What is Hallmark+ and Is It Worth It? Complete 2026 Review

If you’re wondering what Hallmark+ is and whether this streaming service is worth your money in 2026, you’re not alone. Since launching in September 2024 (replacing Hallmark Movies Now), Hallmark+ has become the primary streaming home for Hallmark Channel content. But with monthly costs adding up and Peacock no longer carrying Hallmark movies as of May 2025, is Hallmark+ actually worth it?

This comprehensive review breaks down everything you need to know about Hallmark+ in 2026, including pricing, exclusive content, unique shopping perks, and honest comparisons to alternative streaming options.

What is Hallmark+? Understanding the Streaming Service

Hallmark+ is Hallmark Media’s streaming platform that launched in fall 2024 to replace Hallmark Movies Now. Unlike traditional streaming services, Hallmark+ combines on-demand entertainment with retail shopping benefits, creating what the company calls a “lifestyle bundle.”

Key Features of Hallmark+ Include:

Next-day streaming of new Hallmark Channel movies
Exclusive original content not available anywhere else
Complete ad-free viewing experience
Shopping rewards including monthly $5 Hallmark Gold Crown Store coupons
Free greeting cards – one custom card per month plus unlimited eCards
Crown Rewards integration for additional discounts and points
Annual member gifts including a collectible ornament

The platform is designed specifically for Hallmark fans who want immediate access to new releases plus exclusive content they can’t find on cable TV.

How Much Does Hallmark+ Cost in 2026?

A Hallmark+ subscription costs $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Both plans include identical streaming features plus all retail perks when you link your Crown Rewards account.

Keep an eye on the Hallmark+ Instagram account where they regularly share promo codes for reduced subscription prices.

Hallmark+ Pricing Breakdown:

Monthly Plan: $7.99/month

7-day free trial
Cancel anytime
All streaming content
Monthly shopping coupons and perks

Annual Plan: $79.99/year (works out to $6.67/month)

Saves $16 compared to monthly billing
Additional annual member gifts
Birthday and anniversary surprise gifts
Exclusive keepsake ornament
Same streaming and shopping benefits

How Does Hallmark+ Pricing Compare?

Compared to other streaming services in 2026:

Netflix Basic: $7.99-$24.49/month (infrequent Hallmark content)
Peacock Premium: $7.99/month (no longer includes Hallmark as of May 2025)
Frndly TV: $7.99/month (includes live Hallmark channels and 50+ live channels but limited on-demand)
Philo: $28/month (includes live Hallmark channels plus 70+ other channels)

At $7.99/month, Hallmark+ is competitively priced, especially when factoring in the shopping perks that can offset part of the cost.

What Content is Available on Hallmark+ in 2026?

Hallmark Channel Movies (Next Day Streaming)

The biggest draw for most subscribers is next-day access to new Hallmark Channel premieres. Movies that premiere on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery make their way to Hallmark+ the following day, allowing you to watch commercial-free.

January 2026 Winter Escape Movies on Hallmark+:

All of these movies premiered on Hallmark Channel on Saturday nights and became available on Hallmark+ the next day.

Hallmark+ Exclusive Original Content

Unlike Hallmark Channel programming, several shows and movies premiere exclusively on Hallmark+ and never air on cable:

Original Series:

Hope Valley: 1874 – The When Calls the Heart universe is expanding with the new series Hope Valley: 1874, starring Bethany Joy Lenz, Benjamin Ayres and Jill Hennessy. Coming exclusively to Hallmark+ in March 2026
The Chicken Sisters – Drama series based on the K.J. Dell’Antonia novel launched on Hallmark+ and then made its way to linear programming
Celebrations with Lacey Chabert – Lacey surprises deserving families
Mistletoe Murders – Mystery series starring Sarah Drew also launched on Hallmark + before moving to Hallmark Channel
Holidazed – a limited series highlighting the lives of a group of neighbors during the holidays

Reality/Unscripted Shows:

Second Chance Love – Dating show hosted by Chilli and Matthew Lawrence
Finding Mr. Christmas – Competition to find Hallmark’s next leading man (hosted by Jonathan Bennett)
Small Town Setup – Ashley Williams helps parents play matchmaker
Home is Where the Heart Is – Luke Macfarlane helps families renovate
Ready, Set, Glow! – Wes Brown tours holiday light displays

Hallmark+ Exclusive Movies:

Several move series started as Hallmark+ exclusives but made their way to linear programming in 2025. These series include The Groomsmen, Love on the Danube, Cherry Lane, and Wrapping Christmas.

It remains to be seen if we will see exclusive movies on Hallmark+ in 2026 although there are unconfirmed rumors swirling that Hallmark+ will be the home for Hallmark mystery movies going forward.

