Is Apple TV+ worth it for original shows?
What you get for the price
Apple TV+ costs $9.99 per month in the U.S. as of 2025. It has no ads and includes all its originals in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos where available. The catalog is small compared to Netflix or Prime Video, but it's almost entirely exclusive shows and movies you can't stream elsewhere.
The service is best known for prestige dramas and comedies like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, and Slow Horses. It also has a growing slate of films and documentaries. If you mainly watch a few buzzy shows per year, you can subscribe for a month or two, binge, and cancel.
- Price: $9.99/month, no ads
- All originals in 4K HDR
- Small but high-quality library
- Easy to binge and cancel
- Free trials often available with new Apple devices
Who it's for (and who it's not)
It's a good fit if you value a curated, ad-free experience and don't need a massive on-demand catalog. It's a poor fit if you want to rewatch old network sitcoms, recent blockbusters from other studios, or a deep library of licensed movies.
Apple TV+ also bundles with Apple One, which can make it cheaper if you already pay for other Apple services. If you only want one or two shows, a month here and there is more cost-effective than an annual plan.
Common mistakes
- Assuming Apple TV+ has a large back catalog like Netflix; it's mostly originals only.
- Paying for a full year upfront when you could subscribe for a month, binge, and cancel.
- Confusing the Apple TV+ streaming service with the Apple TV hardware box.
