Apple TV Plus has passed its three year birthday, and is steadily proving itself against other big streamers. The content strategy has been markedly different to that of its competition, and the library remains remarkably selective even through Apple’s investment into expensive shows.
Though the likes of Netflix dwarf Apple TV Plus’ offering, what it does have is star-studded quality – showing that Apple is playing the long game in regard to content development. And more of those high-production values and standout scripts are set to trickle in during 2023, further building out what is becoming an excellent content catalogue.
This guide lays out all you need to know about Apple TV Plus, including price details, shows and compatibility across multiple devices. For even more, head over to our Apple TV Plus review.
Apple TV Plus cost: the price of the service
Apple TV Plus costs just $6.99 / £6.99 / AU$9.99 per month – and, if you buy an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or AppleTV, you’ll get a year’s subscription for free.
That’s even cheaper than Netflix‘s cheapest subscription, which costs $9.99 / £6.99 / $10.99 per month, and also less expensive than Disney Plus, which costs $7.99 (with ads or $10.99 without ads / £7.99 / AU$11.99 per month.
Apple TV Plus free trial: how to get one
Apple TV Plus has a seven-day free trial, and after that period, you’ll be automatically set to recurring billing for a monthly fee. It’s easy to grab a trial – just download Apple TV, which contains all the Apple TV Plus content, and you’ll be greeted with an ad for the service, as well as an invitation for a free trial.
The free trial gets you everything on the service in that seven days, so make the most of it. You only get one free trial for Apple TV Plus.
Apple TV Plus devices
Apple TV Plus is accessible on almost all devices in 2022, including: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, LG Smart TVs, Roku devices, Vizio, Sony Smart TVs, desktop browsers, PS5 and Xbox Series X.
See the complete list of supported devices (opens in new tab) here.
Is Apple TV Plus on Android?
There is no Android app for Apple TV, but you can watch it in a supported web browser on Android devices
What are Apple TV channels?
In addition to Apple TV Plus, Apple introduced Apple TV Channels, which combines cable subscription services and streaming services like Amazon Prime Video into the Apple TV app (unfortunately, however, Apple TV Channels doesn’t incorporate Netflix.). Availability varies depending on your region. You can read more about Apple TV Plus channels (opens in new tab) here.
The best Apple TV Plus shows
Despite being only three years old, Apple has managed to churn out an impressive roster of high-quality original TV content for its Apple TV Plus service. Our guide to the best Apple TV shows contains a comprehensive breakdown of the lot, but below, you’ll find a whistle-stop tour of the series worth tuning into in 2023.
- Ted Lasso
- Foundation
- The Morning Show
- Severance
- The Mosquito Coast
- For All Mankind
- Physical
- Black Bird
- Slow Horses
- Surface
- WeCrashed
- Bad Sisters
- The Essex Serpent
- See
- Prehistoric Planet
- Suspicion
- Shining Girls
- Pachinko
- Schmigadoon!
- Invasion
- The Shrink Next Door
- Mythic Quest
- Five Days at Memorial
- Trying
- Servant
- Defending Jacob
- The Afterparty
- Roar
- Shrinking
- Dear Edward
- Five Days at Memorial
The best Apple TV Plus movies
As with its TV shows, Apple has significantly accelerated its movie-making output in the last year or so, but the number of titles boasted by Apple TV Plus still pales in comparison to Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus. Still, a handful of Apple’s films – CODA, for instance – have made quite the cultural impression, so Apple TV Plus definitely shouldn’t be considered a TV-only streaming service. For an in-depth look, see our best Apple TV movies list, or see a rundown below.
- CODA
- Finch
- Emancipation
- On The Rocks
- Swan Song
- The Tragedy Of Macbeth
- Cherry
- Spirited
- Wolfwalkers
- The Sky Is Everywhere
- Greyhound
- Palmer
- Hala
- Luck
- The Banker
- The Greatest Beer Run Ever
- Causeway
Apple TV Plus: what’s coming soon?
Apple typically teases its upcoming slate of Apple TV Plus movies and TV shows at its annual iPhone reveal event. Last year, though, that didn’t happen, with the company’s recent Far Out showcase – held on September 7 – dedicated to its new hardware releases, exclusively.
For our money, a sizzle reel showing off the streamer’s 2023 offering was the bare minimum we hoped to expect from Apple at its latest iPhone launch, so it was disappointing to see Apple TV Plus sidelined in that way.
We do know, however, that Apple is currently preparing to debut the Martin Scorsese-directed movie Killers of the Flower Moon – starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro – on its streaming service to the tune of $200 million. An unnamed, Brad Pitt-starring Formula 1 movie directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski is also in the pipeline.
Suffice to say, then, Apple has some big-ticket movie material up its sleeve for 2023 and beyond. We’d expect to hear some official communication on what other projects it’s working on soon.
So, Apple TV Plus is like Netflix?
This is where things get a little confusing. While on stage back in 2020, Tim Cook made it very clear that Apple TV Plus isn’t like Netflix – at least not yet. While the service will eventually offer original content by the boatload, Apple TV Plus doesn’t offer licensed content like Netflix or Amazon Prime does, which covers all syndicated shows, like The Big Bang Theory, Mr. Robot or Seinfeld. That, though, may change in future, if a Bloomberg (opens in new tab) report – one suggesting that Apple could introduce licensed shows and films onto its service – is to be believed.
For now, you’ll still have to buy those shows through iTunes or via your terrestrial cable app in Apple TV Channels, and turn to Apple TV Plus for its library of originals.
If Apple TV Plus isn’t quite what you wanted, see our HBO Max guide instead.
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