With the cost of streaming services on the rise, many cord cutters are looking for ways to watch their favorite shows for free or at a discount. One popular option is to take advantage of free trial offers for streaming services like Apple TV+. The good news is that with some strategic planning, you can stretch a free trial into several months of free access to Apple TV+.
What is Apple TV+?
Apple TV+ is Apple’s streaming service that gives you access to Apple original TV shows, movies, and documentaries. Unlike services like Netflix or Hulu that license content from other studios, all of the content on Apple TV+ is exclusive Apple original programming.
Apple TV+ launched in November 2019. The service costs $4.99 per month, but Apple offered an extended one-year free trial to customers who purchased a new Apple device. Even now, Apple still provides a standard 7-day free trial for new subscribers.
How to get an Apple TV+ free trial
Here are the ways to take advantage of a free trial for Apple TV+:
1. Claim the standard 7-day trial
Anyone can get a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ simply by signing up on the Apple TV app or tv.apple.com. You don’t need to enter any payment information to start the trial. Just create an Apple ID or sign in with your existing ID.
The 7-day trial will automatically convert to a paid monthly subscription after the trial period ends, so be sure to cancel before then if you don’t want to pay.
2. Free year with purchase of Apple device
While not as generous as when Apple TV+ first launched, Apple still offers an extended 3 month free trial for customers who purchase select new Apple devices. This includes products like the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac.
The extended 3 month free trial is available for new and existing Apple TV+ subscribers. You must redeem the offer within 90 days of device activation. You’ll be automatically unenrolled after the trial ends.
3. Free year with Verizon Unlimited plan
Verizon customers with an Unlimited plan, including Play More, Get More, Verizon Plan Unlimited, Go Unlimited and Beyond Unlimited plans, qualify for one free year of Apple TV+.
You can activate the Verizon offer for Apple TV+ on the My Verizon app. The free year is for new Apple TV+ subscribers only.
4. Annual subscription gift
If you have a friend or family member who already pays for Apple TV+, ask them to gift you an annual subscription. Subscribers can gift a one-year subscription in the Apple TV app under account settings.
The gifted subscription will be added to your Apple account immediately with no payment required. You can accept multiple gifted subscriptions to extend your free access even longer.
How to combine trials to get 3 months free
By stacking multiple Apple TV+ offers, you can effectively get several months of free access. Here is one way to combine trials:
- Start with the 7-day standard free trial
- Purchase a new Apple device to qualify for the 3 month extended trial
- Accept a 1 year gifted subscription from a friend
This combination will give you around 3 months and 1 week of free Apple TV+, assuming you time the activation and redemption of the various offers correctly.
Be sure to turn off automatic renewal on the trials so that you aren’t unexpectedly charged once the free periods expire. Also carefully review the terms so you fully understand any limitations or eligibility requirements.
When is the best time to take the free trials?
Timing the activation of your Apple TV+ trials is important to maximize the free period. Consider starting with the 7-day trial first so it will cover the period while waiting for your new Apple device delivery. Activate the Verizon offer last, since it offers the longest 12 month free period.
For example, with the new release of the iPhone 14 in September, you could do the following:
- Activate 7-day trial in late September
- Order new iPhone in late September and activate 3 month trial upon delivery in October
- Activate Verizon 12 month offer in November
Using this timing, you could get free Apple TV+ until December 2023. Perfect for watching the latest shows and catching up on past Apple originals!
What devices are compatible with Apple TV+?
Apple TV+ is available on a wide range of devices:
- iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 12.3 or later
- Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD with tvOS 12.3 or later
- Amazon Fire TV
- Roku
- Select smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, and VIZIO
- PlayStation and Xbox game consoles
- Chromecast or Chromecast built-in devices
- AirPlay enabled smart TVs
- Online at tv.apple.com
As long as your device is compatible, you’ll be able to watch Apple originals free with an Apple TV+ trial. Apple also makes its content available across devices, so you can start a show on your iPhone and finish it later on your TV with no problems.
What shows are on Apple TV+?
Some of the most popular shows now available on Apple TV+ include:
Show | Description |
---|---|
Ted Lasso | Comedy about an American football coach hired to manage an English soccer team |
Mythic Quest | Workplace comedy set at a video game studio |
For All Mankind | Drama exploring an alternate history of the global space race |
Severance | Sci-fi thriller about office workers undergoing a mysterious procedure |
The Morning Show | Drama revealing the behind-the-scenes world of morning TV news |
Apple is continually adding new original shows, movies, and documentaries. With a free trial, you can watch popular titles like the above and check out Apple’s expanding programming catalog.
What devices do I need?
To stream Apple TV+, all you need is:
- A compatible device like an iPhone, smart TV, or streaming stick
- An internet connection (broadband recommended for best performance)
- Apple TV+ app or access through Apple TV channels on your device
Apple TV+ works on a wide range of devices, so chances are you can already stream it using your existing iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, smart TV, or gaming console. With the Apple TV app, you can download shows to watch offline later.
How do I sign up for Apple TV+?
Signing up for a free Apple TV+ trial is quick and straightforward:
- On your device, open the Apple TV app or go to tv.apple.com.
- Tap on the Apple TV+ channel or click “Start Your Free Trial”.
- Sign in with your Apple ID or create a new Apple ID.
- Accept the free trial terms.
For the extended 3 month trial, you’ll need to activate your new Apple device first before the option appears in the Apple TV app. The process is similar – just follow the prompts to redeem the offer.
How do I cancel Apple TV+?
If you only want to take advantage of the free trials, you’ll need to cancel Apple TV+ before you get charged. Here’s how to cancel:
- On your iPhone, iPad or Apple TV, open the Settings app.
- Tap on your Apple ID profile.
- Select Subscriptions.
- Under Active, tap on Apple TV+.
- Tap Cancel Subscription, then confirm.
You can also cancel by going to the Subscriptions page on the Apple TV app on any device. As long as you cancel before the free trial ends, you won’t be charged any fees.
Conclusion
With some strategic planning, you can get several months of Apple TV+ for free by stacking multiple trial offers. Carefully manage the timing and you can watch top shows like Ted Lasso, Mythic Quest, and See at no cost. Just be sure to cancel the trials before they convert to paid subscriptions.