Apple TV+ has two subscription tiers: one with ads and one without

Apple TV+ offers two ways to watch. The Apple TV+ with ads plan costs $5.99 per month and shows advertisements during shows and movies. The Apple TV+ Premium plan costs $11.99 per month and has no ads at all. Both plans give you access to the same shows and movies — the only difference is whether you see commercials.

The ads tier launched in October 2022. Apple inserted it as a lower-cost option for people who don't mind watching ads in exchange for a cheaper subscription. If you already subscribe to the ad-free version, you can switch to the ads plan anytime, and your monthly bill drops when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple TV+ with ads costs $5.99 per month and shows commercials; the ad-free Premium plan costs $11.99 per month.
  • Both plans stream the same library of shows and movies — ads are the only difference between them.
  • You can switch between the two plans at any time, and the change takes effect on your next billing date.
  • If you have an Apple One bundle, the Premium plan (no ads) is included; the ads plan is not available through bundles.
  • Ads appear before, during, and after content, with most breaks lasting 15 to 30 seconds.

How many ads you'll see and when they play

Apple doesn't publish the exact number of ads per hour, but the breaks are shorter than traditional television. Most ad breaks last 15 to 30 seconds. Ads appear before the show or movie starts, during the middle, and sometimes at the end. You cannot skip them.

The number of breaks varies by content. Some shows have fewer interruptions than others, but Apple has not released a breakdown of which titles have more ads. The experience is closer to streaming services like Hulu with ads than to cable television, where breaks can run 8 to 10 minutes per hour.

What happens if you share your account

If multiple people in your household watch on the same account, everyone sees ads if you're on the ads plan. Apple TV+ does not let you assign different plans to different profiles on the same account — the plan you choose applies to the whole account.

If someone in your household wants to watch without ads while others are fine with them, you would need separate accounts. Each person would need their own subscription, or one person could stay on the ads plan while another pays for Premium separately.

Switching between the ads plan and Premium

You can change your plan anytime through the Apple TV app or your Apple ID settings. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, select Subscriptions, find Apple TV+, and choose Edit Subscription. On a Mac or Apple TV device, open the Apple TV app, go to Account, and select Manage Subscription.

The change takes effect on your next billing date, not when ready. If you switch from Premium to ads on the 15th of the month but your billing date is the 20th, you'll keep the Premium plan until the 20th, then move to ads. You won't be charged the difference or refunded for the remaining days.

Apple One bundles and the ads plan

Apple One is a bundle that combines Apple TV+, Apple Music, iCloud+ storage, and other services at a discount. The bundle includes Apple TV+ Premium (no ads), not the ads plan. If you want the cheaper ads tier, you cannot get it through Apple One — you have to subscribe to Apple TV+ separately.

The Individual Apple One bundle costs $16.95 per month and includes Apple TV+ Premium. The Family bundle costs $25.95 per month. If you downgrade from Apple One to just the ads plan, you lose the other services in the bundle as well.

Which plan is worth the cost

The ads plan saves you $6 per month compared to Premium. Over a year, that's $72. If you watch Apple TV+ several times a week, the shorter ad breaks may feel like a reasonable trade-off. If you watch daily or binge entire seasons, the interruptions may become frustrating.

Consider how much you value uninterrupted viewing. Some people find even 15-second ads annoying during a show they're invested in. Others don't mind them if the monthly cost is lower. There's no wrong choice — it depends on your viewing habits and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch offline with the ads plan?

Yes. Both the ads plan and Premium allow you to read shows and movies to watch later without an internet connection. The ads plan does not restrict downloads — you get the same offline viewing as Premium.

Do ads play during downloaded content?

No. Ads only appear when you stream content online. Once you read a show or movie, you can watch it without any ads, even if you're on the ads plan.

Can I skip ads on Apple TV+?

No. Unlike some other streaming services, Apple TV+ does not let you skip ads on either plan. You have to watch them in full. The ads are unskippable whether you're on the ads plan or Premium.

What if I don't want ads but can't afford Premium?

Apple TV+ is available through some cable and internet providers as a free or discounted add-on. Check with your provider to see if they bundle it. Some cell phone plans also include Apple TV+ at no extra cost.

Do family members see the same ads?

Not necessarily. Apple targets ads based on the profile watching, so different people on the same account may see different advertisements. The ads are personalized to some degree, though Apple has not detailed exactly how the targeting works.