Classic Hallmark Movie Library

Beyond new releases, Hallmark+ offers thousands of classic Hallmark movies including:

Complete Countdown to Christmas collections
Wedding Veil trilogy
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries
Curious Caterer series
Mystery 101 series
All your holiday favorites from past years

Hallmark+ Shopping Perks: Do They Actually Save You Money?

What makes Hallmark+ unique among streaming services is the integrated shopping rewards program. But are these perks actually valuable?

Monthly Shopping Benefits Include:

$5 Gold Crown Store Coupon (monthly)

Requires minimum purchase
Valid in-store or at Hallmark.com
One coupon per member per month
If you already buy cards or gifts regularly, that recurring coupon can defray a meaningful share of your subscription outlay over a year

Free Custom Greeting Card (monthly)

One personalized card free each month
Regular retail value: $5-7

Unlimited Free eCards

Send as many digital cards as you want
Great for last-minute occasions

Crown Rewards Points Boost

Earn more rewards points on purchases
Faster path to additional discounts

Annual Member Exclusive Gifts:

Welcome ornament
Birthday surprise gift
Anniversary gift
Early access to special collections

Real Value Calculation:

If you already shop at Hallmark regularly:

12 monthly $5 coupons = $60/year savings
12 free custom cards = $60-84/year value
Annual subscription cost = $79.99/year

Potential value: $120-144 in shopping perks vs. $79.99 annual cost

For regular Hallmark shoppers, the subscription essentially pays for itself through perks alone, making the streaming content a bonus.

Hallmark+ vs. Alternatives: How Does It Compare?

Hallmark+ vs. Peacock (2026 Update)

Important: Starting on May 1, 2025, Peacock no longer carries Hallmark content. The three-year partnership between Hallmark and Peacock ended, meaning you can no longer watch Hallmark Channel movies or shows on Peacock.

Previously, Peacock offered:

Next-day Hallmark movies (no longer available)
Live Hallmark channels (removed May 2025)
72-hour streaming windows for new releases (ended)

Why the change? Hallmark launched its own platform and ended third-party licensing to retain more control over content and monetization.

Hallmark+ vs. Frndly TV

Frndly TV ($7.99-11.99/month) is a live TV streaming service that includes all three Hallmark channels.

Frndly TV Pros:

Live access to Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, and Hallmark Drama
Cloud DVR (recordings saved 3-9 months)
Watch movies as they premiere
Includes 50+ other family-friendly channels
72 hour look -back feature allows you to scroll backward through the guide and record what you might have missed

Frndly TV Cons:

No Hallmark+ exclusive originals
Limited on-demand Hallmark library
Commercials during live viewing
Must watch during scheduled time or record

Best for: Viewers who want live TV experience and DVR capabilities

Hallmark+ vs. Philo

Philo ($28/month) is a larger live TV streaming package that includes Hallmark channels.

Philo Pros:

All three Hallmark channels live
70+ total channels (HGTV, Food Network, AMC, etc.)
Unlimited cloud DVR (12-month storage)
Can replace cable entirely

Philo Cons:

Much more expensive than Hallmark+
No exclusive Hallmark+ content
Includes commercials
Paying for many channels you might not watch

Best for: Cord-cutters wanting a full cable replacement with multiple channels

Hallmark+ vs. Cable/Satellite

Traditional Cable (varies, typically $50-150/month) includes Hallmark Channel in most packages.

Cable Pros:

Bundled with other channels
Familiar viewing experience
Live viewing

Cable Cons:

Significantly more expensive
Commercials
No on-demand Hallmark library
No exclusive Hallmark+ content
No shopping perks
Equipment rental fees

Best for: Viewers already committed to cable who don’t want another app

The Biggest Downfall of Hallmark+: App Performance Issues

Before we dive into what works well about Hallmark+, we need to address the elephant in the room: the app itself has significant technical problems that can seriously impact your viewing experience.

Major Technical Issues We’ve Experienced:

Slow Load Times The Hallmark+ app is noticeably slower than other streaming platforms. Whether you’re opening the app, browsing the library, or starting a movie, expect longer wait times compared to Netflix, Hulu, or even smaller services like Frndly TV.

Frequent Glitches and Freezing The app regularly experiences technical hiccups including:

Buffering mid-movie (even with strong internet connection)
App crashes requiring force-quit and restart
Movies failing to load entirely
Audio/video sync issues
Subtitle glitches where text disappears or lags

Broken Rewind/Fast-Forward Functionality This is perhaps the most frustrating issue: attempting to rewind or fast-forward often snaps you directly back to the beginning of the movie.

Imagine you’re 45 minutes into a movie, you want to skip back 30 seconds to catch a line of dialogue, and suddenly you’re staring at the opening credits again. You’ve lost your place entirely and have to manually scrub forward through 45 minutes of content to find where you were.

