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TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows — a one-time purchase, lifetime license — for just $49.97 (reg. $219.99) through June 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Microsoft Office 2021 Professional is having a moment — and if you’re still paying monthly for your apps, your wallet probably needs one too. For just $49.97, you can lock in a lifetime license to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. That’s eight essential apps, one payment, no recurring fees, and zero annoying auto-renewals. But heads-up: this deal vanishes after June 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

We know what you’re thinking, but rest assured, this isn’t some stripped-down lite version either. It’s the real deal. Whether you’re writing reports, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing emails, or wrangling databases, this suite has you covered.

It’s a one-time download for one Windows PC, so once it’s yours, it’s yours. The full pro-level toolkit, minus the stress of a subscription. Plus, with instant license delivery and free customer support, getting started is as painless as your new spreadsheet workflow.

No more “trial expired” pop-ups. No more surprise charges. Just the latest versions of Microsoft’s best apps, ready to support all of your work and personal needs.

Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows while it’s just $49.97 (reg. $219.99) through June 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $49.97
$219.99 Save $170.02 Get Deal

TL;DR: This 9-inch Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility can make your car road trip ready for just $79.99 (reg. $179.99).

It’s road trip season, but is your car ready to keep you entertained on a long ride? If you could use a better entertainment system, give it a major upgrade with this 9-inch Wireless Car Display featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Just in time for your summer getaway, this sleek system can modernize your ride for just $79.99 — $100 off the usual price.

Add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to any car in minutes

Whether you’re heading to the beach or the mountains this summer, long drives require a good entertainment system. This 9-inch wireless display works in any car — it just plugs right into the cigarette lighter with no complicated setup. Once installed, your car becomes Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatible.

You can adjust the brightness on the 9-inch touchscreen display as needed, and access all your favorite apps. Use your go-to navigation platform, stream your favorite music, and control it all hands-free with Siri or Google Assistant.

Audio will be seamlessly transmitted to your car stereo speakers thanks to Bluetooth. You can take advantage of Apple AirPlay to mirror your phone and stream YouTube or other video content. It also supports a 1080p reversing camera for safer parking and a 64GB TF card for media playback.

Give your car a major upgrade with the 9-inch Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, now for just $79.99 (reg. $179.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackSocial 9" Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Compatibility & Phone Mirroring $79.99
$179.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Bring your nonfiction book idea to life with a little help from AI with this lifetime subscription to Youbooks, an AI non-fiction book generator, on sale now for $49 (reg. $540).

Got a great idea for a book but no time to write it? Youbooks can help turn your concept into a polished, ready-to-publish nonfiction book. And right now, you can score a lifetime subscription to this AI-powered service for just $49 (reg. $540).

Bring your nonfiction book idea to life with this AI-powered service

If you’ve always had a great idea for a nonfiction book, but no time to sit down and bring it to life, Youbooks can help. This AI-powered service takes your concepts and turns them into a comprehensive manuscript of up to 300,000 words. They even write it in your tone, after taking samples of your preferred writing style to make sure it stays true to your voice.

Whether you’re an expert in the field you’re writing about or just passionate about a topic, Youbooks even takes your own research into account. Upload your own documents, transcripts, or memos to help the AI use facts you’ve uncovered yourself.

Youbooks combines the power of different AI models, like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama. It even takes into account the most up to date facts, statistics, and news, by doing real-time web searches during the composition process.

Even though AI is doing the heavy lifting, you’re still very involved in the book writing process. Your book undergoes 1,000 steps to turn into a manuscript. You can choose to receive the finished product it as a PDF, EPUB, Word, or Markup file, and you’ll have full commercial rights when it’s done.

A lifetime subscription provides 150,000 monthly credits you can use towards writing and source uploads. Each credit equates to one word or uploaded source word. Youbooks also stores up to 100 style samples, to make sure it’s always writing in your style.

Create the nonfiction book of your dreams with this lifetime subscription to Youbooks, now for just $49 (reg. $540).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Youbooks Youbooks - AI Non-Fiction Book Generator: Lifetime Subscription $49
$540 Save $491 Get Deal

TL;DR: Bring home a feature-packed MacBook Pro for only $599.99 (reg. $2,799), while supplies last.

Looking for a laptop that can keep up with your busy life? Look no further than this MacBook Pro. It’s packed with Apple’s signature features and is available right now for a fraction of the usual price.

Right now, you can get this MacBook Pro for over $2,000 off, just $599.99 (reg. $2,799), while supplies last.

