Apple TV Subscription Explained: Price, Growth, and What’s New in 2025
Apple TV is Apple’s streaming subscription service, previously known as Apple TV+ until the company removed the “plus” branding in 2025. The service debuted on November 1, 2019, launching with an ad-free catalog of original movies and series. The latest subscription figures available put Apple TV at 45 million subscribers as of March 2025, though Apple has suggested the real number is “much more than that” today.
Checklists
Apple TV is Apple’s streaming subscription service, formerly branded as Apple TV+ before the “plus” was dropped in 2025. It launched on November 1, 2019, offering an ad-free slate of original films and shows. As of March 2025, the most recent reported subscriber count is 45 million, but Apple has teased that the total is now “much more than that.”
How Much Does it Cost?
When Apple TV first arrived in 2019, it cost just $4.99. Since then, the subscription has gone through several price adjustments, with the latest change arriving in April 2025. At that point, Apple raised the monthly rate to $12.99 from $9.99. Below are the plans and pricing available as of June 2026.
Standalone Plans
Apple TV offers a single standalone subscription option, but you can pay either monthly or annually. New customers can use a seven-day free trial, and there’s also an offer for three months free when you purchase a new Apple device.
Apple TV+ Free Trial
Bundles
At the moment, there are two bundle categories for Apple TV. Apple One includes Apple TV, Apple Music, iCloud+, and an Apple Arcade subscription. The standard Apple One tier covers the core services, while the premium tier adds Apple News and Apple Fitness on top. There’s also an Apple TV plus Peacock bundle that launched in October 2025, designed to help you save by combining Apple TV with a Peacock Premium membership.
See All Bundle Plans
The Apple TV Streaming Library
Apple TV is best known for its original programming, which has expanded substantially in recent years. Apple’s approach has leaned toward quality over sheer volume, and its releases have consistently reflected that strategy. In July, the service added Silo season 3 and a Pickleball movie called Dink. Apple TV also continues to be the home for all things F1.
Beyond originals, Apple TV also holds long-term rights to the Peanuts franchise. More recently, Apple signed a deal with Brandon Sanderson for rights to his Cosmere universe. Sanderson has shared an update stating that the first film adaptation from his Mistborn series is already in motion.
Original Shows
Apple TV’s lineup of popular series has grown a lot since the platform launched. Here’s a quick list of some of the biggest shows you can watch right now.
Original Movies
Apple Studios has produced a number of highly regarded films over the years. During the service’s first year, the original movie Coda even earned an Oscar. Here’s a quick list of some of the most popular movies available to stream, along with IGN’s review coverage for them.
Apple TV Devices
The newest Apple TV hardware is the third-generation Apple TV 4K. It launched in late 2022 and uses the same A15 Bionic chip family found in the iPhone 14 lineup.
Apple TV 4K
Apple TV 4K includes 64GB of Wi‑Fi storage and supports 4K Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos audio. The current retail price is $129 directly from Apple.
Devices Compatible With Apple TV
The Apple TV app is available on nearly all major streaming platforms and smart TVs. You can also stream easily across Apple mobile devices, including older iPhone and iPad generations.
You can view the complete compatibility list on Apple’s website.
Up Next: Plans and Pricing
Top Guide Sections
- Plans and Pricing
- Free Trial
- Original Series
