50 Best Streaming Services on Apple TV

A sure treasure trove for history buffs, History Hit TV is a dedicated service featuring original documentaries, series, dramas, interviews, and films spanning all sorts of time periods and eras. It was founded by renowned historian Dan Snow, who hosts a hit podcast of the same name and whose other content can be found in the streamer. History Hit TV also claims that 10% of its profits go into history education projects around the globe.

Here TV is a streaming subscription service that has hundreds of LGBTQ+ titles under its belt, among them, original shows, enlightening documentaries, and award-winning films. At $7.99, it's a bit steeper than the usual streaming service, but along with access to LGBTQ+ content, you also get regularly curated recommendations based on genre, mood, and watching history. According to its official site, Here TV also partners with many queer charities, so you can be sure the fee goes to a cause.

Haystack News (formerly Haystack TV) is an independently-run streaming service that delivers live and on-demand news, 24/7. It's ad-supported so it's somewhat free, but if you want to get rid of the commercials and dive straight into the latest news, you can subscribe to Haystack Premium for $4.99/month or try it for free for 30 days. The convenient thing about Haystack is that it allows you to navigate not just by channels but by topics as well. It also picks up news from more than a hundred TV stations around the US (check if they cover your area here) which saves you the trouble of switching services when looking for local news.

Glewed TV is a free, ad-supported streaming channel that provides an extensive lineup of movies, series, and documentaries. It also has its own exclusive set of titles and podcasts, with genres spanning travel, sports, comedy, action, and more, plus it's available on a plethora of platforms. If you're still on the fence about going completely cordless, Glewed TV is one of many easy and accessible streaming options to choose from.

Cord-cutters only interested in Spanish-language content will find much to like in Fubo Latino. Instead of the usual lineup, the Latino plan carries more than 65 channels in Spanish, including Unimas, Univision, BeinSports, Nat Geo Mundo, Sony Cine, and Discovery en Español. And since Fubo started as a soccer streaming service, it also has live sporting events featuring leagues like the UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga, and MLS. 

At only $33/month, it's Fubo's most affordable plan yet, but it still has base features like 250 hours worth of cloud DVR and two simultaneous streams. If you already have a Fubo base plan, Fubo also offers these channels as an add-on for $20/month. 

FlixFling is a flexible video on-demand streaming platform available in the US.

A subscription costs $7.99 per month (or $95 per year) and includes streaming access across 5 different devices and access to movies and shows on the on-demand library.

Without a subscription, you can still access on-demand rentals/purchases that range from $0.99 to $7.99. Meanwhile, on-demand subscribers have to pay for some titles that are available only as premium rentals.

FlixFling works across devices, smart TVs and media services. 

Flix Premiere is a subscription-based service that streams underrated and hard-to-find independent films. Founded in 2015 by Martin Warner, Flix Premiere is a treasure trove of fresh but forgotten gems—movies deemed too small or unprofitable are finally given a fighting chance here. The company states that it sources much of its content from prestigious festivals like Berlinale, Cannes, TIFF, and more.

The streamer, currently available in the US and the UK only, is for hardcore cinephiles and anyone who prefers films over TV shows. The subscription is at $6.99/month, and the service offers a 30-day free trial.

Filmzie offers its viewers worldwide high-quality content that is free. Its aim is to spotlight overlooked films in our history and support filmmakers and creators in so doing. If you’re someone who feels ethically motivated to support filmmakers and prefers not to have to pay to be entertained, this is the streaming service for you. It’s updated regularly with popular and current content. Filmzie was launched in 2021.

Fandor is a paid subscription streaming service that curates independent, foreign, award-winning, and classic films, as well as documentaries from all over the world, making it a standout option for cinephiles. Depending on your location, it also offers a number of free movie titles. But Fandor doesn't only cater to fans; rookie directors also get some love as the service allows them to debut their work on the platform. It's a great option for film lovers and makers alike.

True to its name, Documentary+ is a free ad-supported service that streams documentaries as well as non-fiction shorts and series. It has a straightforward interface that has categories like "award winners," "true crime," "festival darlings," "women stories," and "Black stories," as well as films from renowned directors including Werner Herzog, Spike Jonze, Kathryn Bigelow, and Terrence Malick. 

Interestingly, the service also has a live channel you can put on anytime. It’s compatible with all major streaming devices, but you can also access it as a channel on live TV services like Amazon’s freevee and Sling’s freestream.

Docsville’s focus is on documentaries sourced from around the world, originally launched by award-winning documentarian Lawrence Elmen and his business partner, Nick Fraser, who worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation. This streaming service is for those doc junkies who can’t get enough of real-world exploration and have a thirst for knowledge about many different aspects of our planet and the human race. Topics include climate change, inequality and racism, inspiring real-life tales, and true crime. Most of the documentaries offered are independent films.