This isn’t a rare glitch – it happens regularly enough that we’ve learned to avoid using the rewind/fast-forward features altogether unless absolutely necessary. Compared to the precision scrubbing on platforms like Netflix or Disney+, Hallmark+’s playback controls feel like they’re from 2010.

Why This Matters for Your Subscription Decision

These technical issues are worth considering before subscribing, especially if:

You frequently pause and rewind (cooking while watching, multitasking, etc.)
You have limited patience for technical problems
You’re comparing Hallmark+ to more polished streaming services
You plan to watch primarily on mobile devices

The good news? Despite these frustrations, the content itself streams in good quality when it’s working, and movies do eventually load. But the user experience falls significantly short of what we’ve come to expect from modern streaming platforms in 2026.

Will Hallmark improve the app? Presumably, yes – but as of January 2026, these issues persist more than a year after the platform’s launch. It’s unclear when (or if) major performance upgrades are coming.

Hallmark+ User Experience: What Actually Works Well

Despite the technical challenges, there are aspects of Hallmark+ that work quite well:

What Works Well:

Content Library Organization

Massive selection of Hallmark movies
Easy to find favorites organized by series
Clear categories (Christmas, Mystery, Romance, etc.)
Good search when you know exactly what you’re looking for

Next-Day Releases

Reliable streaming the day after cable premiere
No waiting weeks or months
Content actually appears on schedule (unlike the app performance, the release schedule is dependable)

Ad-Free Experience

Completely commercial-free viewing
No interrupted storytelling
Movies flow the way they’re meant to

Video Quality

Streams in HD when connection allows
Good picture quality during playback
Audio is clear and well-balanced

What Still Needs Improvement:

No Live Channel Option You can’t watch Hallmark Channel in real-time like you can on Frndly TV or cable. Everything is on-demand only, available the day after it airs.

Limited Filtering Options Finding specific movies can be challenging without robust search filters, advanced sorting, or the ability to filter by actor, year, or sub-genre.

No Offline Downloads Unlike Netflix or Disney+, you can’t download movies to watch offline during travel or without internet access.

Watchlist Functionality The “My List” or watchlist feature exists but isn’t as intuitive or reliable as competitors.

Option 1: Watch Hallmark+ FREE Through Hoopla BingePass (Best Value!)

Did you know you can watch Hallmark+ for FREE with just a library card? This is hands-down the best way to access Hallmark+ without paying the monthly subscription fee.

How Hoopla’s BingePass Works:

Hoopla is a digital library service that offers a BingePass feature giving you 7 days of unlimited Hallmark+ access completely free with your library card.

Here’s how to get started:

Get a library card from your local library (if you don’t have one already)
Visit hoopladigital.com or download the Hoopla app
Create a free account using your library card number
Look for “BingePass” in the Hoopla platform
Select Hallmark+ BingePass and redeem it
Stream unlimited Hallmark content for 7 days

BingePass Benefits:

✅ Completely FREE – no credit card required
✅ Unlimited streaming for 7 days
✅ Access to full Hallmark+ library including exclusives
✅ Can borrow BingePass again when your 7 days expire
✅ Download movies for offline viewing
✅ Available on all devices (phone, tablet, TV, computer)

How to use Hoopla to get Hallmark Plus for free

Important BingePass Details:

Your library sets monthly borrowing limits (typically 6-10 items per month)
Some libraries may have daily download limits that reset at midnight
You can immediately re-borrow BingePass when it expires (if you haven’t hit your monthly limit)
Perfect for Countdown to Christmas binges without paying for a full month

Pro Strategy: Use BingePass during peak content periods (like Countdown to Christmas in November-December) to watch 2-3 weeks of new movies completely free by borrowing consecutive BingePasses.

Read our complete guide to watching Hallmark+ free with Hoopla →

Option 2: Direct Hallmark+ Subscription

Visit hallmarkplus.com and sign up directly:

Choose monthly ($7.99) or annual ($79.99) plan
Get 7-day free trial
Link your Crown Rewards account for shopping perks
Download apps for iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV

Option 3: Subscribe Through Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime members can add Hallmark+ as a channel:

Log into Prime Video
Search for “Hallmark+”
Add subscription for $7.99/month
Same price, same content
Manage through your Amazon account

Note: Subscribing through Prime Video gives you streaming access but you’ll still need to link a Crown Rewards account separately for shopping perks.

When to Subscribe vs. When to Wait

Best Times to Subscribe to Hallmark+:

September – January (Countdown to Christmas)

40+ new Christmas movies
Maximum value period
Exclusive holiday content
Worth subscribing for 4-5 months

Before Major Series Premieres:

Hope Valley: 1874 (March 2026)
New seasons of When Calls the Heart & The Way Home
Finding Mr. Christmas results

Consider Waiting If:

It’s summer (fewer new releases)
You’re catching up on back catalog only
You want to binge multiple months at once
Promotional pricing might appear soon

Frequently Asked Questions About Hallmark+

Can I watch Hallmark Channel live on Hallmark+? No, Hallmark+ does not include live streaming of Hallmark Channel. New movies become available the next day after they premiere on cable.