Get Apple’s top-tier laptop for less than a budget PC

The MacBook Pro is Apple’s most powerful and portable device, which is why it typically comes with a sky-high price tag. That’s where this model stands apart — offering all the usual performance for thousands of dollars less.

Enjoy 512GB of storage, enough room for your favorite apps and important files. A 2.6GHz Intel Core i7 processor and 32GB of RAM can keep up with all of your multitasking. The 16-inch Retina display provides vibrant colors and sharp detail, while a six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers gives you studio-quality audio.

This model comes with some of Apple’s coolest features, including the Touch Bar, which provides shortcuts and total customization to enhance your workflow. There’s also a re-engineered Magic Keyboard for comfortable typing and a Touch ID for extra security.

Get through a full work day and more with the 11-hour battery life. You’ll be getting all of this for $2,200 off the usual price due to the grade A refurbished rating, which means it arrives on your doorstep in near-mint condition, with virtually no signs of prior use.

Act fast to get this MacBook Pro for yourself for just $599.99 (reg. $2,799), while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 16" (2019) 2.6GHz Core i7 Touch Bar 32GB RAM 512GB SSD Space Gray (Refurbished) $599.99
$2,799 Save $2,199.01 Get Deal

Under the UK's Online Safety Act, all sites and apps that host porn will have to establish "strong age checks" by a July 24 deadline, the UK's Office of Communication, known as Ofcom, shared.

The Online Safety Act (2023) is a set of laws to regulate online content. Age-verification for porn has been in the works for years in the UK, first attempted (and failed) in 2019 and reintroduced in 2022.

SEE ALSO: Supreme Court upholds Texas age-verification law

When the law goes into effect, complying porn sites must verify viewers' ages using one of the following methods:

• Facial recognition (users show a photo or video and technology analyzes to estimate their age)

• Banking information

• Digital wallets

• Credit card age checks

• Email-based age estimation (technology analyzes where else the email has been used to estimate age)

• Mobile network operator checks (confirming whether a phone number has age filters applied to it)

• Photo ID matching

The duty is on the platforms to establish these checks.

According to free speech advocates interviewed by Mashable, age-verification laws like this raise serious privacy concerns. Ofcom states it will work with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which regulates data protection in the UK, and will refer cases where websites haven't complied with data protection laws to the ICO.

According to Ofcom research, eight percent of children aged 8-14 in the UK visited a porn site or app in a month, including three percent of 8-9 year-olds. Boys aged 13-14 were most likely to visit such a site.

Eighty percent of adults support age checks on online porn sites as a way to protect children, according to Ofcom research.

Aylo, which owns Pornhub and other popular adult sites, has agreed to comply with the laws, though it hasn't stated which verification it will require.

"For years Aylo has publicly called for effective and enforceable age assurance solutions that protect minors online, while ensuring the safety and privacy of all users. The United Kingdom is the first country to present these same priorities demonstrably," Pornhub's vice president of brand and community, Alex Kekesi, said in a statement emailed to Mashable on behalf of Aylo.

"We think it's really positive," Ofcom's group director for online safety, Oliver Griffiths, told Mashable. "It's a bit of a contrast with what they've done in a number of countries."

Aylo blocked Pornhub and its other sites in France on June 4 in light of the country's age-verification law. Weeks later, the law was suspended until it's deemed legal under EU law, and Pornhub and is (for now) operating in the country again.

This difference could be because of Ofcom's discussions with people within the porn industry, as both Griffiths and Kekesi mentioned to Mashable.

"Ofcom has consulted with industry stakeholders and has presented a variety of flexible methods of age assurance that are less intrusive than we have seen in other jurisdictions, giving us the confidence to operate within their framework," Kekesi said. "Our conversations with Ofcom have been constructive and solution focused."

However, Kekesi did say that Aylo believes device-based filters are "the safest and most effective option for protecting children and maintaining user privacy online."

Age-verification legislation has ramped up in the U.S. as well. Around a third of states have instituted age-verification laws, which typically mandate that sites with over one-third explicit content require viewers to upload a government ID or participate in a facial recognition scan to confirm their age. In most instances, Pornhub effectively blocked itself in those states. The Supreme Court just upheld Texas's age-verification law, which sets a precedent for such laws in the rest of the country.

Griffiths called this a "global issue" and seeks to build global norms around age checks.

Another issue with these regulations, according to skeptics, is that age verification can be circumvented by software like VPNs. An initial study out of New York University suggested that age verification simply doesn't work because of the widespread availability of VPNs.

"If you have dedicated teenagers who are intent on getting around the checks in the same way as they kind of find their way into pubs and bars to buy alcohol, a number of them will manage to get through it," Griffiths said. "So don't think this is going to be foolproof." Ofcom research, however, points to younger children who stumble upon porn accidentally and discover it's "one click away."

