In a Nutshell
pros
- Low price
- First week free
- Easy to use across devices
cons
- Less content than other streamers
- Limited live sports options
Overview
Apple TV+ at a Glance
Apple TV+ is the streaming arm of Apple. It includes a library of content built entirely since the service’s November 2019 launch, including high-profile programs like Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Shrinking, Pachinko, Hijack, Severance and Lessons in Chemistry. Top films include the Oscar-nominated CODA and Killers of the Flower Moon, Tom Hanks’ Greyhound, The Family Man, Spirited, Ghosted and Welcome Home, Franklin.
Another area Apple TV+ shines is documentaries. It has a compelling selection, including the Michael J. Fox doc Still, Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend, and The Dynasty: New England Patriots.
Apple has a robust platform in Apple Music, its music streaming service. The company has created cross-platform synergy by adding content from Apple Music to its Apple TV+ offerings. For instance, Apple created a behind-the-scenes feature on Usher's Super Bowl LVIII halftime show, which was sponsored by Apple Music, and made it available on Apple TV+ right after the game.
Sports streaming services remain a potential growth area for Apple TV+ as it waited a few years after launch to begin pursuing sports deals. That being said, since 2022, it has added live-streaming options for Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer games. It lets you set a favorite team in either league and receive notifications when they have an upcoming game.
Apple TV+ does not offer live news. This could also change in the future as Apple looks for ways to grow and diversify the service.
Apple TV+ Features
This platform is Apple's play in the world of streaming services, offering a sleek interface that's easy to navigate. They've dedicated themselves to high-quality, original content, so you're in for some unique shows and movies not found elsewhere. Plus, it's seamlessly integrated across all Apple devices, making it super convenient to watch your favorite content anywhere. And for the family, Apple TV+ is very family-friendly, with plenty of options for kids and adults alike. It’s a compact, quality-focused service that's worth checking out.
Is Apple TV+ Safe and Reliable?
The Apple TV+ platform is safe and reliable. Apple is known for its focus on user experience, something late co-founder Steve Jobs prioritized. Apple wants customers to trust and seek out its products, and it prides itself on creating technically sound hardware and software. It does this by using high-quality materials and running extensive beta tests. The company also makes updates and adjustments to its app as it receives user feedback.
While the platform had some glitches years ago at launch, as many streamers do, complaints since then have been limited, even for live sports content. The technology works reliably and securely.
How Apple TV+ Works
Apple TV+ offers a streamlined streaming experience, available on both Apple devices and a wide range of other platforms via the Apple TV app or web.
Subscribing to the service gives you access to an exclusive array of ad-free Apple Originals in 4K HDR, with the flexibility of offline viewing.
Apple TV+ supports Family Sharing for up to six members and frequently comes bundled with new Apple devices, enhancing its appeal.
The service ensures seamless content synchronization across devices, making it easy to pause on one device and resume on another, catering to viewers seeking high-quality content without the need for specialized hardware.
How to Get Started With Apple TV+
No special equipment is necessary to stream Apple TV+ content — there’s no designated Apple TV device, and you don’t need to buy a 4k Apple TV. You can download shows and movies to watch offline.
Follow these steps to sign up for Apple TV+:
- On Apple’s site, from the top drop-down menu, hover over the “Entertainment” tab, then click on Apple TV+
- Scroll down about a third of the page until you see three buttons in the middle. Click on the middle button, which says, “Try it free”
- On the next page, click on the “Accept free trial” button. That will take you to a screen where you can enter your Apple ID or your email address. Most iPhone and iPad users have an Apple ID, though it is not required.
- If you don’t already have an Apple ID, you will need a valid email address to set one up.
Signing Up for Apple TV+ on the App
You can also sign up for Apple TV+ on your iPhone or iPad. The Apple TV+ app is automatically loaded to all Apple devices to start. You can open the app and click the “Accept free trial” button to start your trial subscription.
