What is Apple TV+?
Apple TV+ is a subscription-based streaming service. It's where you can watch original content made by Apple like Ted Lasso and The Morning Show.
But here's where it gets confusing. You may be thinking, "Oh, so it's like Disney+ or Netflix?" Well, kind of. In order to fully understand what Apple TV+ is, you also need to know about Apple TV and the Apple TV app. Because, yes, they are all different things.
Fine. Just hurry up and tell me what Apple TV is.
Apple TV is the little black box you can buy that plugs into your TV. Like Roku or Amazon Fire Stick, it is the device that enables you to watch web-based content. Through Apple TV, you can access Apple TV+ (through the app) as well as other popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
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So what is the Apple TV app?
The Apple TV app has a collection of channels and shows and movies that are free or available for purchase/rent. It's the Apple logo with the word "TV" next to it. It comes installed on Apple devices (including Apple TV) and it's compatible with other streaming devices like Roku or Amazon Fire Stick. So if you don't have Apple TV, you can still download the Apple TV app and watch shows.
How does all of this relate to Apple TV+?
Apple TV+ content lives on the Apple TV app. You don't need to have Apple TV to watch Apple TV+, but you do need the Apple TV app. Make sense?
Let's say you want to start watching Ted Lasso. You've heard rave reviews, and you're in the mood for a show that seamlessly blends humor and heart. Here's how to do it: Access the Apple TV app either from Apple TV (or any Apple device) or from a non-Apple streaming device. At the top of the screen, click on Apple TV+, which is the Apple logo with the "TV" with the plus sign. From there, you can sign up for a subscription or start watching if you already have one.
An Apple TV+ subscription costs $4.99 a month after a free seven-day trial. You can also get three months of free Apple TV+ if you buy an Apple device. Alternatively, you can subscribe to Apple One, which bundles your Apple TV+ subscription with other Apple services like Apple Music, iCloud+, and Apple Fitness+ for $14.99. Of course, this is only cost-effective if you're already using those services.
Thus concludes the lesson in Apple product terminology. It shouldn't be this confusing, but here we are. And Ted Lasso is worth it.
Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.
