Apple TV vs Netflix: which should you pick?

By Sam Barth · Prices checked November 9, 2026

Apple TV is a smaller, all-original, ad-free service at $14.99 with 4K included. Netflix costs less with ads ($8.99) but $26.99 for 4K. Many people rotate Apple TV in for a month when a show they want lands.

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How do Apple TV and Netflix compare?

	Apple TV	Netflix
Cheapest plan	$14.99/mo	$8.99/mo
Ad-free from	$14.99/mo	$19.99/mo
4K	Included	Premium plan only
Live sports	Apple announced that all MLS matches are included in the Apple TV subscription starting in 2026, and that it holds US Formula 1 rights from 2026.	Selected live events. Netflix has streamed NFL Christmas Day games and carries WWE Raw weekly.
Kids and family	A small set of family originals.	Kids profiles with maturity-rating controls and a large library of animated originals.
Local channels	No local channels.	No local channels.
Free trial	7 days (3 months with a new Apple device).	No free trial.

Prices last checked November 9, 2026 on Apple TV subscription page. Taxes and promotional offers not included.

Prices last checked November 9, 2026 on Netflix Help Center: Plans and Pricing. Taxes and promotional offers not included.

What are the key differences?

Apple TV includes 4K on its only plan; Netflix reserves 4K for Premium.
Netflix has a far larger catalog.
Apple TV includes MLS matches starting in 2026.

Which one should you choose?

Choose Apple TV if you want

High-quality originals without ads
MLS and Formula 1 fans

Visit Apple TV

Choose Netflix if you want

A deep library of originals in every genre
Households that want one service and do not need live TV

Visit Netflix

Can you have both?

Together they cost $23.98 a month on the cheapest plans. Try the cord-cutting calculator to see how that compares to a cable bill.

How was this researched?

This page is research-based, not a hands-on test. Prices and plan details come from each provider's own pricing or help pages, checked on the date shown. Feature and sports details come from provider pages and published news reports, which are linked. We do not assign star ratings. Read how we research.