A standard Apple TV Plus subscription costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year following a 7-day free trial. However, some individuals and households may find they can access the streaming service for free for a limited amount of time. It is also possible to reduce the cost by combining Apple TV Plus with some of Apple’s other subscription services.
Apple launched its Apple TV Plus subscription service in November of 2019. While the variety of shows and movies was limited at the time, Apple has been expanding the content since then. Device support has also expanded as well, making an Apple TV Plus subscription now worth considering by both Apple and non-Apple users alike.
Any individuals or households looking to sign up to Apple TV Plus will find a standard subscription currently costs $6.99 per month. Apple does offer a seven-day free trial so it is possible to try the service before paying. The free trial will automatically convert to a paid subscription, so users will need to cancel before the trial ends if they want to avoid being billed the $6.99 monthly rate.
Once the free trial has started, subscribers also have the option to change billing from monthly to annually. At $69.99 per year, the Apple TV annual plan offers the opportunity to save $13.89 over the course of a full year compared to paying $6.99 each month for 12 months.
Free Apple TV+ for device owners
When Apple originally launched Apple TV Plus, it was offering those who purchased an Apple device, such as an iPad or Apple TV player, the ability to watch Apple TV Plus for free for up to one year. That promotion has now ended, but anyone who has purchased an Apple device recently, or plans to in the near future, can still get three months of Apple TV Plus for free.
As to be expected, there are some caveats to be aware of. Firstly, the offer does need to be claimed within three months of setting up the new device. Secondly, the promotion can only be redeemed once per device and family group. In other words, if an individual or a member of their family group has already taken advantage of an extended free trial, including the previous year-long trial, they won’t be able to take advantage of the free three months Apple TV offer.
Lastly, and similar to the free trial in general, the subscription will automatically become a paid subscription once the extended free period comes to an end. Subscribers will need to make sure they cancel Apple TV Plus before the end of the three months if they want to avoid paying $6.99 per month.
Bundling Apple TV+
For any individuals or households that pay for more than one Apple subscription, it might be worth combining them with Apple TV Plus to reduce the overall cost. In late 2020, Apple launched Apple One as a way to bundle subscriptions together. There are three main Apple One plans available and all of them include Apple TV Plus.
The Individual plan is priced at $16.95 per month and combines Apple TV Plus with Apple Music, Arcade and iCloud (with 50GB). This results in an overall monthly saving of $7 when compared to purchasing the various subscriptions separately. The Family plan is priced at $22.95 per month, and other than the iCloud upgrade to 200GB, the main difference is that the family plan can be shared with up to five other people.
For those that want the best experience possible, there’s the Premier plan. Priced at $32.95 per month, the Premier tier brings together Apple TV Plus, Music, Arcade, iCloud (2TB), News+ and Fitness+ subscriptions. Just like the Family plan, the Premier plan can also be shared with up to five other people.
| Apple One | Individual | Family | Premier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost p/m | $16.95 | $22.95 | $32.95 |
| Apple TV+ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Apple Music | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Apple Arcade | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| iCloud+ | 50GB | 200GB | 2TB |
| News+ | ✔ | ||
| Fitness+ | ✔ |
Essentially, deciding whether News+ and Fitness+ are wanted, and whether the subscriptions will be shared with anyone else, will help to determine which Apple One plan is the best option for an individual or household.
Apple TV Plus cost: summary
Apple TV Plus+ costs $6.99 per month for a standard subscription. There is also the option to pay $69.99 for an annual plan, saving almost $14 each year in the process. Regardless of whether paying monthly or annually, a 7-day free trial is available, so it is possible to try Apple TV Plus before paying. An Apple TV Plus subscription can also be bundled with other Apple One services, reducing the overall cost.
For those that have recently purchased an Apple device, they may be eligible for an extended three-month free trial. Whether eligible for a 7-day or 3-month free trial, subscribers that don’t plan to become paid subscribers will want to make sure they cancel Apple TV Plus before the free period ends to avoid automatically being billed.
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