"We think this is going to make a really significant difference" in those instances, Griffiths said.

Looking at the unbridled success of Phineas and Ferb, it's hard to imagine a time when creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh had to battle for its existence and integrity.

The Disney Channel series, which premiered in 2007, ran for 137 episodes across four seasons and sparked two made-for-TV movies, as well as video games. The characters became iconic in their own time, and again in memes years later as the child fans of the show grew to be TikTokking adults. When Disney+ launched in 2019, the show soon became a favorite on the streaming service, years after the Season 4 finale. So, the studio asked Povenmire and Marsh to come back for a fifth season, 10 years after Season 4 wrapped! 

SEE ALSO: 'Phineas and Ferb' creators spill the secrets of "Squirrels in My Pants" and the show's other beloved songs

To celebrate the launch of Season 5 of Phineas and Ferb, the show's animated creators (or the animated show's creators) came by the Mashable studio for our Say More interview series. You can watch the whole interview on YouTube. Below, we dive into some of the wildest stories of the show's success. 

Phineas and Ferb was a dream project for 16 years before it premiered.  Perry the Platypus has a rocket strapped to his back in "Phineas and Ferb." Credit: Disney+

On the Say More couch, Povenmire and Marsh recounted how they pitched the series for 13 years while working on other animated series like Family Guy and Rocko's Modern Life. It took another three years in development before the show's premiere on the Disney Channel. 

In all that time, the pair were committed to their concept. Today, they are still proud to say the pilot was "the exact same show" that they'd pitched for all those years. But making the Phineas and Ferb they dreamed of didn't come without some battles — including one over their triangle-headed hero's signature look. 

SEE ALSO: Watch Dr. Doofenshmirtz of 'Phineas and Ferb' sing the hell out of 'Bad Guy' Dan Povenmire's ultimatum saved Phineas' face. Phineas stands on a school desk in "Phineas and Ferb." Credit: Disney+

"A friend of mine told me once," Povenmire said, "that the most amount of power you can have in Hollywood as a creative — as somebody who's not holding the purse strings — is to maintain the ability to be OK to walk away from something. Know where that line in the sand is and just say, 'OK, no, no, thank you.'"

Sharing a moment when he almost walked away, he continued, "We didn't have to use that very often. But there was a time when the pilot tested really well." And yet Disney executives pitched changes anyway, including redesigning the characters to make them "more attractive." After three meetings with such notes, Povenmire had had enough. 

He recalled, "I finally pulled one of the executives aside and said, 'You know, you can make whatever show you want, because you bought it. It belongs to you. But if you want me to come work on it, it's gonna have to be the show I pitched you. Otherwise, I'll just stay at Fox this year [working on Family Guy], and you guys can make the show.

"I wasn't mean about it," Povenmire noted, "I was just like, this is the show I want to make. I don't want to make some other version of it. [After that], they sort of just started deferring to us for everything." 

On why they felt capable of saying no in the face of such studio pressure, Marsh mused, "Probably because we'd already pitched it for 13 years. The urgency was gone. We'd waited this long." 

Still, there were other battles ahead. Marsh explained, "The things that we fought for was stuff that we really believed in. And most of it was about — I think for us — it was trusting that the kid audience was smart — smarter than most people gave them credit for. So those tended to be the things that we leaned into, that we thought were worth fighting for."

He added that fans appreciated that trust, saying, "It's nice that [for] almost every one of those things, we've had multiple people come to us and go, 'I want to thank you for this.'"

Povenmire and Marsh fought for divorce and alimony to be a part of Phineas and Ferb.  Candace and her mom talk in front of a wall of family photos. Credit: Disney+

On the show, Phineas and Ferb are stepbrothers, with Candace and Phineas' mom having married Ferb's dad. This blended family wasn't a problem to Disney execs. However, actually using the word "divorce" on the show was. 

"We weren't aware that the word 'divorce' had never been used on the Disney Channel [shows] before," Marsh explained. "Somebody had said, 'You know, we can't say that.' And my personal situation, my mom's currently on husband number seven... It made that [note] really personal for me. And I'm like, 'Look, half of your audience is living in a situation that you're saying is so horrible that the word is not utterable. You can't do that.'" 

Povenmire added, "They were like, 'What happens if one of our audience members, their parents are going through a divorce?' I said, 'I'm sure that's the case.' They said, 'Well, what happens then?' I was like, 'Then they'll feel seen, they'll feel represented.'" 

Marsh continued, "And we had a couple of really great executives working with us, really championing the show, who really listened to us, listened to the arguments, and come back to say, 'You've made really great points. Go for it.'"

However, Povenmire noted, "Then, the very next episode, we wanted to say that Doofenshmirtz was getting alimony from Charlene because she was independently wealthy. And then we had to go through three or four more meetings to see if we could say the word alimony in the show." 

In end, they could and did. 

Phineas and Ferb was never just for kids. Phineas and friends sing in their classroom on the last day of school. Credit: Disney+

Marsh noted a recurring concern for Disney was that the humor of Phineas and Ferb might "go over the heads" of the target audience of children. ​​He explained, "We had to say, that's OK. We're also acknowledging there are parents in the room, or aunts and uncles or grandparents, or whoever it is, and it's OK that there's stuff in there for them too."

Povenmire added, "Then 40% of our audience became adults, and they stopped giving us that note." 

Looking back on these battles to make Phineas and Ferb the success that it is, Marsh reflects, "In hindsight, I'm really grateful that it took us 13 years to sell the show, because in that time, I think we changed. We grew. Our reputations were a lot better, and we also knew how to argue for what we believed in better. We were much more effective at being advocates for the things we believed in, that I don't know if we'd have been able to do back when we first started. So it all worked out at the right time, the right way." 

For more on Phineas and Ferb from Povenmire and Marsh, check out Say More's full interview on YouTube. 

How to watch: Phineas and Ferb Season 5 is now streaming on Disney+.

TL;DR: Live stream Panama vs. Honduras in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup quarter finals showcase some really interesting matchups. Panama vs. Honduras might not be the biggest game of the round, but it's going to be a fascinating battle between two exciting teams.

If you want to watch Panama vs. Honduras in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Panama vs. Honduras?

Panama vs. Honduras in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off at 7:15 p.m. ET on June 28. This fixture takes place at the State Farm Stadium.

How to watch Panama vs. Honduras for free

Panama vs. Honduras in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

These free live stream is not available all around the world, but fans in excluded territories can still watch this game for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access (like Italy), meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Gold Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy

4. Visit YouTube

5. Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Panama vs. Honduras (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for YouTube?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on YouTube, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Italy

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup has progressed into the knockout rounds, with all the biggest sides still in contention. Mexico meet Saudi Arabia in a fascinating quarter-final matchup. Mexico are the defending champions, but they'll need to be at their best to knock out Saudi Arabia.

If you want to watch Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia?

Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off at 10:15 p.m. ET on June 28. This fixture takes place at the State Farm Stadium.

How to watch Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia for free

Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

These free live stream is not available all around the world, but fans in excluded territories can still watch this game for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access (like Italy), meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Gold Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy

4. Visit YouTube

5. Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for YouTube?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on YouTube, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Italy

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Astronomers have discovered over 100 new alien worlds so far this year — some many light-years away from Earth — that showcase the vast diversity and drama of planetary systems across space. 

The number of confirmed exoplanets — planets that don't orbit the sun — has tipped 5,900, according to NASA, with thousands of additional candidates under review. All these worlds exist in our galaxy, though scientists believe they detected one planet outside the Milky Way in 2021.

This bounty is but a tiny sampling of the planets thought to exist throughout the universe. With hundreds of billions of galaxies, the cosmos probably sparkles with many trillions of stars. And if most stars have one or more orbiting planets — well, it's hard to comprehend with our feeble human brains. After all, our own solar system has eight full-fledged planets (apologies, Pluto) — and possibly even more awaiting discovery.

No two exoplanets are alike, each harboring its own distinct chemistry and conditions. Getting to know these worlds is easier now with the powerful James Webb Space Telescope. The observatory, a collaboration of NASA and its European and Canadian counterparts, spends about a quarter of its time on exoplanets. By studying their atmospheres, scientists can learn a great deal, including whether a world could be habitable.

Webb is embarking on a massive study of rocky worlds outside the solar system, specifically to learn whether exoplanets orbiting near cool red dwarf stars could have air. The campaign, first reported by Mashable, will take a closer look at a dozen nearby-ish exoplanets. 

SEE ALSO: A tiny star gave birth to an absolute giant. Scientists are puzzled. Astronomers have discovered a distant exoplanet with a tail that stretches over 5.5 million miles long. Credit: Jose-Luis Olivares / MIT illustration BD+05 4868 Ab

Astronomers have discovered a planet with a comet-like tail stretching more than 5.5 million miles. The rocky exoplanet, BD+05 4868 Ab, orbits a star 140 light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. An MIT-led team of researchers detected this world's tail, made of sand-sized particles, when it blocked some of the star’s light, causing uneven dimming during each pass.

