Apple TV Review 2026: Cost, Plans, and More

Is Apple TV good?

How much does Apple TV cost?

Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Apple TV only offers one plan, so you don’t have to pay more to get rid of ads. Not a bad deal.

Unlike HBO Max or Netflix, which bury 4K quality and extra streams behind expensive “Ultimate” or “Premium” tiers, Apple gives you everything for one price. And while I wish Apple TV still cost $4.99/mo. as it did upon its 2019 inception, $12.99/mo. for an ad-free plan is basically unheard of these days.

Plus, Apple TV gives you six (!) simultaneous streams, double what most other on-demand streamers give you. There’s also no limit on offline downloads with Apple TV as long as you’re using your Apple ID.

You can also bundle Apple TV with other Apple subscriptions like Apple Music and Apple Arcade by signing up for Apple One. Its plans range from $19.95 to $37.95 a month, but it’s only worth it if you’re absolutely committed to the Apple brand. More on that later.

Apple TV vs. the competition

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

When it comes to ad-free plans, only MGM+ offers a lower price than Apple TV. Several services, like Peacock and Paramount+, have even cheaper plans, but they’re ad-supported (ugh). Apple TV is blissfully ad-free. You may get an ad in between F1 races, but in your regularly scheduled original programming, you’ll catch no commercials.

Apple TV raised its price from $9.99/mo. to $12.99/mo. in August 2025, which is a pretty big leap. I still think it’s a good deal (especially when comparing its pricing to the other premium streamers in the table above), but it’s not quite the steal it used to be. That next season of “Severance” must be really expensive.

If you wanna save some bucks on your Apple TV subscription, check out our detailed Apple TV deals guide, updated monthly by yours truly.

Apple TV’s library is packed with award-winning exclusives

Apple TV is a must-have for baseball, soccer, and F1 fans

Not everyone’s pleased with this increased integration of sports into Apple TV. Streaming fatigue is a real thing, and having to continue subscribing to new services just to get content from one sport you love can be a drag—especially if you’re not already in the Apple ecosystem.

I’m not a sports fan, so I can’t comment on this specific issue. However, our in-house sports experts have delved deep into Apple TV’s sportsball offerings, good and bad—learn more in our dedicated Apple TV sports guide.

Apple TV can be watched on non-Apple devices, too

The Apple TV streaming app has always been called just Apple TV, even when the streaming service was called Apple TV+. It’s convenient to have all of your purchased-through-Apple movies, shows, and on-demand service all in one place, even if you have to clumsily say “Apple” and “app” together. (And don’t get me started on having the streaming service, application, and the 4K streaming device all called the same thing.)

That deep Apple ecosystem integration is a double-edged sword. Honestly, I like it a lot—I have an iPhone, plus two Macbook Airs (one personal, one for work). It’s seamless to use my Apple ID to connect my Apple services, and the Apple TV app works well on all of my devices.

But our in-house streaming aficionado (who also awarded Apple TV our Best of the Best award this year), Olivia Bono, is primarily an Android user and has encountered a few hiccups in her experience. Here’s her two cents:

“Most new Apple devices come with a long Apple TV free trial, which is a great way to try out the service while upgrading your phone or tablet. But there are areas where Apple’s full-scale brand synergy is more of a nuisance than a convenience.

I’m talking about its bizarre login system. Each Apple TV account is tied to an Apple ID, so no logging into someone else’s account on your iPad unless you’re part of the same Family Sharing plan.

And if you want to create your own profile on your family’s Apple TV account? Forget about it. You can’t create profiles willy-nilly. Each profile has to be connected to a different Apple ID, even if the person using it has no other Apple devices. If you don’t have extra Apple ID logins on hand (or don’t want to go through the complicated process of connecting them), you’ll have to share show progress with everyone on your account.

Isn’t “Severance” confusing enough as it is, without having to constantly find your place again?”

What do real customers think of Apple TV?

Even with the accolades we’ve showered Apple TV with this year, more than a few customers disagree with us. In our 2026 On-Demand Streaming Customer Satisfaction survey, Apple TV received a 73% approval rating for overall satisfaction—not a horrible number by itself (we say anything >70% is passing). However, that rating is third from last among seventeen services, above only Netflix and DAZN. Not a great look.

I think the biggest knock for many customers is also why we think Apple TV is top-tier: Its reliance on premium original content. Most folks subscribe to streaming services to watch old favorites along with new programming. If you’re reliant on rewatches—I’m currently rewatching “Twin Peaks” for the ~10th time, so I feel you there—Apple TV may not be your cup of tea. But for those who want its high-quality originals, you know where to find them.

Want to read through more first-hand Apple TV reviews? We’ve got a page for that.

Apple TV review FAQ

Why you can trust us

Our TV experts have spent hundreds of hours testing and assessing Apple TV, rating the service on value, reliability, features, and customer satisfaction. Then we matched the service up against other premium streaming TV services head-to-head to give a clearer picture of its strengths and weaknesses. For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.