Apple TV Plus: price and everything you need to know about the streaming service

By Michael Balderston
published

Tech company Apple has expanded to include its own original content, all on its Apple TV Plus streaming service.

Apple TV logo on an Apple TV 4K
Our definitive guide to Apple TV Plus. (Image credit: WhatToWatch.com)

Apple TV Plus is the flagship streaming service that was, unsurprisingly, launched by Apple to ensure it wasn't left out of the ever-growing streaming market.  With it, the tech company best known for creating the iPhone and computers moved into the entertainment business in a big way. 

While Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video have been around for a long time now, the streaming revolution has really taken off in the last few years with the emergence of streaming platforms like BritBox, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Peacock, and Apple TV Plus.

Apple TV Plus doesn't quite stand alongside some of the other services above. That's because it doesn't rely on a library of movies and shows that have already been released, but is completely reliant on original programming, with new exclusive movies and shows coming along roughly every single month.

Below we break down everything that you need to know about Apple TV Plus, from what’s on to how much it costs and how you can start watching.

How much does Apple TV Plus cost?

As of October 24, 2022, Apple TV Plus got its first price increase. This saw the monthly fee rising from $4.99 per month to $6.99 per month in the US, with comparable price increases taking place internationally as well. For example, it's also £6.99 in the UK. 

Whilst this does mean Apple TV Plus is a little bit more expensive than it once was, it's only slightly more expensive than the ad-supported versions of services like Peacock Premium and Paramount Plus, though you still won't find any ads in Apple TV Plus content.

Aside from a basic Apple TV Plus subscription, there's also the option to bundle Apple TV Plus as part of an Apple One subscription (which also saw a price increase of $2 for individual accounts and $3 for family accounts).

Apple One is a package that allows consumers to bundle an Apple TV Plus subscription with up to five other Apple services (between Apple Music, Apple Arcade, iCloud Plus, Apple News Plus and Apple Fitness Plus) in a single monthly subscription. 

There are three different Apple One packages (opens in new tab), but all three of them include Apple TV Plus. Pricing for the cheapest option starts at $16.95 per month, but the more expensive Family and Premier plans offer additional Apple Services and include the option of sharing your subscription with up to five other people. 

If you're already subscribed to some of Apple's other services but want to pick up Apple TV Plus too, it's definitely worth considering whether an Apple One package might be right for you. 

Whichever way you subscribe, you can cancel an Apple TV Plus can cancel their Apple TV Plus subscription at any time.

Is there an Apple TV Plus free trial?

If you aren't sure whether you want to commit to another subscription, Apple offers new subscribers a seven-day free trial for Apple TV Plus for new customers. If you're in the market for a new phone or computer, you can get a longer free trial of the service if you purchase a new Apple device. 

Students should also note that anyone with an Apple Music Student Plan gets Apple TV Plus for free.

We also should mention that Apple TV Plus allows you to watch season premiere episodes for some of the platform's biggest shows for free, which is a great way of checking whether a show (and maybe the streaming service itself) is a good fit for you.

What's on Apple TV Plus?

Ultimately, the most important thing to consider (besides the price) when it comes to picking up a new streaming service is what's available to watch. Luckily, Apple TV Plus has a solid range to choose from.

As we mentioned above, the Apple TV Plus library is a little different from most other streaming services, as it's comprised entirely of original content. To compensate for the lack of classic programming, Apple has splashed a lot of cash on developing original content and acquiring titles to serve as Apple TV Plus exclusives, including gripping dramas, hilarious comedies, fascinating documentaries, and fun kids shows. 

When Apple TV Plus first launched in November 2019, the selection was a little thin. As new things have hit the platform, the offering has grown much larger and more prominent. Even if the platform doesn't draw in as many viewers as the likes of Netflix, some of its shows have managed to cut through in a big way. 

Recent big hitters include the psychological thriller series, Severance, Best Picture winner, CODA, spy drama Slow Horses, Cooper Raiff's Cha Cha Real Smooth, the M. Night Shyamalan drama, Servant, For All Mankind and warm-hearted comedy Ted Lasso, which is due to return for its third and final season later this year. 

Here's a full list of everything that's available to watch on Apple TV Plus right now.

And here are some of the shows that are awaiting release:

  • Shrinking
  • Masters Of The Air
  • Dear Edward
  • The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy
  • My Kind Of Country
  • The Big Door Prize
  • Schmigadoon! Season 2
  • Jane's Animal Adventures

Apple TV Plus has also a number of Apple TV Plus original films, including:

Upcoming Apple TV Plus original movies include:

  • Argylle
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
  • Sharper

It should also be noted that Apple TV Plus is the streaming home for the Peanuts cartoons. In addition to Snoopy in Space and The Snoopy Show, this includes the classic Peanuts holiday specials. 

After a bit of a controversy with viewers complaining that the classic Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas episodes would be removed from broadcast in favor for Apple TV Plus, the streaming service announced that in addition to offering the holiday specials to its subscribers, all of the holiday classics would air once on PBS around their respective holidays as well as being made available for free to all interested viewers for a limited time on Apple TV. 

How can I watch Apple TV Plus?

So you've decided to pick up an Apple TV Plus subscription... now where can you watch it? Apple TV Plus is available through the Apple TV app, which is available on all Apple devices. Subscribers can open the Apple TV app, click or tap Apple TV Plus and start watching the available TV shows and movies.

Apple TV Plus is also available on a number of streaming platforms, smart TVs and AirPlay-enabled TVs with the Apple TV app.

Here is the specific breakdown of what devices support Apple TV Plus:

Subscribers can also download Apple TV Plus content to an Apple device to watch them anywhere with or without a Wi-Fi connection.

Where is Apple TV Plus available?

Apple TV Plus is currently available in 107 countries around the world, including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Ireland and many more. You can find the full list below: 

  • Anguilla 
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahamas
  • Bahrain
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Bulgaria
  • Cambodia
  • Canada
  • Cape Verde
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Estonia
  • Eswatini
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • The Gambia
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Greece
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Laos
  • Latvia
  • Lebanon
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia
  • Moldova
  • Mongolia
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Niger
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Russia
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Thailand
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam
  • Zimbabwe
Michael Balderston
Michael Balderston

Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. On the TV side he enjoys Peaky Blinders, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Saturday Night Live, Only Murders in the Building and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. Follow on Letterboxd (opens in new tab).