BD+05 4868 Ab, found by NASA's TESS mission, is about the size of Mercury and orbits its star every 30.5 hours. At roughly 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the planet appears to be shedding material — about one Mount Everest’s worth per orbit — that becomes its tail. Scientists plan to follow-up with Webb to study its composition.

Proxima b

Proxima b, the closest Earth-size exoplanet, likely cannot support life, according to a new study. Though the world orbits within a sweet spot of its star system where liquid water might be possible to exist on its surface, scientists now believe its host star — Proxima Centauri — is far too hostile. 

The star, about four light-years away, blasts the planet with extreme space weather that would likely strip away an atmosphere. Using 50 hours of observations with the ALMA telescope in Chile, researchers recorded 463 powerful stellar flares. 

WASP-127b

Astronomers spotted ferocious winds whipping around WASP-127b — the likes of which they’ve never seen before. On the gas giant, a jet stream races around the planet’s equator at 20,500 mph. That’s almost 19 times faster than the gusts on Neptune, the strongest winds in the solar system.

Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile, scientists studied the planet's atmosphere from 520 light-years away. They found signs of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and shifting temperatures across vast regions.

K2-18b

The scientists who brought us the tenuous discovery of a potential water world with signs of life last year have come back with new data they say strengthens their case. Exoplanet K2-18b — a so-called Hycean world because it may have a hydrogen-rich atmosphere over a global ocean — has a strong signal for dimethyl sulfide or a similar gas, the researchers said. On Earth, those chemicals are made by living things like microscopic algae.

But the follow-up study of the planet 124 light-years away has only increased the controversy, driving many scientists unaffiliated with the team to speak out against it. The bulk of that frustration comes from how the team has communicated its findings to the public, suggesting the group is perhaps closer to discovering life beyond Earth than it really is. 

Scientists found two young gas giants orbiting the YSES-1 star, one with sand-like clouds and another surrounded in space by moon-making material. Credit: Ellis Bogat illustration Gaia-4b

The European Space Agency’s Gaia spacecraft has had its first independent success using the so-called "wobble" technique to find new worlds. The method looks for subtle jitters in stars that can be caused by a planet's gravity tugging on them. 

The giant planet, Gaia-4b, is 12 times heavier than Jupiter and 244 light-years away, orbiting a tiny star just 64 percent the sun's mass. Follow-up observations confirmed the discovery, marking a major milestone for Gaia’s planet-hunting mission. 

YSES-1b and YSES-1c

Scientists used Webb to capture rare direct images of two young exoplanets, YSES-1b and YSES-1c, orbiting a star over 300 light-years away. YSES-1c shows dark, silicate  clouds made of ultra-fine rock grains, and YSES-1b features a glowing dust disk — perhaps only the third of its kind ever observed — that may host a moon nursery.

These gas giants, each five to 15 times Jupiter’s mass, orbit a young, sun-like star, albeit at extreme distances. The new infrared images have offered a deep look into the chaotic early stages of planet and moon formation.

TL;DR: Online safety for the whole family is easy with this lifetime AdGuard Family Plan, now just $15.97 (reg. $169) with code FAMPLAN.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02 with code FAMPLAN Get Deal

The internet isn’t just cluttered with ads; there are also trackers and other hidden threats. AdGuard keeps you safe online by blocking intrusive ads, stopping trackers, and safeguarding your privacy across all your devices.

Right now, you can grab lifetime protection for the whole crew with the AdGuard Family Plan. Cover up to nine devices for only $15.97 (reg. $169.99) with code FAMPLAN now through April 27.

Enjoy a safer and smoother browsing experience

The internet should be fun, not frustrating. AdGuard tackles the most annoying parts of online life, like pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads, so that you can enjoy your time browsing, streaming, and scrolling again.

Aside from blocking ads, AdGuard also protects your privacy. Your information will stay safe from trackers and activity analyzers, and you'll be shielded from malware and phishing websites that you or your family members could fall victim to. 

Moms and dads will love AdGuard's parental control feature, which keeps your kids safe from inappropriate content online.

This Family Plan lets you protect up to nine devices with AdGuard, so you can make sure everyone's devices stay safe. And it works with Android and iOS operating systems alike, so it can be used on tablets, smartphones, and laptops. 

Secure your own AdGuard Family Plan for life for just $15.97 with code FAMPLAN. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream England vs. Germany in the U21 Euro 2025 final for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The final of U21 Euro 2025 is here, with England taking on Germany for the trophy. We're expecting a thrilling contest between two attack-minded sides.

