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What is Apple TV+? Pricing, features, how to get it, and more

Derek Malcolm
Nick Perry
By and

Since its launch in November of 2019, Apple TV+ has elbowed its way on to the playing field of streaming services from Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to Disney+, Max, Hulu, and a plethora of others to become, for many, a go-to option for movies, TV series, and sports. Since then the ad-free service has amassed an estimated 25 million subscribers globally, with many more than that reportedly cashing in on the company’s penchant for free promotional subscriptions after you buy a new Apple device like an iPhone or MacBook.

What sets Apple TV+ apart from the rest of the herd is that it’s the only service that offers exclusively original content and only its own original content; meaning no seasons of Rick and Morty or Friends licensed from their respective networks and no blockbuster flicks from other studios, but you can get those elsewhere. This may or may not be a bad thing, as so far Apple has done a pretty good job at making some of the most compelling original content out there, including award-winning series such as Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, and Severance to some of the best sci-fi series around, like Silo and Invasion, as well as live sports from Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer.

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Even with its recent price hike, only its second in four years, which puts the price at $10 per month, Apple TV+ remains one of the cheapest video streaming services available. Here’s everything you need to know.

The Apple TV+ home screen with an image from Lessons in Chemistry.
Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends

Cost and availability

Apple TV+ is one of the more affordable streaming services, costing $10 a month. That’s only $3 more than Netflix’s $7 ad-supported subscription, and $13 cheaper than Netflix’s top-tier Premium sub.

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Better yet, Apple has adopted an extremely aggressive acquisition model for Apple TV+. Anybody can try it free for seven days, or you can get three months for free with the purchase of any eligible iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV device, or Mac. You just have to remember to redeem the offer within 90 days of purchase.

Additionally, if you haven’t already signed up, you can get a one-month free trial as part of an Apple One subscription, but be aware that the prices for these bundles (that include services such as Fitness+, Arcade, News+, and iCloud storage) have also gone up.

Supported devices

Naturally, Apple TV+ is available on all modern Apple hardware, including all iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices capable of running the latest operating systems, the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, and third-generation Apple TVs. You can access Apple TV+ via web browsers such as Safari, Chrome, or Firefox.

The Apple TV+ app is available on Smart TVs from Samsung, Vizio, LG, Sony, Panasonic, and HiSense. You can also get the app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, or Google TV devices, as well as on PlayStation 4 and 5 and Xbox One, Series X, or Series S consoles.

The AirPods Max and Apple TV 4K with remote on a table.
Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

How do you get Apple TV+?

As we alluded to above, there are several ways to get Apple TV+ for free, whether you’re a first-time Apple device owner or a long-time Apple fan. Either way, here are the basic steps for getting in on the streaming service.

Step 1: Head to  and select the Start free trial button. It’s easiest to do on a desktop browser, but you can do this on pretty much any device.

Step 2: Sign in with your Apple ID (or create one first, if necessary).

Step 3: If you haven’t already set this up with your Apple ID, you may have to enter your credit card information. Once this is done, click Confirm.

Step 4: You’re done. You should be able to start watching immediately, but you might have to sign in on any of the devices you’re using to watch.

Note: Keep in mind, though, that with the free trial, and with most free trials, once the term is over, it will automatically renew, charging you the $10 per month fee thereafter. If you find that it’s not for you, you may want to cancel it before it’s too late.

Audio and video

All Apple TV+ originals are optimized to support 4K HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, and most also support Dolby Atmos sound. And if you have an Apple TV 4K you can combine it with a compatible pair of headphones (such as AirPods Max, AirPods Pro (first or second gen), AirPods 3, or Beats Fit Pro) to experience Apple’s immersive Spatial Audio 3D sound with head-tracking. Many Apple TV+ supports up to six simultaneous streams across one subscription, and up to six family members can create their own profiles using their own Apple login credentials. Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users can also download Apple TV+ content to watch offline.

The Apple TV+ home screen on a TV.
Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends

Apple TV+ content

As we mentioned above, Apple TV+ is all about original movies and TV series. And while they launched with only a handful of titles, their roster is now much more respectable and growing every month. The Apple TV+ lineup features shows and movies from many high-profile actors and filmmakers, and Digital Trends covers everything you can watch on a monthly basis with our streaming guides, including our what’s new on Apple TV+, best shows on Apple TV+, and best movies on Apple TV+.

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Derek Malcolm
Derek Malcolm
Contributing Editor, A/V
Derek Malcolm is a Toronto-based technology journalist, editor, and content specialist whose work has appeared in…
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