Apple TV Raising Prices: How to Keep Watching Without Paying More

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man
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Apple TV Raising Prices

Apple TV today raised the monthly price of its streaming service from $12.99 to $14.99. The move will upset many seniors since the streamer offers a number of shows favored by older viewers such as Shrinking, Severance, The Morning Show, Pluribus, Your Friends & Neighbors and Hijack. However, TV For Seniors always has your back so here are some ways to keep watching Apple TV for free or at a reduced price:

Free trials & Apple device offers

•  New (or qualified returning) subscribers can start with a 7-day free trial, then the standard rate applies unless canceled. If you are the type who’s afraid of forgetting to cancel a free trial, see our article on ways to prevent getting charged after the promotion is over.

•  Buy an eligible new Apple device (such as an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV) and redeem within 90 days for up to 3 months free. This is typically once per Apple ID.

Carrier and partner discounts

•  T-Mobile: Qualifying plans (such as Experience More or Experience Beyond and certain others) offer Apple TV for just $3 a month. (As of afternoon, T-Mobile has not raised its price by $2 to reflect the new Apple TV subscription price.) Check your plan in the T-Life app or T-Mobile account to make sure you are eligible.

•  The Peacock/Apple TV bundle
If you have Peacock Premium for $12.99 a month, you could add Apple TV for just $2 more a month. (The bundle starts at $14.99 a month for Apple TV + Peacock Premium, which has ads on Peacock; the bundle is $19.99 a month for Peacock Premium Plus and Apple TV.) This can make the combined cost far lower than subscribing separately.

Credit card benefits

Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can activate a complimentary one-year Apple TV subscription (through Chase Benefits by December 31, 2026). It links to your Apple ID and an existing paid subscription may pause during the free year.

Annual Plan

Apple TV today also raised the price of its annual plan from $99 to $119. Still, if you subscribe to the annual plan, you will pay roughly $10 a month as opposed to the new $14.99 monthly rate.

Apple TV Raising Prices: Bottom Line

This is the latest in a series of hikes for the ad-free streaming service. It launched in 2019 at $4.99 per month, rose to $6.99 around 2022, $9.99 in 2023, $12.99 in August 2025, and now $14.99. Like other streamers which have steadily raised prices, Apple TV says the increases are necessary to offset rising programming costs. However, TV For Seniors says: Don’t Pay Full Price For Streaming. Look for an Apple TV discount before succumbing to the higher cost.

Have a question? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.