If you want to watch England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is England U21 vs. Germany U21?

England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on June 28. This fixture takes place at Tehelné pole.

How to watch England U21 vs. Germany U21 for free

England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on Channel 4 from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Stream England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch England vs. Germany in U21 Euro 2025 without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream U21 Euro 2025 before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream England vs. Germany in the U21 Euro 2025 final for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Western Force vs. Lions for free on RugbyPass TV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 British and Irish Lions started their campaign with a tough defeat to Argentina, but now the tour starts for real with the first of four fixtures against Australia's Super Rugby franchises.

Western Force are the first side to meet the Lions. If you want to watch Western Force vs. Lions for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Western Force vs. Lions?

Western Force vs. Lions starts at 11 a.m. BST on June 28. This fixture takes place at the Optus Stadium.

How to watch Western Force vs. Lions for free

Western Force vs. Lions is available to live stream for free on RugbyPass TV.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S., but anyone from around the world can gain access with a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to live stream Western Force vs. Lions from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Western Force vs. Lions for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Visit RugbyPass TV

5. Stream Western Force vs. Lions for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Western Force vs. Lions without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for sport?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like RugbyPass TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Western Force vs. Lions for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Club World Cup action continues with a number of really interesting knockout fixtures, including Benfica vs. Chelsea. The Portuguese side topped a group that included Bayern Munich, so they'll be coming into this game with a lot of confidence. Chelsea have failed to impress, but that's all forgotten about at this stage.

If you want to watch Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Benfica vs. Chelsea?

Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on June 28. This fixture takes place at the Bank of America Stadium.

How to watch Benfica vs. Chelsea for free

Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

The Club World Cup is free to stream all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this streaming platform on your network, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free live streams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access to DAZN

4. Visit DAZN

5. Stream the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the Club World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for DAZN?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on DAZN, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Benfica vs. Chelsea in the 2025 Club World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Doechii at Glastonbury 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Glastonbury Festival is all about the most exciting names in the music game, and that very much includes Doechii. The talented performer is making her UK festival debut, and you can watch without spending anything.

If you're interested in watching Doechii at Glastonbury 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Glastonbury in 2025?

Glastonbury 2025 takes place on June 25-29. Doechii is performing on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury on June 28. The set is scheduled to take place from 10:45 to 11:30 p.m. BST.

How to watch Doechii at Glastonbury 2025 for free

Doechii's set at Glastonbury 2025 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access BBC iPlayer to live stream Glastonbury 2025 from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Glastonbury 2025 by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Connect to BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Glastonbury 2025 from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Glastonbury Festival without fully committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Doechii at Glastonbury 2025 before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming live content on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always protected

• Fast streaming speeds without buffering

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Glastonbury 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Charli XCX at Glastonbury 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Glastonbury obviously attracts massive names to perform over the weekend, but the biggest this year? You could make an argument that Charli XCX's performance on the Other Stage is the most exciting set on the schedule.

If you're interested in watching Charli XCX at Glastonbury 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Glastonbury in 2025?

Glastonbury 2025 takes place on June 25-29. Charli XCX is performing on the Other Stage at Glastonbury on June 28. The set is scheduled to take place from 10:30 to 11:45 p.m. BST.

How to watch Charli XCX at Glastonbury 2025 for free

Charli XCX's set at Glastonbury 2025 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access BBC iPlayer to live stream Glastonbury 2025 from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Glastonbury 2025 by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Connect to BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Glastonbury 2025 from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Glastonbury Festival without fully committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Charli XCX at Glastonbury 2025 before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming live content on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always protected

• Fast streaming speeds without buffering

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Glastonbury 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Club World Cup action continues with the knockout rounds. There are a number of really interesting fixtures to consider, including Palmeiras vs. Botafogo. This Brazilian matchup is one to watch closely, and you can do just that without spending anything.

If you want to watch Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Palmeiras vs. Botafogo?

Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on June 28. This fixture takes place at the Lincoln Financial Field.

How to watch Palmeiras vs. Botafogo for free

Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

The Club World Cup is free to stream all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this streaming platform on your network, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free live streams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access to DAZN

4. Visit DAZN

5. Stream the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the Club World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for DAZN?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on DAZN, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in the 2025 Club World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Have you noticed the moon looks a little brighter tonight than it has done in days? There's a reason for that. Keep reading to find out why the lunar cycle changes what we see each night.

The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

See what's happening with the moon tonight, June 28.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, June 28, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. Visibility has doubled since last night. Today, 12% of the moon will be lit up, so says NASA's Daily Moon Observation. If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, you'll see the far right side of the moon lit up; if you're in the Southern Hemisphere, it'll be the far left.