Begin Using Your Apple TV+
After you sign up on the web or on a device, you will receive a one-week free subscription to Apple TV+. Once the week is up, the company will charge the credit card each month for the service. You can install the Apple TV+ app on other smart devices and use your Apple ID to log in and begin watching content.
How to Watch Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is available on:
- Smartphones, including iPhone and Android
- Tablets, including iPads (but not Kindles, there is no Kindle Apple TV+ app)
- Macs and PCs
- Airplay
- PlayStation and Xbox
- Xfinity, Sony and Vizio devices
- Roku
- Fire TV
- Google TV
- Any Apple TV device
- Samsung and LG Smart TVs
Apple TV+ Customer Support
Apple has robust customer service options available 24/7, including online chats and a direct line to call if you experience problems with your service.
Apple TV reviews state that the company is quite good at resolving minor issues, such as billing or software issues, and there’s not a lot of need for additional customer support intervention.
How to Cancel an Apple TV+ Subscription
The Apple TV+ subscription will automatically renew each month until you cancel it. You can cancel at any time with no penalty. While some services are difficult to stop, Apple makes it easy.
To cancel, go to the Apple.com page and click the “Sign in” button near the top. It’s important to note that you won't see this option if you are already signed in.
Click on the account icon, which is a circle with the outline of a head, at the top of the page. Select “Settings,” then scroll down to “Subscriptions.” Hit “Manage.” Select “Cancel Subscription” and hit “Confirm” if asked for confirmation.
How to Cancel an Apple TV+ Subscription From Your Phone or Tablet
Alternatively, to cancel from your iPhone or iPad, open your “Settings” app and hit your name. A list will populate below. Hit “subscriptions.” Then hit “cancel subscription.” You may have to scroll a bit to find this choice.
Is There an Apple TV+ App?
Yes, there is an Apple TV+ app available in the Apple App Store. It’s also available through the Google Play store, even though Android is a fierce rival to Apple.
Apple TV+ Pricing
Apple TV+ offers a single subscription for $9.99 per month. Up to five family members can share this subscription. If you are a student with a subscription to the Apple Music Student Plan, you receive a free subscription to Apple TV+.
The cost includes unlimited viewing of Apple TV+ across devices. There is no cap on how many hours you can stream, and there are no commercials when you watch.
Apple also offers the option to bundle the Apple TV+ subscription as part of the Apple One plan, which has three tiers. The only difference between the first two tiers is the amount of iCloud storage provided. The third includes additional services not offered in tiers one and two.
The first tier costs $19.95 per month and includes Apple TV+, 50 GB of iCloud storage, Apple Music and Apple Arcade. The second tier costs $25.95 per month and includes Apple TV+, 200 GB of iCloud storage, Apple Music and Apple Arcade. And the third tier costs $37.95 per month and includes Apple Fitness+ and Apple News+ as well as Apple TV+, 2 TB of iCloud storage, Apple Music and Apple Arcade.
Optional Add-Ons
In addition to offering the Apple originals to stream, Apple also has paid content available to purchase through the Apple Store within the Apple TV+ app. You can rent or buy non-Apple shows, such as recently released movies, but you must watch them within the app, and none are free. The credit card you use to pay for your subscription will be charged for the content. The price varies depending on whether you rent or buy. Movies cost between $14.99-$19.99 to purchase and $5.99 to rent. You can also purchase individual episodes of TV shows for $2.99.
Apple also offers an MLS Season Pass for those who want access to every single Major League Soccer game. It costs $12.99 per month for Apple TV+ subscribers, which is a significantly discounted price point.
Bottom Line
Apple TV+ offers excellent TV shows and original movies. Hit shows like Slow Horses, The Morning Show, Severance, or Shrinking aren’t available anywhere else, which makes the service worth the price. Apple TV+ releases a small slate of high-quality movies, and the big names associated with them, such as Joaquin Phoenix, Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, and Leonardo DiCaprio, make them stand out. Apple seems committed to expanding its sports offerings, too, which boosts the future value for sports fans. For now, it is a very good choice for streaming top movies and TV shows.
