Netflix offers 5,500+ titles with diverse genres and a $6.99/month ad-supported tier, while Apple TV+ focuses on 1,200+ premium original shows and films with a lower $9.99/month price but requires an Apple ecosystem commitment for best value. Netflix dominates content volume and affordability; Apple TV+ excels in exclusive prestige content quality.
Apple TV+ vs Netflix — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Netflix if you want maximum content variety, the lowest ad-supported price ($6.99), and access across any device without ecosystem limitations. Choose Apple TV+ if you prioritize premium original content, don't mind a smaller curated library, prefer higher production quality over quantity, and have an Apple device ecosystem or can justify the investment for exclusive shows like Severance and Ted Lasso.
Premium streaming service focused on high-quality original films and series with consistent 4K/Dolby Vision support.
Streaming giant with 260M+ subscribers and the world's largest on-demand content library.
Structured comparison data for Apple TV+ vs Netflix with 332 attributes.
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)
Average Rotten Tomatoes Score (Originals Only)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Tier)
Original Series Critical Quality (Avg Rotten Tomatoes)
Original Content Releases in January 2026
Maximum Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard/Ad-Free US Plan)
Apple TV+ vs Netflix — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Apple TV+ vs Netflix.
Is Apple TV+ worth it compared to Netflix?
Apple TV+ is worth it if you value premium content quality, want to save $5.50/month on the standard tier, and already own Apple devices where you can get a 3-month free trial. However, Netflix is better value if you want maximum content variety, prefer the $6.99/month ad tier, or use non-Apple devices. Apple TV+ should be supplemental; Netflix is the primary service for most users.
Why does Netflix cost so much more than Apple TV+?
Netflix invests $17 billion annually in content (6.8x more than Apple TV+) to maintain a library of 5,500+ titles. This higher cost reflects their business model of maximizing content breadth. Apple TV+ charges less ($9.99) because they focus on ~1,200 curated premium titles rather than volume, prioritizing production quality over library size.
Can I watch Apple TV+ on my Android phone or non-Apple TV?
Yes, Apple TV+ works on Android phones, tablets, Fire TV devices, Roku, Google TV, Samsung Smart TVs, and web browsers at tv.apple.com. However, the experience is most seamless on Apple devices due to native integration with Siri, AirPlay, and the Apple TV app. The service works universally but feels native on Apple hardware.
Which service has better original shows?
Apple TV+ produces higher-quality prestige originals per title (25 Emmys across 1,200 titles = 1 Emmy per 48 titles), including award-winners like Severance, Ted Lasso, and CODA. Netflix produces more total originals (188 Emmys across 5,500 titles = 1 Emmy per 29 titles) with greater variety but more inconsistency. Apple prioritizes quality; Netflix balances quality with quantity.
What's the catch with Apple TV+'s low $9.99 price?
Apple TV+'s low price is part of its strategy to lock users into the Apple ecosystem and services (bundled with Apple One, device purchases). Apple doesn't rely on streaming subscriptions for revenue like Netflix does—they're subsidizing Apple TV+ to increase ecosystem loyalty. There's no hidden catch, but the service is intentionally smaller than Netflix by design.