Apple TV (formerly Apple TV+) US Subscription: the Complete Guide — Region Switch + Card Linking + Exclusive Shows
The complete Apple TV+ US subscription flow, featuring exclusives like Ted Lasso and Severance, plus plan advice.
Apple TV (called Apple TV+ before October 2025) is Apple’s own streaming service, focused on “fewer but finer” original shows (Ted Lasso / Severance / The Morning Show). It is not available in mainland China — there, you need to switch to the US region or register a US Apple ID to subscribe. This tutorial walks you through the full “subscribe to Apple TV+ in the US region” flow.
1. Why Subscribe to US Apple TV+
- Ted Lasso — Emmy winner for Best Comedy; Season 4 began airing on August 5, 2026
- Severance — mystery drama produced by Ben Stiller, Douban 9.2
- The Morning Show — starring Jennifer Aniston / Reese Witherspoon
- Foundation — adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s sci-fi classic
- For All Mankind — alternate-history space-race drama
- Slow Horses — British spy thriller starring Gary Oldman
The US region comes with full 4K HDR + Dolby Atmos support.
2. Plan Price Comparison
| Plan | Monthly fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV (standalone) | $14.99 | Apple TV only, up to 6 simultaneous streams |
| Apple One Individual | $21.95 | TV+ + Music + Arcade + iCloud 50GB |
| Apple One Family | $27.95 | Family sharing for 6 people, includes iCloud 200GB |
| Apple One Premier | $39.95 | Family of 6 + iCloud 2TB + Fitness+ + News+ |
If you only want Apple TV, the $14.99 standalone plan is enough. If you already subscribe to Apple Music / iCloud, Apple One Individual is the better deal.
3. What You Need Before Subscribing
- A US-region Apple ID (see the US App Store download tutorial)
- A US-BIN virtual card: we recommend RDVCC Visa
- A US billing address
- Card balance ≥ $20 (monthly $14.99 + pre-authorization)
4. Subscribe + Watch in 5 Steps
- Step 1: Confirm your Apple ID is in the US region
Settings → your avatar → Media & Purchases → View Account → Country/Region should show United States. If it shows another country or region, switch regions first following the US App Store region-switch tutorial.
- Step 2: Open the Apple TV App
Open the TV App on your iPhone / iPad / Mac / Apple TV. Choose to subscribe to Apple TV (shown as $14.99/month by default; new users get a 7-day free trial first).
- Step 3: Confirm the payment method
An Apple TV subscription uses the payment method already linked to your Apple ID (RDVCC card / Apple Pay). If no card was linked before, you will be prompted to enter card details (RDVCC Visa works).
- Step 4: Apple pre-authorization + charge
The first subscription charges $14.99. If you get the 7-day free trial, Apple first places a $1 pre-authorization to verify the card is valid, and the monthly fee starts once the trial ends.
- Step 5: Start watching
You can watch immediately after subscribing. Apple TV works on iOS / iPad / Mac / Apple TV / some smart TVs / the web version (tv.apple.com). One subscription allows up to 6 simultaneous streams (counted across Family Sharing members); “up to 3 streams” applies to Apple TV Channels add-on subscriptions.
5. US-Region Exclusive Shows
Apple TV+ launches globally in sync, with no regional catalog differences (US / Hong Kong TV+ content is identical). The US subscription price is $14.99/month (since 2026-08-28); for Hong Kong pricing, see Apple’s Hong Kong page; mainland China is not available.
Top 10 Must-Watch Shows
- Ted Lasso (4 seasons; Season 4 began airing in August 2026; Douban 9.5)
- Severance (2 seasons, produced by Ben Stiller)
- The Morning Show (4 seasons, renewed for Season 5, Douban 8.5)
- For All Mankind (5 seasons, sci-fi)
- Slow Horses (6 seasons, spy thriller)
- Foundation (3 seasons, Asimov adaptation; renewed for Season 4)
- The Crowded Room (starring Tom Holland)
- Pachinko (Korean novel adaptation)
- Silo (sci-fi dystopia)
- Bad Sisters (dark comedy)
FAQ
Q: Are the Apple TV subscription and the Apple TV box the same thing?
No. Since October 2025 the streaming subscription service (formerly Apple TV+) is also called Apple TV, sharing its name with the set-top box and the app; the subscription is the service for watching shows, while the box is hardware. Subscribing to Apple TV does not require buying an Apple TV box — iPhone / iPad / Mac / the web all work.
Q: How do I get the 7-day free trial?
A new Apple ID that has never subscribed to TV+ can claim the 7-day trial. Tap Try It Free when subscribing. Buying a new Mac / iPhone / iPad comes with 3 months free (an official Apple promotion).
Q: Can I use Family Sharing?
Yes. The $14.99 standalone Apple TV plan supports Family Sharing by default, for up to 6 people (including you). You do not need to upgrade to Apple One Family to share. Everyone keeps their own watch progress.
Q: How do I cancel the subscription?
Settings → your avatar → Subscriptions → Apple TV → Cancel Subscription. You can keep watching for the rest of the current billing cycle; renewal stops at the end of the cycle. Your RDVCC card is no longer charged.
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