The streaming services space is getting crowded each day as providers continue to battle for your subscription dollars. Apple launched its Apple TV Plus in November 2019 to provide premium TV shows and movies. Its target audience was very small compared to Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, who had joined the streaming party early and captured most of the market.
By 2021, Apple TV Plus had a 5% audience share. The figure is 10% below Disney Plus and 2% below HBO Max. That means Apple’s streaming service didn’t take off immediately; however, the provider is able to compete against Netflix and other video streaming services providers.
The subscription fee for these high-end shows and movies from Apple TV Plus is $4.99 a month. It has been working to deliver products that are undeniably desirable, such as big-budget high-quality entertainment, to an ever-growing pool of subscribers. Soon Apple TV Plus will become a genuine competitor to Disney, Netflix, and other entertainment giants.
Here is how Apple TV Plus compares with Netflix. The comparison will help you make a good decision when paying for your next subscription.
1. Price
Apple TV Plus offers you a seven-day free trial. You will just $4.99 every month or $49.99 a year If you like what you’re viewing. Additionally, customers who bought an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV set-top box, or Mac received a one-year free Apple TV Plus subscription. However, this offer was reduced to 3 month trial for each new Apple hardware buyer.
On the other hand, Netflix is pretty expensive, for its lowest price tier per month is $ 8.99. The second one is $13.99 per month, and the third is $17. 99 a month. The bottom tier has 1 concurrent stream as well as 480p video resolution, while the top tier has 4 streams and 4k resolution support.
In addition to this, Netflix has been trying mobile-only subscriptions in some markets. The smartphone and tablets tier charges $5 a month. The downside of the mobile-only subscription is that it’s only available in some countries.
2. Availability
Slightly over 100 countries can view Apple TV Plus because it lacks older content. Producing many TV shows and movies for an older audience for various territories costs time and money and requires getting rights from those jurisdictions.
Netflix is at present available in over 190 countries and territories. It has also been around for many years. Countries that don’t have Netflix are China, Crimea, North Korea, and Syria. Therefore Netflix has a wider launch compared to Apple TV Plus.
3. Platforms
Apple TV Plus can only be accessed through the Apple TV app available to Mac and iOS devices or Apple TV boxes. Initially, people with new Samsung smart TVs were the only ones able to access Apple TV Plus; however, it has also expanded to Vizio and LG smart TVs.
Android smartphones and tablets users can use browsers such as Firefox, Chrome, and Safari to access tv.apple.com or Apple TV Plus content. It’s available on Microsoft’s Xbox One, Series S, Series X, and Sony’s PlayStation 4 &5 game consoles.
Netflix can be accessed on several devices other than Apple TV Plus. You can use iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, various web browsers, tons of game consoles, several cable boxes, smart TVs, and Blu-ray players.
4. Content Library
Most Apple TV Plus shows cover different ages and demographics. Some of these include The Morning Show, See, For All Mankind, Dickinson, Helpsters, Mythic Quest, Amazing Stories, Defending Jacob, Central Park, Ted Lasso, The Mosquito Coast, and Foundation. Oprah Winfrey’s popular book club was relaunched, and her new interview series are both featured on Apple TV Plus. Foundation is expected to be Apple TV Plus’ huge draw.
Apple TV Plus has taken time to build its momentum because its library was seriously lacking when the TV was launched. A lot is happening on Apple’s streamer even as the tech giant navigates this unfamiliar territory in the entertainment world. It has also not been around long enough to build a library with bad TV shows and movies. As a result, Apple-branded original content is accessible to subscribers of different ages because it’s of higher quality compared to its competitors.
Netflix took years to build its subscriber count and its original content libraries. Although it was launched in 2007, it operated as a DVD rental service for nearly a decade. However, in 2016, the company flexed its muscles as the top original content provider thanks to The Crown and Stranger Things shows. Its $5 billion investment in 2016 has paid off because the streaming provider has more than 209 million subscribers.
Further, its massive classic and exclusive content library puts it ahead of Apple TV Plus. It has been spending a significant amount of money on producing tons of exclusive movies and shows because it has lost part of its content to competing streamers such as HBO Max, Disney Plus, Peacock, and Hulu.
5. Languages
You can access subtitled or dubbed content in Apple TV Plus in almost 40 languages in addition to audio descriptions in 8 languages.
On the other hand, Netflix’s shows and movies are accessible in many languages, and each member can create their own profile.
6. Ads or Commercials
Both Apple TV Plus and Netflix don’t feature ads.
7. Content Download
Both streamers allow their subscribers to download content and view it offline.
8. Higher Resolution
Subscribers can stream favorite shows and moves at 4k resolution. However, they have to pay more to have that privilege on Netflix. A single account on Apple TV Plus supports 6 people, while Netflix accommodates only 4 people.
9. Parental Controls
Netflix has better parental controls compared to Apple TV Plus.
Verdict
Whether to choose Apple TV Plus or Netflix depends on factors such as price, content, availability, languages, or other factors. Actually, subscribing to both streamers can give you a lot more entertainment than you imagined.
