Netflix vs Apple TV Plus, which is better? We’ve put together this guide to help you decide.
Netflix needs no introduction. Founded in 1997 – yes, that long ago! – as a DVD rental-by-mail service, it has grown into the world’s largest and most famous streaming service. Apple TV Plus is a much newer service, having launched in 2019. It was initially considered a niche service, but it too has grown considerably in size, though not on the scale of Netflix.
Below you’ll find our breakdown detailing everything you need to know about these two streaming services to help you decide whether Netflix or Apple TV Plus is the right service for you… we also have a guide to the best streaming services that gives you an overview of various services.
Netflix vs Apple TV Plus: Summary
Slow Horses is one of Apple TV Plus’ biggest hits (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Netflix offers a huge variety of TV shows and movies from all over the world. It also produces its own original series and movies. In fact, from its humble beginnings, it’s incredible how powerful and influential the service has become. Amazingly, it now has over 200 million subscribers worldwide.
Entering the streaming services market in 2019 seemed like a bold move on Apple’s part, but as a tech giant, it was determined to make Apple TV Plus a success and has managed to grow its subscriber count to over 20 million worldwide.
Netflix vs Apple TV Plus: Prices and Free Trials
Netflix now has three pricing tiers: Standard with ads costs $6.99/£4.99 per month; Standard costs $15.49/£10.99 per month and Premium costs $22.99/£17.99 per month.
The advertising plan obviously has ads and some titles are not available. In the standard plan, everything is available and you can add 1 additional member who does not live with you. The premium plan allows you to add 2 additional members who do not live with you and allows downloads on more compatible devices.
Apple TV Plus, on the other hand, is much simpler: it costs $9.99 or £8.99 per month. Apple TV Plus offers a 7-day free trial.
Overall, Netflix’s basic plan is cheaper, but unlike Apple TV Plus, it includes ads. So if you find ads annoying, Apple TV Plus is a good option.
Where are they available?
Netflix is available in 190 countries. The most notable country where it is not available is China. Apple TV Plus is available in over 100 countries. It is also not available in China.
Comparison
Netflix is a clear winner in terms of scale and depth. It has a vast library with new shows and movies added daily. Apple TV Plus simply can’t compete on scale. In fact, Apple TV Plus could really be a deeper service. If you want a great all-rounder with some truly fabulous shows like Bridgerton, The Crown, Stranger Things, and many more, Netflix is the obvious answer. It also frequently adds interesting new crime dramas from around the world and movies you might not even have heard of but are great.
This is where things get interesting though, in terms of pure quality Apple TV Plus has arguably outperformed Netflix of late. It’s an argument we’re prepared to make. Apple TV Plus is quickly gaining a reputation for being the best streaming service in terms of the quality of its productions. Slow Horses, a fantastic spy thriller with a stellar cast headed by Gary Oldman, is just one example. We also have Severance, Lessons in Chemistry, Hijack and Ted Lasso. There’s also a genuine sense that if you want to challenge your brain a little and want something more thought-provoking then Apple TV Plus is the way to go – as an example, they recently released the fascinating Sunny, about a grieving wife and mother who takes in a robot.
In general
In terms of price, there isn’t much difference between Netflix and Apple TV Plus. Apple TV Plus has the big advantage of being ad-free, while Netflix requires you to pay extra to be ad-free. Apple TV Plus also offers a free trial, something Netflix doesn’t.
Let’s pretend you’ve never had either service. If you had to choose, we’d go with Netflix. Yes, it’s the obvious answer, and there’s a reason for that. Netflix is huge. It has everything from movies to dramas to documentaries, and it’s hard to imagine you could ever say you’ve finished watching Netflix. There are some real gems too, like the obvious Bridgerton, but also titles from around the world added every week that you won’t be familiar with. Our main issue with Netflix, though, is that it sometimes feels a little vague, and you have to search a lot to find any really good shows (check out our guide to the best shows on Netflix right now if you’re stuck!).
If you think you’ve already seen Netflix’s main series, like Bridgerton, then switching to Apple TV Plus is a great option. The streaming service is making some really interesting dramas and it looks like a TV series you’ll be excited about. It doesn’t have the depth of Netflix, but it gives you the assurance that whatever is added will, overall, be very good.
Overall, if you only had one service, Netflix would be the one to go for. But if you’ve grown a little tired of Netflix’s offering, Apple TV Plus will feel fresh and imaginative. Plus, it has a free trial so you can try it out before you commit. And no ads!
Of course, there is an argument for having both and they complement each other very well.
The best Apple TV plus deals of the day
Today’s best Netflix deals
Keynote USA News
For Latest Apple News. Follow © Keynote USA News on Twitter Or Google News.
