You can find the Apple TV app on a range of different devices: from your iPhone to your Samsung Smart TV. But the Apple TV app doesn’t make it immediately clear what shows you can watch for free.
The Apple TV app itself is completely free. But this app is merely a portal to access video content from a range of other services, most of which require a subscription or a separate purchase.
For instance, if you want to watch something from HBO Now or SHOWTIME, you need an active subscription to those services.
The Apple TV app shows a mix of paid and free content.
That said, some ad-supported services let you watch their content for free. The Apple TV app often lists these services alongside paid content, so it isn’t always clear what is and isn’t free.
What’s more, you usually need to use the dedicated app for each service when you want to watch its shows anyway. Think of the Apple TV app more like a high-tech TV guide.
What can I watch for free on Apple TV?
The shows you can watch for free vary based on the country or region you’re in. Here in the UK, you can watch anything on BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, and My5 for free. In the US, you’re likely to have different options.
The Apple TV app includes free channels, like ITV.
To find out if a show is free to watch, tap it from the Apple TV app. You should see a blue button linking to the app that show is on, this usually says if you can play an episode or if you need to pay for it first.
Can I watch Apple TV+ for free?
Apple TV+ is Apple’s subscription streaming service, and the only place to watch Apple’s original shows, such as The Morning Show, For All Mankind, or See.
Apple TV+ isn’t free, but it is quite easy to get a free trial to watch those shows.
If you’ve never used the service before, you can get a free seven-day trial by signing up in the Apple TV app. Even better than that, you get an entire year of Apple TV+ for free when you purchase any of the following products:
iPhone
iPad
iPod touch
Apple TV
Mac
After making the purchase, the Apple TV app should prompt you to activate your one-year trial. If it doesn’t, go to Apple’s website and sign in to activate it instead.
Is there a monthly fee for Apple TV+?
After your free trial ends, you can renew your Apple TV+ subscription for $4.99 per month. You can also choose to cancel your subscription if you don’t plan to keep using it.
To cancel your subscription, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions > Apple TV+ from an iPhone or iPad.
Tap Subscriptions.
Select Apple TV+.
Choose to Cancel Trial.
Do I need an iPhone or iPad to watch Apple TV+?
You can watch Apple TV+ on any device with the Apple TV app, including:
iPhone
iPad
iPod touch
Mac
Apple TV
Windows PC
Samsung Smart TV
Roku
Amazon Fire Stick
What can I watch for free on Apple TV+?
You can watch any of Apple’s content on Apple TV+ for free if you have an active subscription or a trial. That includes kids shows like Snoopy in Space, mature dramas like For All Mankind, and even feature films like Hala.
View all the Apple TV+ shows and movies in the Apple TV app.
Apple TV+ doesn’t have as many shows as Netflix or Amazon Prime. But everything is made by Apple and exclusive to this service.
Dan writes tutorials and troubleshooting guides to help people make the most of their technology. Before becoming a writer, he earned a BSc in Sound Technology, supervised repairs at an Apple Store, and even taught English in China.
I signed up for a FREE trial membership and was instantly charged on my credit card. I have since cancelled as there is such a limited scope as to what you get with the membership and this is NOT what I am looking for in any way shape or form.
As a customer it is so frustrating. Amazing series are being filmed but unfortunately they are being offered to the public in a way that the average person cannot afford. For myself I just can’t afford to have multiple subscriptions with each having a high monthly price tag.
I just bought Apple TV and have not received the free year and I can’t figure out how to get it. I did have the apple app but d/c it as not able to get the free year. At this rate I think I wasted my money. Do you need the apple app? I had great hopes in apple tv as I have a Ipad and Iphone Please advise Colleen Ryan
I signed up for a FREE trial membership and was instantly charged on my credit card. I have since cancelled as there is such a limited scope as to what you get with the membership and this is NOT what I am looking for in any way shape or form.
As a customer it is so frustrating. Amazing series are being filmed but unfortunately they are being offered to the public in a way that the average person cannot afford. For myself I just can’t afford to have multiple subscriptions with each having a high monthly price tag.
Do I need to pay apple tv to watch fox news and fox business?
I just bought Apple TV and have not received the free year and I can’t figure out how to get it. I did have the apple app but d/c it as not able to get the free year. At this rate I think I wasted my money. Do you need the apple app? I had great hopes in apple tv as I have a Ipad and Iphone Please advise Colleen Ryan