Apple TV Plus: 6 things to know about the $5/month streaming service

Barcelona, Spain. March 2019: Man holds a tablet with the new Apple TV plus on screen . Apple TV plus is an online video streaming subscription service, set to launch in several countries on autum. Illustrative editorial

Craig Johnson | September 17th, 2019

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With the recent announcement of a new streaming TV service, Apple’s entry into the streaming business with Apple TV Plus adds another choice for consumers.

Clark.com has been reviewing different steaming services to help you make informed decisions as to which one(s) to sign up for. If you’re thinking about trying out Apple TV Plus, this article is going to cover everything you need to know.

Apple TV Plus: What you need to know before you buy

Apple TV Plus is an on-demand streaming service that will show all-original content. That means that unlike other streaming services, Apple’s will feature exclusive programming that is not licensed by other services or networks.

Here are six other things you need to know about Apple TV Plus:

1. How much does Apple TV Plus cost?

Apple TV+ will cost $4.99 a month. That’s an attractive price point that the company is betting can lure subscribers from rival streaming services.

2. When will the streaming service launch?

The first shows will be available on November 1 and will launch in more than 100 countries. Apple says the service will debut new content every month to beef up its platform.

3. What shows will be available?

Apple TV Plus will begin with a powerful lineup of original content starring actors like Jennifer Aniston, Jason Momoa, Alfre Woodard and more. Here’s a list of the nine launch shows that will stream starting November 1:

“The Morning Show”

“The Morning Show”
“Dickinson”
“See”
“For All Mankind”
“The Elephant Queen”
“Helpsters”
“Snoopy in Space”
“Ghostwriter”
“Oprah Winfrey”

Some subsequent releases that will be added in the months ahead are “Servant,” “Truth be Told,” “Little America,” “The Banker,” and “Hala.”

4. How do you stream Apple TV Plus?

You can stream the service on your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch and Mac through the Apple TV app. It will also be available online at tv.apple.com and other platforms, including:

Select Samsung smart TVs
Amazon Fire TV (coming soon)
LG (coming soon)
Roku (coming soon)
Sony (coming soon)
Vizio (coming soon)

5. Can you get Apple TV Plus for free?

Apple is currently running a promotion: When you buy an iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac, you’ll get one year of Apple TV+ for free.

There’s also a free seven-day trial when you enter your credit card information and sign up. After the seventh day, your subscription will automatically renew for $4.99 a month.

6. Can Apple TV Plus replace Netflix?

Apple obviously feels that it needs to be a big player in the streaming space, but can it replace Netflix?

Subscribers looking to choose between Apple TV Plus and Netflix will have to consider what each of them do best. Here’s a comparison of Apple TV Plus vs. Netflix based on what we know now:

Apple TV Plus	Netflix
7-day free trial Cost: $4.99 No cable TV shows; all original films, documentaries and series Ad-free content Up to 6 simultaneous streams under Family Plan	30-day free trial Cost: $8.99 (Basic), $12.99 (Standard), $15.99 (Premium) Popular TV shows and original series Ad-free content Up to 4 simultaneous streams under Premium Plan