What happened to Hallmark on Peacock? As of May 1, 2025, Hallmark content is no longer available on Peacock. The partnership ended when Hallmark launched its own streaming service.

Can I cancel Hallmark+ anytime? Yes, monthly subscriptions can be canceled at any time with no penalties. Annual subscriptions are non-refundable.

Do the shopping perks work if I subscribe through Prime Video? Yes, but you need to separately link your Crown Rewards account on the Hallmark website to activate shopping benefits.

Can I watch Hallmark+ for free? Yes! Through Hoopla’s BingePass program, you can watch Hallmark+ completely free with just a library card. Each BingePass gives you 7 days of unlimited streaming, and you can borrow it repeatedly (based on your library’s monthly limits). This is the best way to watch Hallmark+ without paying a subscription fee. Learn how to access Hallmark+ free through Hoopla.

Is Hallmark+ available outside the United States? At the moment, Hallmark+ is only available in the United States.

Can I download movies to watch offline? Currently, Hallmark+ does not offer a download feature for offline viewing.

How many devices can stream Hallmark+ simultaneously? Hallmark+ allows streaming on up to 3 devices at the same time.

Will When Calls the Heart Season 13 be on regular Hallmark Channel? Yes, When Calls the Heart airs on Hallmark Channel on Sundays and streams on Hallmark+ the next day (Mondays).

Is Hallmark+ Worth It in 2026? Our Honest Review

After extensive testing, here’s our verdict on whether Hallmark+ is worth subscribing to in 2026:

Hallmark+ is WORTH IT if you:

✅ Watch Hallmark Channel movies regularly (2+ per month)

✅ Want next-day commercial-free access to new premieres

✅ Are interested in Hallmark+ exclusive content like Hope Valley: 1874

✅ Already shop at Hallmark stores (the perks basically pay for itself)

✅ Prefer on-demand streaming over live TV

✅ Love When Calls the Heart, The Way Home, or other Hallmark series

✅ Want to binge classic Hallmark movies anytime

✅ Don’t have access to Hoopla through your library or prefer not to manage 7-day BingePass renewals

Hallmark+ is NOT worth it if you:

❌ Have a library card and can use Hoopla’s free BingePass (this is the clear winner for casual viewers)

❌ Only watch 1-2 Hallmark movies per year

❌ Prefer waiting for movies to appear on free platforms

❌ Never shop at Hallmark stores (perks won’t benefit you)

❌ Already have Frndly TV or Philo and are happy with DVR

❌ Don’t care about exclusive content or next-day access

❌ Can wait 6-12 months for movies to appear elsewhere

Bottom Line: Hallmark+ is worth it for regular Hallmark viewers and especially valuable for anyone who shops at Hallmark stores.

Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 5 stars)

Pros:

Affordable at $7.99/month
Exclusive content not available elsewhere
Next-day commercial-free new movies
Shopping perks can offset entire cost
Massive classic movie library
Perfect for Countdown to Christmas

Cons:

Clunky playback controls
No live channel option
Limited to U.S. only
May not be worth it during off-season

For casual Hallmark fans: Start with Hoopla’s free BingePass if your library offers it. This lets you watch unlimited Hallmark+ content for 7 days at a time without spending a dime. You can strategically use BingePasses during Countdown to Christmas or when new content drops.

For dedicated Hallmark fans who watch weekly: The paid Hallmark+ subscription is worth it at $7.99/month (or $6.67/month annual). You’re getting commercial-free next-day access to every new movie, exclusive content you can’t watch anywhere else, and shopping perks that can offset the cost.

For regular Hallmark shoppers: Even if you only watch a few movies, the shopping perks alone make the annual subscription worthwhile.

Try this strategy: Start with Hoopla’s free BingePass during a period when content you want to watch is available (like Countdown to Christmas or when a new season of When Calls the Heart drops). If you find yourself wishing for continuous access or hitting your library’s borrowing limits, upgrade to a paid subscription.

For most dedicated Hallmark fans, Hallmark+ has become essential viewing in 2026 now that Peacock no longer carries Hallmark content.

Ready to start your Hallmark+ free trial? Visit hallmarkplus.com to get started.

Want more Hallmark movie reviews and recommendations? Check out our complete guides:

Last updated: January 15, 2026

We’re Your New Hallmark Besties

Hey there! We’re Girls Gone Hallmark! Megan’s a longtime Hallmark movie fan, while Wendy – well, she used to be a Hallmark hater. Now, we’ve teamed up to share our (often very different!) takes on these films. Get ready for some lively, fun-filled conversations!

Check out the library of Hallmark movies we’ve reviewed!

Subscribe today!

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