The streaming field is extremely crowded these days, and prices keep going up and up. In 2024, how does Apple TV+ stack up amongst so much competition?
The golden age of streaming is over. Gone are the days when you could cut your cables and watch almost anything with an $8-a-month Netflix subscription — not that it’s been that cheap for awhile. Every major network lunged in to get a slice of that sweet, sweet streaming pie and now, there are several baker’s dozens to choose from. When you tally up all your sundry subscriptions and consider most now start with basic ad-supported tiers, you may start to get the eerie feeling we’ve already come full circle with cable. It’s unlikely this situation will change, so all of us will have to carefully decide which streaming services to keep, and which ones to kick out of the nest. Apple TV+ is just another platform vying for your dollars, so is it worth?
Apple TV+ was a latecomer on the scene in 2019 (as Apple tends to be) and tried to undercut the competition with original programming at only $4.99. The company isn’t exactly known for being cheap or providing a lot of value for the money, so this was a welcome surprise. Five years later, has the contender proven it deserves a part of your limited streaming budget? I’ve been using Apple TV+ for roughly the course of a year, and I have some thoughts. Let’s discuss whether you should subscribe in 2024.It’s one of the more affordable options
Apple TV+ started at a $5 a month, which was low even in 2019, but nothing good lasts forever. That price slowly crept up to $10 a month today, which doesn’t feel so affordable. Netflix starts at $6.99 a month, Amazon Prime Video at $8.99, and Disney+ at $7.99. However, all of these lower tiers come with ads, lower streaming resolutions, and fewer features. You have to pay $15.49, $14.99 (plus $2.99 for no ads), and $13.99 respectively to remove ads, stream at 1080p and above, and so on.
Apple TV+’s $9.99 subscription tier is the only one it offers, and it comes with everything: offline, ad-free, 4K viewing, and subscription sharing. To really drive the point home, Netflix Premium (4K streaming, subscription sharing, etc.) runs you $22.99. There are also a surprising amount of free trials. Anyone can get a one-week free trial or a one-month trial (through Apple One). Just bought a new Apple device? Check Apple TV for a complementary three-month trial. I have personally gotten two separate three-month trials thanks to the devices I bought. Students even get Apple TV+ for free with their Apple Music.
For the features, Apple TV+ is arguably the most economical option. More subscription price bumps are inevitable in the future, especially with the news that Apple TV+ is going the austerity route (more on that later).Family Sharing is excellent
For years, Netflix prided it itself on being the streaming service that let you share your password with anyone and everyone, even if they were at the other side of the world. Those days are over. The streaming giant’s current rules for password sharing made users pretty mad when they came into effect, and inspired all its competitors to follow suit. I avoid patting Apple on the back as much as possible — after all, the company initiated the Great Headphone Jack Removal — but this time, I have to give it some credit. You can share an Apple TV+ subscription with five different people. Again, you have to get that $22.99 Netflix Premium plan in order to share your subscription with only two extra people.
There are some limitations, of course. Those five people have to be part of your Family Sharing group, and they must all be in the same region, but they don’t have to be genetic, legal family members. You can make a „family“ with your friend group. Sharing a subscription with 5 people for $9.99 (with 4K and no ads!) Is practically unheard of elsewhere in the industry. Those savings get even better when you look at Apple One plans, which bundle Apple services like Music, TV+, and iCloud storage into one package.Programming tends to be higher quality
Using Netflix again as our prime example, the streaming service’s programming is the epitome of the term „mixed bag.“ On one hand, you’ve got classics like „Mindhunter“, „Bojack Horseman“, and „House of Cards.“ On the other, you’ve got a fair chunk of shows and movies that are legendarily horrible. The service has made a name for canceling the good stuff and overpaying for the bad. It seems to employ the „throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks“ methodology when producing content. There is a fairly high probability that whatever film or show you turn on at random will be steaming dog crap. With Apple TV+, that’s less of a concern.
I can only speak subjectively here (both from my own experience and that of others) but Apple TV+ tends to produce fewer (but higher quality) shows and movies. So while your Netflix subscription means you’ll get more new movies and shows every month, your Apple TV+ subscription ensures those new entries are have a higher probability of being decent — or at least, not complete hot garbage. This isn’t to say Apple TV+ has only top-notch, unparalleled programming, but we’ll get into that more later. If you don’t watch a lot of TV (and you are a bit on the picky side), Apple TV+ may be for you.
