you know someone with a paid SiriusXM subscription, you may be able to piggyback off their account to listen for free. Most SiriusXM subscriptions allow streaming on multiple devices simultaneously.
So if a friend or family member isn’t using all of their available streams, you may be able to log into their online account or app and listen on your own device. As long as you don’t exceed the allowed number of concurrent streams, this can give you free access indefinitely.
Just be aware that the account holder is responsible for all listening activity. Make sure the primary subscriber is okay with you tapping into their subscription. As long as they consent, this can be a great way to enjoy SiriusXM without paying!
Creating a Commercial Account
Businesses like bars, restaurants, retail stores, and professional service providers can sign up for special SiriusXM commercial subscriptions. These accounts allow playing SiriusXM audio through public speakers and broadcasting systems.
Depending on the size of the business, commercial SiriusXM subscriptions may include discounted rates or even free service. Contact a SiriusXM sales representative for details on whether your business or organization could qualify for complimentary access.
If you have a storefront, office, or other commercial establishment, this may be an avenue to get SiriusXM at no cost. It will provide background music and entertainment for customers while requiring zero investment from you.
Calling to Cancel and Get Free Listening
Here is a bonus trick that may work to keep your existing paid subscription active for free for a while. When your subscription term is ending, call SiriusXM and tell them you want to cancel. In many cases, they will offer you a free extension of a few weeks or months to retain you as a customer.
Be polite but firm in stating you no longer want to pay. There’s a good chance the customer service rep will add some complimentary listening time to convince you not to leave. While not guaranteed, this can potentially earn you additional free listening.
If they don’t offer anything extra, simply follow through and cancel. But giving them a call provides an opportunity to negotiate extra free listening when threatening to cancel. So it’s worth a shot before ending your subscription term.
Using the SiriusXM App Reward Points
The SiriusXM app for smartphones offers reward points for listening and responding to push notifications. While these points alone likely won’t earn you full free access, they can score you bonus free listening.
Points can be redeemed for extended free trial periods. For example, 50,000 points might give you an extra month for free. Points can also occasionally be exchanged for discounts off paid subscription plans.
While again not enough to permanently avoid paying, accumulating and redeeming points can provide some breaks from paying subscription fees. Install the app, listen often, and take advantage of any point-based promotions.
Conclusion
While most SiriusXM access requires a paid subscription, there are creative ways to get limited or extended listening time for free. Try out a free trial, use someone else’s account, or leverage old radios and vehicles. With the right strategy, you can legally access SiriusXM programming without spending a dime! Just be sure to cancel any trials before the billing starts. A little effort goes a long way towards free satellite radio entertainment.
Free Trial Options
Method | Free Duration | Limitations |
New subscriber trial | 3-6 months typically | Need credit card for sign up |
App streaming trial | 1-6 months typically | Need credit card for sign up |
Unused radio trial | 1-6 months typically | Only works on some inactive radios |
Ongoing Free Listening Methods
Method | Free Duration | Limitations |
Previous owner’s subscription | Weeks to over a year | Only works on used vehicles |
Friend or family account | Indefinite | Limited to unused listener slots |
Commercial account | Indefinite | Business use only |