Apple TV+ costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year if you pay annually

Apple TV+ is a streaming service run by Apple that shows original shows, films, and documentaries. The monthly plan costs $9.99 and renews every month. The yearly plan costs $99 and renews once a year — that works out to about $8.25 per month if you divide the annual cost by 12. Both plans give you the same access to content; the only difference is how often you pay and how much you save by committing to a year.

The price has stayed at $9.99 monthly since the service launched in 2019, though Apple has raised the annual plan price twice. If you already subscribe to other Apple services, you may be able to bundle Apple TV+ with them at a lower total cost through Apple One, which is described in a separate section below.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple TV+ costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year, with no difference in content or features between the two payment options.
  • The annual plan saves you about $20 per year compared to paying monthly, but requires you to commit to 12 months upfront.
  • If you own an Apple device, you may have received a free trial period when you first set up the device or account.
  • Apple One bundles Apple TV+ with iCloud storage, Apple Music, and other services at a lower total price than buying each one separately.
  • You can watch on up to four devices at the same time with one subscription, and read shows to watch offline.

What the monthly and annual plans include

Both the $9.99 monthly plan and the $99 annual plan give you the same thing: access to all Apple TV+ shows and films, the ability to watch on up to four devices at the same time, and the option to read episodes to your phone or tablet to watch without an internet connection. There are no ads on either plan, and no separate tier that costs more to remove them.

You can create up to six user profiles within one subscription, which means different people in your household can have their own watch history and recommendations. Each profile can be password-protected. The service works on iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, Apple TVs, and also on some Samsung and LG televisions, as well as on Roku and Amazon Fire devices.

Free trial periods and how they work

Apple offers a free trial of Apple TV+ when you buy a new Apple device — typically an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV box. The length of the free trial varies depending on which device you buy and when you buy it; it has ranged from one month to three months in the past. You do not have to enter a payment method to start the free trial, but you will need to provide one before the trial ends if you want to keep the subscription after it expires.

If you already own an Apple device and did not use a free trial when you first set it up, you cannot go back and claim one later. Free trials are only available at the time of device purchase or initial account setup. Some Apple devices sold through certain carriers or retailers may not include a free trial offer.

Apple One bundles and lower combined costs

Apple One is a bundle that combines Apple TV+ with other Apple services. There are three tiers: Individual, Family, and Premier. The Individual plan costs $16.95 per month and includes Apple TV+, Apple Music, and 50 GB of iCloud storage. The Family plan costs $22.95 per month and adds up to five more family members, increases iCloud storage to 200 GB, and includes Apple Music and Apple TV+ for everyone. The Premier plan costs $32.95 per month and adds Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+ to the Family plan benefits.

If you already pay for Apple Music or iCloud storage separately, switching to an Apple One bundle usually costs less than your current bills combined. For example, if you pay $10.99 for Apple Music and $2.99 for 50 GB of iCloud storage, adding Apple TV+ through Apple One Individual ($16.95) costs less than buying all three separately ($14.97). The exact savings depend on which services you currently use and which tier you choose.

How to change your payment plan or cancel

You can switch between the monthly and annual plans at any time through your Apple account settings. If you are on the monthly plan and switch to annual, you will be charged the full $99 when ready, but your subscription will not renew for another year. If you are on the annual plan and switch to monthly before your year is up, you will not get a refund for the unused portion of the year; instead, your account will convert to monthly billing when the annual period ends.

To cancel Apple TV+, go to your Apple ID settings, select Subscriptions, find Apple TV+, and choose Cancel Subscription. Your access ends at the end of your current billing period — if you pay monthly, you keep access until the end of that month; if you pay annually, you keep access until the end of that year. You can restart your subscription at any time by going back to the same menu and selecting Resubscribe.

Comparing Apple TV+ to other streaming services

Apple TV+ is one of several streaming services, each with different prices and content libraries. Netflix offers plans starting at $6.99 per month (with ads) or $15.49 per month (without ads). Disney+ costs $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Hulu costs $7.99 per month (with ads) or $14.99 per month (without ads). Amazon Prime Video is $14.99 per month or $139 per year, though it includes other Prime benefits beyond video.

Apple TV+ has fewer total shows and films than Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, but it focuses on original content rather than licensed shows from other studios. Whether the $9.99 monthly cost is worth it depends on whether you watch the shows Apple produces — there is no way to sample the full library without paying or using a free trial. Some people subscribe to multiple services; others choose one based on which shows they most want to watch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Apple TV+ subscription with people outside my household?

Apple's terms of service state that your subscription is for your personal use and the members of your household. Sharing login details with people who do not live with you violates the terms. Apple has not announced plans to charge extra for out-of-household sharing the way some other services do, but the company has the right to enforce this restriction at any time.

What happens to my subscription if I stop paying?

Your access ends when ready when your payment fails or your subscription is cancelled. You cannot watch any shows or films, and your profiles and watch history are saved for 30 days. If you resubscribe within that window, your profiles and history return. After 30 days, they are deleted.

Is there a student discount for Apple TV+?

Apple does not offer a separate student discount for Apple TV+ on its own. However, students can join Apple Music Student, which includes Apple TV+ at no extra cost. You must be enrolled in a four-year college or university and verify your student status through a third-party verification service to may have access to.

Can I use Apple TV+ on a non-Apple device?

Yes. Apple TV+ works on Samsung and LG smart televisions, Roku devices, Amazon Fire TV devices, and web browsers at tv.apple.com. It does not work on Android phones or tablets, Chromecast, or PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles.