How to Get Apple TV for Free
How to Get Apple TV for Free: Every Method That Still Works
Now that Apple has bumped its monthly price up to $14.99, plenty of people are asking whether the service is even worth it. The good news is that it’s still surprisingly easy to try Apple TV without paying a cent — some methods only get you a week, but others can stretch to several months of completely free access.
Here’s a full rundown of every option currently available, whether you’re in the US or the UK, plus answers to the most common questions about subscribing and canceling.
Why Apple TV Is Worth Trying
Apple TV’s original lineup includes acclaimed hits like Ted Lasso and Slow Horses, along with a handful of standout exclusive films. Its library is smaller than rivals like Netflix or Disney+, but it makes up for that with consistently high production quality — which makes even a short free trial worth the effort, especially since it’s one of the easiest streaming services to sample at no cost.
Straight From Apple
1. The Standard 7-Day Free Trial
Apple remains one of the few streaming services still offering a genuine free trial. Sign up through the app or online and you’ll get a full week of access to everything on the platform — enough time to binge a show or two if you plan it well.
Heads up: You’ll need to enter payment details to sign up, and Apple will automatically charge you for a full month the moment your free week ends if you forget to cancel.
2. Buy an Apple Product
Buying an eligible Apple device — iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac — currently gets you three months of Apple TV for free (down from the 12 months it used to offer). The offer is redeemed automatically when you set up the device and open the Apple TV app, but you must claim it within 90 days of purchase or you’ll lose it.
3. The 1-Month Apple One Free Trial
Apple One bundles the company’s most popular services, including Apple TV, into a single subscription. The cheapest individual plan runs about $21.95 a month, but Apple offers a full month free for new subscribers — significantly longer than the standalone Apple TV trial. Just remember to cancel before the month is up if you don’t want to keep paying.
4. The Apple Music Student Plan
Apple gives college students a nice perk: a discounted Apple Music Student subscription that also includes free access to Apple TV, for just $6.99 a month total — much cheaper than subscribing to both services separately. You’ll need to verify your enrollment through UNIDAYS, and the discount is available for up to four years or until graduation, whichever comes first.
Extra Options in the US
T-Mobile Go5G Plans
T-Mobile used to give customers free Apple TV outright, but that offer has since been replaced with a $3-a-month discount. Previously, customers on Go5G Next or Go5G Plus plans got the service free for as long as they kept the plan. That promotion isn’t currently running, but it’s worth watching in case it returns.
Options Specific to the UK
5. Bundled With Sky VIP
Sky Q, Sky Glass, and Sky Stream customers enrolled in the Sky VIP loyalty program can claim six months of free Apple TV, whether they’re new or returning subscribers — as long as they haven’t used a six-month Apple TV trial before. It’s activated through the VIP tab in the My Sky app.
6. Free With iPhone Contracts on EE
EE gives anyone signing up for a new iPhone contract six months of a standalone Apple service at no extra cost — including Apple TV — and this applies even to older, cheaper models like the iPhone SE or iPhone 11 (used or refurbished devices don’t qualify). Pricier plans come with an “inclusive extra” that lets you pick an Apple service of your choice for your entire contract, and the most expensive tiers even throw in a free Apple One subscription.
7. Three Months With an Eligible Purchase at Three
Three offers a three-month free trial with the purchase of any iPhone, iPad, or Home Broadband bundled with Apple TV. Make sure to redeem it within 90 days of purchase, or the offer expires.
Bottom Line: Still Easy to Get for Free
Apple isn’t quite as generous with free trials as it once was, but getting a taste of Apple TV without paying a subscription fee is still entirely doable — whether through Apple’s own short trial, a mobile carrier’s bundle, or a student discount. Mix and match these options and you can build up a solid library of shows and movies to watch before you ever need to pay.
FAQs
How much does Apple TV cost? $14.99 per month, or a single annual payment of $119 in the US. In the UK, it’s £9.99 per month or £89.99 annually.
How do you cancel Apple TV? On the web: go to tv.apple.com, click the account icon, then navigate to Settings > Subscriptions > Manage, and select Cancel Subscription. On mobile: open the Apple TV app, tap the profile icon, then Manage Subscriptions > Apple TV, and select Cancel Subscription.
What can you watch on Apple TV? Apple TV is home to all of Apple’s original shows and movies, available exclusively there — including hits like Ted Lasso and Slow Horses. The library is smaller than competitors’, but it consistently punches above its weight in production quality and star power.
