Netflix vs Apple TV Plus, which is better? We've put together this guide to help you decide.
Netflix needs little introduction. Founded in 1997, yes really that long ago!, as a DVD-by-mail rental service it has grown into being the biggest and most famous streaming service in the world. Apple TV Plus is a much more recent affair and was launched in 2019. It was originally viewed as quite niche but has also grown considerably in size although 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 best streaming services guide which gives you an overview of a number of services.
Netflix vs Apple TV Plus: Overview
Netflix has a huge offering of TV shows and movies from around the world. Plus it makes its own Netflix original TV series and movies. Indeed from its humble beginnings, it's incredible how powerful and influential a service it has become. Remarkably, it now has over 200 million subscribers worldwide.
Entering the streaming service game in 2019, looked like a brave move for Apple. But being the tech giant it is, it was determined to make Apple TV Plus succeed and has grown its subscribers to over 20 million worldwide
Netflix vs Apple TV Plus: Pricing & Free Trials
Netflix now baffling has three pricing tiers. Standard with ads is $6.99 / £4.99 per month. Standard is $15.49 / £10.99 per month and premium is $22.99 / £17.99 per month.
The ad plan obviously has adverts and a few titles are unavailable. In the standard plan, everything is available plus you can add 1 extra member who doesn't live with you. Premium allows you to add 2 extra members who don't live with you and allows downloads on more supported devices.
Apple TV Plus meanwhile is much simpler! It costs $9.99 / £8.99 per month. Apple TV Plus does have a 7-day free trial.
Overall on pricing, Netflix’s basic plan is cheaper, however, unlike Apple TV Plus it comes with adverts. So if you find adverts annoying then Apple TV Plus is a winner.
Where are they available?
Netflix is available in 190 countries. The most notable country it isn’t available in is China. Apple TV Plus is available in over 100 countries. It also isn't 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 being added daily. Apple TV Plus simply cannot compete on scale. Indeed Apple TV Plus really could do with being a deeper service. If you want a great all-rounder with some truly terrific shows like Bridgerton, The Crown, Stranger Things and many more Netflix is the obvious answer. It also is often adding interesting new crime dramas from around the globe and movies that you may not even have heard of, but are great.
However, here's where things get interesting, in terms of pure quality Apple TV Plus has been arguably beating Netflix in recent times. It’s an argument we’re prepared to make. Apple TV Plus is fast gaining a reputation for being the best streaming service in terms of the quality of its productions. Slow Horses, a fanatstic spy thriller boasting an all-star cast led by Gary Oldman, is just one example. We also have Severance, Lessons in Chemistry, Hijack and Ted Lasso. There’s also a genuine feeling that if you want your brain challenged a bit 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 gets a robot.
Overall
In terms of price there's not much in it between Netflix and Apple TV Plus. Apple TV Plus does have the massive bonus that it doesn’t have adverts, while you have to pay extra to not have adverts on Netflix. Apple TV Plus also offers a free trial, which Netflix doesn’t.
Let’s imagine you’ve never had either service, if you had to choose one we’d go for Netflix. Yes, it's the obvious answer and there's a reason for that. Netflix is just vast. It has everything from movies to dramas to documentaries and it's hard to imagine you could ever say you’ve finished Netflix. There are some real gems in there too, like the obvious Bridgerton but also titles from around the world added each week you won’t be familiar with. Our main issue with Netflix, though, is it does sometimes feel rather hit and miss, with a lot of sifting through to find really good shows (check out our best shows on Netflix right now guide if you’re stuck!).
If you feel you’ve caught the main series on Netflix like Bridgerton then switching to Apple TV Plus is a great option. The streamer is making some really interesting dramas and it feels like TV to get excited about. It doesn’t have the depth of Netflix, but you feel confident that what will be added will generally be really good.
Overall if you had just one service, Netflix would be it. But if you’ve grown a bit tired of Netflix’s offering, then Apple TV Plus will feel fresh and imaginative. Plus it has a free trial so you could give it a whirl before committing. And no ads!
There's of course an argument for having them both and they compliment each other nicely.