It's also the third moon in the lunar cycle. But unfortunately, there's still not enough light on the moon's surface to see any craters or other interesting geological features.

When is the next full moon?

June's full moon was on June 11; this was a Strawberry Moon. The next full moon will be on July 10. 

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are part of a 29.5-day lunar cycle, NASA tells us, caused by the angles between the sun, moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Transported in group.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

BUSED

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A slide.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 28, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CHUTE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A repeated shout.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 28, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CHANT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A performance.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 28 Hurdle Word 4 answer

DOING

Final Hurdle hint

An assembly.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

RALLY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are commonly used to dodge regional restrictions on streaming services. Say you live in the U.S. and want to watch a new episode of Love Island before it hits Hulu. If you connect to a VPN server in the UK, where the free streaming platform ITVX has distribution rights for the show, you'll get a new British IP address that lets you skirt the geolock. (Suddenly you're the hot new bombshell entering the villa, so to speak.)

Sounds simple, right? It can be, if you have a VPN that's up to the task. Streaming services don't take kindly to VPNs because they let people evade their content licensing restrictions, and many of them have gotten really good at detecting VPN usage. Some VPN services can't bypass their blocking methods.

SEE ALSO: The best VPNs for 2025: Tested for performance, trustworthiness, and more

As Mashable's resident VPN expert, I also think it's important to recognize that accessing international streaming services is actually a secondary use case for VPNs. The main purpose of having a VPN is to add an extra layer of privacy to your internet connection so your ISP, advertisers, and other prying eyes can't see everything you're doing online. A VPN gets exclusive access to your traffic when you're connected to it, so it needs to abide by strict privacy practices and maintain a clean track record. If a VPN is good at unblocking international shows but shoddy in the way it handles your data, that's not a good deal.

With that in mind, the only VPN I recommend for streaming is also the only one I consider exceptionally trustworthy, reliable, and good for streaming. That's Proton VPN.

Opens in a new window Credit: Proton Proton VPN Starting at $4.99/month Shop Now Why Proton VPN?

I should preface this by clarifying that this isn't sponsored content — it's the result of Mashable's ultra-picky VPN testing process, which we've refined over the years based on extensive research and interviews with cybersecurity experts. It mainly revolves around specific privacy indicators, but we also check to see if VPNs can unblock streaming services because, frankly, it matters to a lot of people (including Mashable readers).

Out of all the premium VPN services I've tried, Proton VPN is my top pick for streaming because it ticks the right boxes in the right order. It's good at the main thing a VPN should be good at doing, which is keeping its users safe without a shred of a doubt: It has a no-logs policy that's regularly verified by third-party audits, open sources its apps, issues a transparency report about any legal requests it gets, and offers advanced features like doubly encrypted multi-hop servers. It also just so happens to be good at getting around streaming services' georestrictions, which I think of as a nice added bonus.

Proton VPN has apps for nearly a dozen platforms. Credit: Proton

Proton VPN posits itself as a streaming-friendly service, publishing access guides for nearly 100 streaming services worldwide. In practice, it successfully got me watching Love Island on ITVX from my home in Chicago via one of its London servers. I like that it displays a load percentage indicator for every server so users can see how busy they are at any given time. The more people on a given server, the slower it'll be. Being able to identify uncrowded servers means you won't have to deal with frequent connection slowdowns, which is important when you're trying to load videos.

Proton VPN now has more than 13,600 servers in over 120 countries as of June 2025, which is the biggest and most geographically diverse VPN server network I've encountered. You should never have trouble finding a speedy server in a country where your favorite shows and movies are available. (In testing, my connection speed took a mere 13% hit when I used a British Proton VPN server. That's pretty great, considering my traffic had to travel across an entire ocean.)

SEE ALSO: Proton VPN review: Premium, proven privacy and a free tier with no data limits

Proton VPN also has streaming appeal because it offers a custom Stealth protocol that's specifically designed to get around VPN blocking methods. It was purpose-built for users in counties where authoritarian governments impede VPN usage, and it should make your connection undetectable to streaming services, too.

Proton VPN supports up to 10 simultaneous connections and has apps for myriad platforms (including Android TV, Apple TV, and Firestick), so you can tune in from your smartphone, computer, or TV.

The catch here is that you have to pay for a Proton VPN subscription if you want city-level access to its entire server network, zero speed restrictions, live chat support, and the ability to use it on more than one device. (In other words, its free tier won't cut it.) If it helps, I think its Plus plan is very fairly priced for all that it offers. Read my full Proton VPN review for more info.