Distro TV is a free streaming service that features free shows, movies, documentaries, news, concerts, and more from all around the world. It specializes in global content, drawing from the US, UK, and Canada, as well as from other parts of Europe, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. It has both live and on-demand content, plus it's easy to stream from many devices, making it an easy and affordable option for cord-cutters.

The most popular Disney+ bundle is the trio bundle, which combines Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for the reasonable price of $12.99/month. But if you don't care much for sports, we're here to tell you that you can actually get a leaner (and cheaper!) deal with just Disney+ and Hulu. It's called the Disney+ Bundle Duo and it gives you access to Disney+'s family-friendly hits as well as Hulu's more contemporary original movies and TV shows.

As of this writing, the bundle doesn't allow you to download titles, and you'll have to upgrade to pricier tiers if you want to avoid the ads, but at $9.99/month, it does give you up to 37% in savings compared to purchasing each service separately. Not a bad deal if you're after a good mix of blockbuster and indie fare.

If you have an American Express Platinum card, you can get up to $20 in credit statement when you sign up for a Disney+ subscription directly on the site using your card. This applies to all of Disney+'s offered services, whether it's their most basic, ad-supported on-demand service, which costs $8/month, or their premium bundle that combines Disney+ with Hulu and ESPN+, which can cost up to $20/month. Availing of the Disney+ AMEX bundle lets you save up on these streaming costs and could help you rack up to $240 in annual savings. Just don't forget to enroll your card on AMEX's site, and you should be ready to enjoy this bundle's benefits.

For $7 more, you can upgrade your Disney+ Trio Bundle, which costs $13 and includes Hulu and ESPN+, for a premium version. The Disney+ no-ads bundle has everything the regular bundle has, but this one allows you to watch Disney+ and Hulu without ads (unfortunately they will still be present in ESPN+) and download movies and TV episodes you can watch offline or on the go. These may be small changes for some, but they can make all the difference for others. Depending on your needs, the premium Disney+ bundle could be a worthy addition to your streaming lineup.

When it comes to streaming, DirecTV has one of the most comprehensive sports bundles out there. Not only does it cover the essential live channels like NFL Redzone, NBA TV, and MLB Network, it also has over 30 out-of-market RSNs and multiple channels that cover specialty sports and top collegiate teams. The bundle itself costs $15/month, but needless to say, you need to be subscribed to one of DirecTV's packages, which start at $79.99/month, to purchase it. Do note that some of DirecTV's base packages already include some of the channels in this sports bundle, so make sure you double-check the channel lineup below to avoid too many overlaps.

With the DirecTV & Paramount+ with Showtime bundle, you get both Paramount+ and Showtime originals (including current fan favorites Yellowjackets and Star Trek) and local CBS channels added to your DirecTV package of choice. You also get access to Showtime's roster of live sporting events, which cover boxing, MMA, and football, to name a few. Once you purchase the bundle, DirecTV automatically adds the bundle to your channel lineup and allows you to use your DirecTV credentials to log in to the Paramount+ with Showtime app. DirecTV likes to vary the discounts, but at the moment, it offers the bundle 50% off for 3 months, which means you only have to pay $6.99/month on top of your base DirecTV package (the most basic goes for $70/month at the moment) until the deal expires. After that, DirecTV automatically charges you the regular price of $11.99/month.

If you're subscribed to DirecTV's satellite or internet plans, you can choose to rent and buy from the platform's wide library of titles. Here, you'll find the latest blockbusters, indies, cult favorites, and even beloved TV shows and previous hits that might be difficult to view elsewhere. Prices can range from $3 to $20 per title, but that will depend on its popularity and how recently it was released. You're free to watch them on the go via the DirecTV app, but do note that you can't transact on the app itself. And while concurrent streams for purchases (which are yours for as long as you remain a DirecTV customer) are limited to three devices, the limit for rented titles is two. 

Dekkoo caters to the queer community and offers exclusively gay content. Their website claims to provide access to the largest selection of gay entertainment offered anywhere. Dekkoo has a 3-day free trial, then charges $12.54/month. If you’re craving more queer in your life and love gay films and TV series, then this service is for you. Dekkoo was launched in 2015 by Derek Curl and Brian Sokel.

The CW is known for its iconic and even award-winning dramas, comedies, and reality shows. It has an enviable library to be sure, but it splits these among two streaming services: the self-titled The CW and the more modest CW Seed, which serves as a repository for the network's past and non-airing shows. That means you're free to watch classics like The OC, Pushing Daisies, Schitt's Creek, and America's Next Top Model for free on CW Seed. Its entertaining, zero-cost catalog is a sure major attraction (you don't even have to make an account to stream) but a potential downside is its limited title count.

Curzon Home Media is an internet streamer that provides access to films through rentals. It releases many of its films on the same date they are available to watch in cinemas, so you can rest assured its selection is fresh. 

