Apple’s naming scheme for its TV-related products can be confusing due to the repeated use of “Apple TV” across devices, services, and apps. Let’s clear things up:
In short, you subscribe to Apple TV+, watch it through the Apple TV app, and may use an Apple TV 4K device to stream it on your TV. Below, we’ll dive deeper into the key differences and features of each.
Apple TV+ is Apple’s subscription-based, on-demand streaming service. However, unlike Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu, Apple TV+ only offers a single plan priced at $9.99 per month after a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Once subscribed, you can watch Apple TV+ through the Apple TV app, or online at tv.apple.com.
Apple TV+ focuses on Apple Originals – exclusive shows and movies produced by Apple. It is home to critically acclaimed titles including The Morning Show, the Emmy-winning Ted Lasso, dark comedies like Bad Sisters, and the Academy Award-winning Best Picture CODA, among many others. The library is constantly growing, with new releases added every month.
To make it more appealing, Apple TV+ offers the following benefits:
The Apple TV app is an all-in-one platform that lets users stream Apple Original series and movies from Apple TV+, watch live sports, and rent or purchase thousands of additional movies and TV shows. On top of that, users can subscribe to premium add-on channels like Disney+, Max, and Hulu directly through the app.
The Apple TV app isn’t limited to Apple devices. It’s widely accessible across a range of platforms. You can enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, smart TV and streaming devices, gaming consoles, and more. This includes support for Roku, Fire TV, Xbox, PlayStation, and many other compatible devices.
Apple TV is a streaming device that connects to your TV or monitor, transforming it into a smart TV with the Apple TV App Store. Once set up, you can easily download and use apps like the Apple TV app, Netflix, Disney+, and many more. It also integrates your TV seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem. You can use features like AirPlay to stream content directly from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your TV.
The latest model available is the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation). While the Apple TV HD model has been discontinued by Apple, it may still be found through other retailers. Over the years, several generations of Apple TV have been released. Below is a comprehensive list of all Apple TV models:
Don’t let the similar names confuse you. Here is a side-by-side comparison of Apple TV+, Apple TV App, and Apple TV to show the differences in a straightforward way.
| Apple TV+ | Apple TV app | Apple TV | |
| What it is | Streaming service | Software application | Hardware device |
| Purpose | Provides Apple Original content | Hub for streaming and purchases | Turns your TV into a smart TV |
| Content | Exclusive Apple Original movies and shows | Access to Apple TV+, rentals, purchases, and third-party channels | Hub for streaming, rental, and purchases |
| Availability | Watch on the Apple TV app or at tv.apple.com. | On Apple devices, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and AirPlay‑enabled devices | Apple TV 4K Apple TV HD Apple TV |
| Price | $9.99/month (free 7-day trial) | Free to download (with in-app purchases/subscriptions) | One-time purchase from $129 |
You can download Apple TV+ movies and TV shows to watch offline on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, but the downloads will become unavailable once you cancel your Apple TV+ subscription. To keep the Apple+ downloads forever, consider downloading your favorite titles to MP4.
Pazu Apple TV+ Video Downloader is a versatile tool that allows you to download any TV shows or movies from Apple TV+ and save them as MP4 or MKV files. With its help, you can transfer and play them offline on any supported device, even after your subscription expires.
Pazu Apple TV+ Video Downloader
Step 1. Download and install the software on your Mac or Windows computer. Launch the software and log in to your Apple TV+ account. Click the key icon and enter your registration code to unlock the full version. If you haven’t purchased a registration, go ahead with the free trial version.
Step 2. Click the gear icon in the top right corner to select the video format, codec, audio and subtitle languages, output folder, etc.
Step 3. Enter the show or movie you want to download in the search field and click the Search icon.
Click the Download button. For movies, the downloading starts immediately.
For TV shows, you will be presented with all episodes. Select the seasons and episodes you want to download. You can also change the subtitle and audio track of each episode by clicking the gear-like icon.
After selecting subtitles and audio tracks, click the OK button to close this window, then click the Download button to start downloading.
To see all the downloaded items, go to the History tab. Click the Folder icon to locate your downloaded files.
Download Apple TV Plus Video movies and TV shows to MP4/MKV on your PC/Mac