Disclaimer: Proton VPN doesn't condone violating copyright regulations, and neither does Mashable.

Opens in a new window Credit: Proton Proton VPN Starting at $4.99/month Shop Now

I think I speak for everyone when I say that streaming prices are getting out of hand. Every year, the monthly fees go up, as does the number of services you need to watch the shows and movies you love.

Fortunately, a good chunk of these streamers will let you test the water before diving in and paying full price for their service. These trials give you the opportunity to sample the streaming library to decide whether it's right for you — or even binge-watch a whole season of a show for free. And watching something for free is a special type of dopamine hit.

While Netflix and HBO Max don't offer free trials, plenty of other major streaming services (as well as smaller, lesser known services) let you try before you buy. Here's a list of all of the streaming services that offer free trials in 2025, including our top picks.

Best free trial: Hulu Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (30-Day Trial) Get Deal Why we like it

One of the oldest streaming services around, Hulu still remains a top dog. It's home to Mashable's favorite show of 2024, Shōgun, as well as one of our favorite shows of 2025 (so far), Dying for Sex. Besides its own original content, Hulu is also the streaming home of FX, where you'll find episodes of ABC shows the day after they air, and the place to watch 20th Century Studios, Neon, and Searchlight Pictures films straight from the theater.

It was one of the most affordable streamers at just $7.99 per month, but it underwent a price hike last summer, putting it on par with many other streamers at $9.99 per month (with ads). Where Hulu truly stands out amongst the crowd, however, is its extremely generous free trial. If you've never subscribed to Hulu before, you can try it out for an entire month before having to pay anything.

Runner-up: Prime Video Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Prime Video (30-Day Trial) Get Deal Why we like it

Prime Video can sometimes be an after thought, as it's just one perk of an Amazon Prime membership. However, the streaming service is actually home to plenty of excellent shows — like one of our favorite shows of 2025, Overcompensating, and two of our favorites from 2024, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Fallout — as well as hit movies like Challengers, Conclave, Blink Twice, and My Old Ass.

It's $14.99 per month if you choose to subscribe to Prime or just $8.99 per month for Prime Video on its own. Either way, you'll get a free 30-day trial to kick things off. And the best part is that it's not just for newbies; returning Prime members are eligible for free trials as well.

Every streaming service that offers a free trial in 2025Acorn TV

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $8.99 per month

AMC+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $6.99 per month

Apple TV+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $9.99 per month

BET+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $5.99 per month

Britbox

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $8.99 per month

Cinemax

The Cinemax trial is only available via Prime Video as an add-on.

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $9.99 per month

Criterion Channel

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $10.99 per month

Crunchyroll

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $7.99 per month

Discovery+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $5.99 per month

DirecTV Stream

• Trial length: 5 days

• Price: starting at $84.99 per month

Disney+

Though Disney+ does not offer a free trial on its own, it’s included in Hulu + Live TV. So, you can try it for free with that free trial.

• Trial length: 3 days through Hulu + Live TV

• Price: $82.99 per month for Hulu + Live TV; $9.99 per month for Disney+

ESPN+

Though ESPN+ does not offer a free trial on its own, it’s included in Hulu + Live TV. So, you can try it for free with that free trial.

• Trial length: 3 days through Hulu + Live TV

• Price: $82.99 per month for Hulu + Live TV; $11.99 per month for ESPN+

Fubo TV

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $84.99 per month

Hallmark+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $7.99 per month

Hulu

• Trial length: 30 days

• Price: starting at $9.99 per month

Hulu + Live TV

• Trial length: 3 days

• Price: $82.99 per month

MGM+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $6.99 per month

MLB.TV

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $29.99 per month

Mubi

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $14.99 per month

NBA League Pass

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $16.99 per month

Paramount+

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $7.99 per month

Peacock

Though Peacock no longer offers a free trial directly, a free trial of Instacart+ will unlock two free weeks of streaming.

• Trial length: 14 days through Instacart+

• Price: $99 per year for Instacart+; starting at $7.99 per month for Peacock

Philo

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $28 per month

Prime Video

• Trial length: 30 days

• Price: $14.99 per month for Amazon Prime; $8.99 per month for Prime Video only

Screambox

The Screambox trial is only available through Prime Video as an add-on.

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $4.99 per month

Shudder

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $8.99 per month

Starz

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: starting at $10.99 per month

Sundance Now

• Trial length: 7 days

• Price: $6.99 per month

YouTube TV

• Trial length: 5 or 10 days

• Price: $82.99 per month