Currently, the video-on-demand service is limited to the UK and Ireland, so if you're in the area looking for a regularly updated library that also happens to contain quality art-house, foreign, and lesser-known films, then this is for you. Curzon Home Media, launched in 2010, is owned and operated by the London-based Curzon World Group.  

CuriosityStream is an American streaming services that focuses on documentary movies and shows and is available in more than 175 countries.

In the US, pricing starts at $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year for the basic plan, with an upgrade to the 4K Monthly plan available for $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year. 

CuriosityStream can be accessed via web browser as well as Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, and has a mobile app that is compatible across Apple and PC computers, and Android and iOS phones and tablets. 

With its curated lineup of over 100 hand-picked, top-quality independent films every month, Curia indulges viewers with seasonal and permanent film collections for only $3.99 a month. The service ensures an experience less reliant on the impersonal algorithm that has dominated the likes of Netflix, and more on the personal recommendation setup where friends and experts help you pick out the next best watch. Aside from thoughtful curations, signing up also gets you unlimited access to award-winning feature-length and short films from beloved festivals around the world, all in the comfort of your home. 

Crunchyroll is a video-on-demand streaming website that specializes in anime and is available in 170 countries. It has also recently absorbed a competitor, FUNIMATION, offering an even bigger catalog. You can opt for either a free ad-supported plan or subscribe to the paid tier. The free version doesn't include simulcasts or access to all of Crunchyroll's content, but for $7.99 per month the premium tier removes those limitations. You can access Crunchyroll via web browser (www.crunchyroll.com), while the Crunchyroll app is also available on all major platforms, mobile devices including Android and iOS, and media streaming devices including Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV Chromecast, and Android TV, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Criterion Channel is a curated movie-streaming service that offers ad-free and on-demand access to films from The Criterion Collection in HD. It is currently only available in the US and Canada. The subscription costs $10.99 per month or $99.99 per year. Like Netflix, the Criterion Channel also offers a physical rental service. The number of movies you can rent each month, for a flat monthly rate, depends on how quickly you can return them. You don't need to subscribe to The Criterion Channel to buy or rent physical media on DVD and Blu-ray, but subscribers may get discounts. With the introduction of Criterion24/7, Criterion Channel also entered the Live TV world, offering a great alternative to channels like Turner Classic Movies.

If you purchase Cricket Wireless' unlimited phone plan, you get a free account with Max bundled in. Through Max's ad-supported plan, you can watch countless HBO shows, Warner Brothers movies, and Discovery documentaries on your phone, and you can also create up to 5 profiles and simultaneously stream on 3 different devices (including a smart TV). This bundle is only available on Cricket's most expensive unlimited phone plan, which costs $60, but along with Max, it also comes with 15 GB mobile hotspot, 150 GB cloud storage, unlimited texts to select countries, and coverage extending to Mexico and Canada. It's a fair price and one of the few phone-streaming bundles available now that AT&T has discontinued its Max bundles.

Crave is a Canadian subscription service founded in 2014 that gives users exclusive access to US titles and theater releases, as well as original shows, live content, and Canada-only movies and series. In particular, the service has a deal with studios Warner Bros. and Paramount, and with channels HBO, HBO Max, Showtime, Comedy Central, and MTV, so you can be sure to find the most in-demand releases on the service. Crave plans start at $9.99/month for single users, while the premium package costs $19.99/month.

As the name suggests, Classix is the ultimate repository of vintage titles; from film noir and screwball comedies to westerns and cartoons, it's all here. The service is completely free of charge, a true haven for classic fans, but for a one-time charge of $3.99 (no renewal fee) users can get access to even more titles, including full seasons of shows like Bonanza and The Pink Panther. The streamer works well on most major devices, and even though the films don't have the crisp, restored resolution of their more popular contemporaries, they're still a ball to watch.

Cineverse is a free streaming service that has both on-demand content and live channels, all of which feature a broad range of content. The new streaming service's mission is to offer as many titles as it can, so you won't find a lot of blockbusters or big studio productions here (unless they're available for rent on ROW8), but you will have access to a ton of vintage, international, and niche films and TV shows. Our personal favorites include Howard's End, Mustang, and The Little Shop of Horrors.

Since the streaming service is free, you'll encounter a lot of ads, but you can always subscribe to Cineverse's premium version, which costs $2.99/month, to get rid of the commercials and get access to even more content.

If you have a taste for Black-oriented films, particularly those made in the late 20th century featuring funky settings and action sequences, then Brown Sugar just might be for you. The streaming subscription service mainly curates titles from the so-called Blaxploitation era, while also offering newer content such as a documentary about Beyoncé and a movie starring Denzel Washington. It has a wide array of titles thoughtfully dedicated to those who appreciate this kind of content, and at only $3.99 a month, it's a niche service seriously worth considering.