AppleTV+ will cost you more from October 25 as Apple announces a price hike in line with other major streaming platforms.
According to Apple, the increase is due to the service’s growing content library. It comes alongside a price increase for Apple Music subscriptions and Apple One, the online services bundle.
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ ( in the US) and Sky Glass plans have all increased in recent months. However, some competitors to Apple TV, such as Netflix, have introduced lower-cost plans with advertising to keep customers on side.
How much is Apple TV+?
Since its launch, Apple TV+ was £4.99/month in the UK. Starting from October 25, Apple TV+ is now £6.99/month. The annual price has also increased, climbing from £49.99 to £69.99/year.
Apple’s music streaming service, Apple Music, has increased from £9.99/month to £10.99/month in the UK, while Apple One has risen from £14.95/month to £16.95/month.
Although the price increase is said to be due to the increasing number of Apple TV+ titles, Nick Baker, TV and streaming expert at Uswitch.com, pointed out that Apple TV+ still has fewer movies than Netflix.
“As the cheapest of the mainstream streaming services, Apple TV+’s 40% price hike will be a big blow to its UK customers,” he comments. “Apple’s decision to increase monthly fees from £4.99 to £6.99 a month also seems to be swimming against the tide, at a time when rivals Netflix and Disney Plus are introducing new, lower-cost subscription tiers supported by advertising.
“Above all, this rise will be a big test of customer loyalty. Apple TV+ has fewer movies than Netflix, whose Basic With Ads package launches next Thursday at £4.99 a month. It also relies solely on original shows like Ted Lasso and The Morning Show, while the likes of Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video can both draw heavily on large back catalogues.”
Nonetheless, Apple does have one advantage over platforms like Netflix in that the company can entice customers with a wider range of offerings, such as smartphones, laptops and tablets.
“Unlike Netflix, Apple can use its streaming service as part of a wider strategy, offering free trials with sales of iPhones and other devices,” Nick explains. “This could include offering customers discounted bundle deals, giving them multiple Apple subscriptions in the same package. A fall in Apple TV+ subscriber numbers will not immediately send the share price into a tailspin or give Tim Cook sleepless nights.”
How to cancel Apple TV
If the price hike has made you reassess your streaming platforms, it’s fairly straightforward to cancel your Apple TV subscription.
- Open Settings on Apple TV.
- Go to Users and Accounts > [account name] Subscriptions and select a subscription.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to change or cancel your subscription.
Your subscription will then be cancelled at the end of your current payment period. This means that if you pay on the 7th of the month, you will have access to Apple TV until the 7th of the next month.
Buying an Apple device will also get you three months of Apple TV for free, as does buying a PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4.
