Apple TV+ has the smallest catalogue of any major streamer and the highest prestige hit rate. Severance, For All Mankind, Slow Horses, Silo, Pachinko, The Morning Show, Ted Lasso. Apple has built a service that rivals HBO at its peak. The problem is the gaps between seasons. For All Mankind drops one episode a week, then disappears for 18 months. Severance season 3 is filming. There is no real B-tier “I will throw on whatever” library to bridge the wait.
Plenty of people end up adding a second service to fill the gap. We rated seven Apple TV+ alternatives by what they actually do better and what subscribing month-to-month around an Apple TV+ release schedule looks like. Half of these can be cycled in and out around your Apple TV+ shows.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price/mo | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Volume and originals | 7-day trial in some regions | $7.99 (with ads) | Largest scripted-show library |
| HBO Max | Prestige drama and DC | 7-day trial in some regions | $9.99 (with ads) | Game of Thrones universe and films |
| Hulu | Next-day broadcast TV (US) | 30-day trial | $9.99 (with ads) | Same-day broadcast network access |
| Prime Video | Films plus Amazon originals | Included with Prime | $8.99 (standalone) | Largest film catalogue, NFL Thursday |
| Paramount+ | Star Trek and CBS shows | 7-day trial | $7.99 (Essential) | Live CBS, Star Trek complete |
| Peacock | NBC, soccer, Premier League | Most of catalogue (US) | $7.99 (Premium) | NBC sports and Bravo reality |
| AMC+ | Drama with niche film | 7-day trial | $8.99 | Walking Dead universe and Shudder |
Why people add a service alongside Apple TV+
A few patterns come up in the long Apple TV+ subscriber threads.
Catalogue depth
Apple TV+ has fewer than 200 originals total. Compared to Netflix’s roughly 6,000 titles, the catalogue is small even when you exclude the filler. The originals are good. There is not always something new to watch.
Long gaps between seasons
Apple’s prestige model means slow production. Severance season 2 took over two years after season 1. For All Mankind drops one season every 18 to 22 months. The gaps invite a second subscription that has a faster release cycle.
No live TV
There is no news, no sports, and no live channels on Apple TV+. Sports fans, news watchers, and award-show viewers add a second service for live coverage.
Almost no licensed films
Apple TV+ as a streaming service has only its own films and a handful of licensed shorts. The Apple TV app (separate product) lets you rent or buy, but a flat-rate film library is missing.
The alternatives
Netflix, best for sheer volume
Netflix is still the default second service because its library is the broadest. Stranger Things, The Crown, Squid Game, weekly drops of new originals, weekly drops of unscripted reality, and the largest licensed-library reach in scripted TV. The ad-supported tier hit price parity with Apple TV+ in 2024.
Where it falls short: the production quality is uneven. The “Netflix tax” on quantity over quality is a real complaint. The ad tier blocks downloads on some shows and limits to two streams.
Pricing:
- Standard with ads: $7.99/mo (US), 1080p
- Standard: $17.99/mo, ad-free, 2 streams, downloads
- Premium: $24.99/mo, 4K, 4 streams, spatial audio
- vs Apple TV+: ad tier costs the same with much more to watch, ad-free tier costs more but with bigger volume
Migrating from Apple TV+: nothing to migrate. Both services bill independently. Keep Apple TV+ for its originals and add Netflix’s ad tier for everything else.
Bottom line: Netflix is the volume pick. The library alone justifies adding the ad tier alongside Apple TV+.
HBO Max, best for prestige drama and films
HBO Max (still branded simply as Max in some regions) is the closest to Apple TV+ in tone. House of the Dragon, Succession reruns, The Last of Us, the entire Warner Bros. film library including the recent DC slate, and a steady weekly drop of new prestige shows. The price-per-hour-of-quality ratio is the best in this list.
Where it falls short: the app has been through three rebrands in three years and the back-end shows it. Profile management is messy. Some films cycle in and out unpredictably.
Pricing:
- Basic with ads: $9.99/mo, 1080p, 2 streams, no downloads
- Standard: $16.99/mo, ad-free, 2 streams, downloads
- Premium: $20.99/mo, 4K, 4 streams, 100 downloads, Dolby Atmos
- vs Apple TV+: ad tier costs slightly more but with vastly more to watch
Migrating from Apple TV+: subscribe alongside or instead. Both billing is independent. Cancel/resubscribe cycles are smooth.
Bottom line: HBO Max is the closest Apple TV+ equivalent in tone, plus the entire Warner film catalogue. The natural pick for adults who already pay for Apple TV+.
Hulu, best for next-day broadcast TV (US)
Hulu is the US service that catches what aired on ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS the night before. The Handmaid’s Tale, Only Murders in the Building, The Bear, Shogun, plus same-day broadcast access make it the supplement for viewers who follow current network shows. The Disney bundle adds Disney+ and ESPN+ at a lower combined price.
Where it falls short: US-only. The ad tier runs heavy ads, including pre-roll on some originals. Live TV is a separate, pricier tier.
Pricing:
- With ads: $9.99/mo
- No ads: $18.99/mo
- With Live TV: starts at $82.99/mo (live channels and DVR)
- vs Apple TV+: similar ad-tier price, much more catalogue, weaker original lineup
Migrating from Apple TV+: independent service, no data to move. The Disney+ bundle is the most cost-effective entry point if you also want Disney’s library.
Bottom line: Hulu is the pick for US viewers following broadcast TV. Skip outside the US.
Prime Video, best for film catalogue and Amazon originals
Prime Video has the largest film library of any service in this list. The Boys, Reacher, Fallout, and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan are the headlining originals. The Thursday Night Football package brings live NFL into the streaming bundle. The catalogue rotates faster than HBO Max but has consistent depth.
Where it falls short: the UI is the worst of the major streamers. Free vs paid (rent/buy) titles are mixed into the same browse with confusing badging. Ads are now baseline; the ad-free tier is an upcharge.
Pricing:
- Prime membership: $14.99/mo or $139/year (bundle with shopping and music)
- Standalone Prime Video: $8.99/mo (with ads after 2024 change)
- Ad-free upgrade: +$2.99/mo
- vs Apple TV+: cheaper standalone, much more catalogue, NFL Thursday is a real bonus
Migrating from Apple TV+: nothing to migrate. Both can coexist.
Bottom line: Prime Video is the right pick if you want a deep film library or watch NFL. The UI cost is real.
Paramount+, best for Star Trek and live CBS
Paramount+ has all of Star Trek, the CBS broadcast lineup, recent Paramount theatrical releases (Top Gun: Maverick, Mission: Impossible, Sonic films), and the SmartLess podcast network. The Showtime add-on tier expands to prestige Showtime drama.
Where it falls short: outside Star Trek and CBS, the original drama lineup is uneven. Stability of the app has improved but still lags Netflix. The 4K library is smaller than competitors at the same price point.
Pricing:
- Essential: $7.99/mo (with ads)
- Premium with Showtime: $12.99/mo (ad-free, live CBS, Showtime catalogue)
- vs Apple TV+: comparable price, much more content, weaker prestige originals
Migrating from Apple TV+: nothing to migrate.
Bottom line: Paramount+ is the Trek-and-CBS pick. Add it as a temporary subscription for the seasons you care about.
Peacock, best for NBC sports and Premier League (US)
Peacock carries Premier League, Olympic coverage, NBC primetime, Bravo’s reality network, and select live NFL games. The catalogue is the smallest of the major US streamers, but the live-sports access is the strongest at this price point.
Where it falls short: the catalogue thins out fast if you do not care about sports or NBC’s reality lineup. The free tier was discontinued in 2023, so there is no try-before-you-buy option.
Pricing:
- Premium: $7.99/mo (with ads)
- Premium Plus: $13.99/mo (ad-free, downloads, local NBC)
- vs Apple TV+: similar price, much more sports, weaker scripted lineup
Migrating from Apple TV+: nothing to migrate.
Bottom line: Peacock is the sports-and-NBC supplement. Add for the Premier League season, drop after the trophy is lifted.
AMC+, best for niche prestige with Shudder included
AMC+ is the smaller niche option, but the catalogue is genuinely Apple TV+-adjacent in tone. Better Call Saul reruns, The Walking Dead universe (Daryl Dixon, Dead City), Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches, Interview with the Vampire, plus the Shudder horror catalogue and the IFC Films library all in one subscription. The bundle is smaller but tighter than the major streamers.
Where it falls short: app is the laggiest in this list, especially on entry-level Android boxes. Some content rotates out without notice. Originals release slowly.
Pricing:
- AMC+ monthly: $8.99/mo
- AMC+ annual: $83.88/year (works out to ~$7/mo)
- vs Apple TV+: comparable price, smaller library but high quality-to-quantity, includes Shudder
Migrating from Apple TV+: independent service. Worth a one-month trial during a Walking Dead universe release.
Bottom line: AMC+ is the prestige-adjacent niche pick. The Shudder bundle makes it the right add for horror watchers.
How to choose
Most Apple TV+ subscribers should not replace it. Apple TV+ is the prestige floor; the right move is adding something with volume.
- Add Netflix if you want the broadest library and ad-tier pricing is acceptable.
- Add HBO Max if Apple TV+‘s tone is what you want and the small catalogue is the issue.
- Add Hulu in the US if you follow broadcast TV.
- Add Prime Video if you already have Prime shopping or want a deep film library.
- Add Paramount+ during Star Trek season drops, cancel after.
- Add Peacock during the Premier League season.
- Add AMC+ during a Walking Dead release, or for the Shudder horror library.
Stay on Apple TV+ for Severance, For All Mankind, Slow Horses, Silo, The Morning Show, and Ted Lasso. Pair with one volume service and one niche service for the gaps.
FAQ
What is the best Apple TV+ alternative?
HBO Max is the closest in tone for prestige drama, Netflix has the biggest library, and Prime Video has the deepest film catalogue. Most subscribers add HBO Max or Netflix alongside Apple TV+, not as a replacement.
Can I switch from Apple TV+ to another service?
Yes. Cancel Apple TV+ from Settings (iPhone) or your subscription manager (Android). There is no data to migrate. Most viewers cycle subscriptions on and off around major releases.
Is Apple TV+ worth keeping if I add HBO Max?
Yes. The two libraries do not overlap. Apple TV+ has Severance, For All Mankind, Ted Lasso, Slow Horses, and the prestige originals. HBO Max has Succession, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, and the Warner film catalogue.
Which streaming service is cheapest?
Peacock Premium and Paramount+ Essential are both about $7.99/mo with ads. Netflix Standard with ads is also $7.99/mo. None of them is dramatically cheaper than another for ad-supported access.
Can I watch Apple TV+ shows offline?
Yes, the Apple TV app supports downloads on iOS, iPadOS, and the Android beta of the Apple TV app. Quality and download counts depend on the device and licensing.
Do any Apple TV+ alternatives have live sports?
Peacock for Premier League and NBC sports, Prime Video for NFL Thursday Night Football, Paramount+ for UEFA Champions League. Apple TV+ does not stream live sports.
