Best apps for 4k apple tv

TV streaming is a big deal these days, and there are a lot of options to choose from. You’ve got Google Chromecast, Kodi, Roku, and lots more. Apple’s own streaming service is called Apple TV, and it comes in at number one with its 4K resolution, colorful displays, and large app store.

But what if you’re new to the Apple ecosystem? It can be tough to know where to start! We understand that feeling, which is why we’ve compiled our top picks for the best apps for Apple TV.

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BEST APPLE TV STREAMING SERVICE APPS

Letterboxd

Why you can trust Tom’s Guide  Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

An image of The Dark Knight's page in Letterboxd on the Apple TV
(Image credit: Letterboxd)

Letterboxd, if you’re not familiar, is the social media network for movie lovers. Primarily, it’s used to help people discover and recommend films, as you can use it to track and share your reviews of your favorite movies. It’s also a great tool for tracking your watch list, so you can help your own decision paralysis on movie night.

And in the film profile pages, Letterboxd also gives you details about where you can stream the film you’re interested in. Pro-level Letterboxd subscribers can even search by specific streaming services, such as Hulu and Netflix.

Download Letterboxd(opens in new tab)

Tubi

The Tubi app's movies view on an Apple TV
(Image credit: Tubi via Apple)

We’re all tired of paying for every streaming service under the sun. Which is why we love to recommend the best free streaming services. Tubi is one of these services, delivering you free TV shows and movies. The only catch (if you can call it that), is that you have to watch ads.

Tubi’s lineup is always changing, but at the time of publishing, it’s got everything from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and the first Terminator film. You can also stream episodes of The Nanny, the Shonen Jump anime Naruto and the classic comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? Recent releases on Tubi include Doctor Sleep and Annabelle Comes Home.

Download Tubi(opens in new tab)

Plex

Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness' screen on Plex's Apple TV app
(Image credit: Plex via Apple)

We’ve been big Plex fans at Tom’s Guide for years, but a new update to the DIY streaming app reminds us that the gospel of Plex needs to be spread far and wide. While Plex is all about creating your own streaming service, its latest features help you stream with the wider world. 

First, you’ve got Discover, which rounds up all the popular and interesting shows on all of your streaming services — helping fix decision paralysis. And then there’s Watchlist, which helps you keep track of the shows and movies you want to watch, and where they’re available online.  

Download Plex(opens in new tab)

Just Watch

The Matrix's page on JustWatch on the Apple TV
(Image credit: JustWatch via Apple)

One app to rule them all? Kinda. JustWatch is the app I turn to when I need to find out where a show or movie is playing. It’s basically the index of all the shows and movies. It’s also proven invaluable for just keeping track of all the shows and movies I’m watching. And on top of that? You can jump straight from JustWatch to the apps where all those shows and movies are, because they’re all linked together.

Apple’s TV app, another of our favorites, does a lot right. But JustWatch does them better. Not only its its watch list functionality more manageable, but it actually works with Netflix, which the Apple TV app doesn’t.

Download JustWatch(opens in new tab)

Sling TV

A TV open to the Sling TV app, one of the best Apple TV apps, showing the movie Thor Ragnarok
(Image credit: Sling TV)

We recommend Sling TV because it’s both our top pick for the best cable TV alternatives and one of the best streaming services. Why does it rank so highly? Well, it’s packed with a serious set of channel lineups with a starting price of $35 per month, a rate that its competitors can’t touch.

So, whether you want to watch big sports games, or just want to watch most of the popular channels, including Fox, Comedy Central, TNT, USA and countless others, Sling TV is a very fine option. Its Apple TV app has been updated recently, so you also get the latest version.

Download Sling(opens in new tab)

A24 Screening Room

The A24 Screening Room app on a TV hooked up to an Apple TV.
(Image credit: A24)

You may know A24 as a reliable (or often reliably weird, in the case of films such as Lamb and Men) independent entertainment company. But you also may know it as a place whose films don’t always get wider distribution. This is where its virtual screening room app comes into play. Available only on web, Roku and Apple TV, the A24 Screening Room offers film lovers a way to watch its movies at home. Often times, these films are available at thankfully less-than-expensive pricing. Other films (such as Funny Pages) are screened on the A24 Screening Room before theaters get them.

Download A24 Screening Room(opens in new tab)

Twitch

the Twitch app, one of the best Apple TV apps
(Image credit: Twitch via Apple)

Twitch isn’t for everyone (some people don’t “get” the idea of watching people play video games), but Twitch is best on the biggest screen in your house. That’s why I have the Twitch tvOS app pretty high on my home screen, as I love to see both the streamers I like and the games they’re playing as large as possible. As a streamer myself, I can tell you all of the elements feel very crunched in, and giving them more space makes sense.

Oh, and don’t go thinking every single streaming device has a Twitch app. Sure, some consoles do, but Roku doesn’t actually have Twitch — something I learned when I ditched Apple TV for Roku.

Download Twitch(opens in new tab)

Disney Plus

best apple tv app disney plus
(Image credit: Disney)

Disney Plus is one of the best Apple TV apps for anyone who cares about the many Disney franchises, including Star Wars and Marvel. You also get access to original shows, The Simpsons and more. It costs $7.99 per month and gives you access to the entire Disney catalog. And you can bundle Disney Plus with Hulu for just $13.99 per month. The Disney Plus app for Apple TV is a must have.

Download Disney Plus(opens in new tab)

Netflix

best apple tv apps netflix
(Image credit: Netflix)

We wish the Netflix app integrated better with Apple’s TV app — the Netflix shows you’re streaming are MIA from the Now Playing section of the Apple TV interface. But this service still provides access to a wide variety of compelling original shows and movies, from Stranger Things and House of Cards to Luke Cage.

Download Netflix(opens in new tab)

Amazon Prime Video

amazon prime
(Image credit: Amazon Studios)

It took longer than other streaming services to arrive on Apple TV, but Amazon Prime Video has emerged as one of the best Apple TV apps for entertainment. Amazon’’s Prime Video gives you access to thousands of shows and television shows, including lots of free content if you’re a Prime subscriber. You can also use the service to watch Amazon’s original series through the service.

Download Amazon Prime Video(opens in new tab)

Apple TV

A TV open to Apple's TV app, one of the best Apple TV apps, showing the TV+ section
(Image credit: Apple)

Pre-loaded on Apple TVs, but still amazing, Apple’s TV app helps you to stream in a wide number of ways. Most notably, it’s still the place to buy and rent shows and movies, now that iTunes is retired. There’s also Apple TV Channels, the ala carte TV service subscription method. Finally, and most famously, Apple TV Plus is one of the newer entrants into the Apple TV market, but it’s worth streaming for its $4.99 per month. (And if you’ve buy an Apple device, you get three months of the service for free.) With a subscription, you get access to Apple’s original programming, including Ted Lasso and The Morning Show, among others. Best of all, its visual quality and reliability are outstanding.

Apple TV Channels, we should note, is actually our preferred method for subscribing to services such as AMC Plus. Why is that? Well, the AMC Plus Apple TV app has a poor interface that isn’t as responsive or precise when it comes to episode navigation. 

Download Apple TV Plus(opens in new tab)

HBO Max

best apple tv apps: HBO Max
(Image credit: Warner Media)

HBO finally seems to have found a winning formula with HBO Max, its $14.99/month streaming service. Your HBO favorites are there, but you also get an extensive library of movies and shows offering a wide variety of viewing options. It’s one of the pricier streaming services out there, but HBO is betting the giant library of shows and occasional theatrical releases will make it worth your while.

The one downside of the HBO Max app? Well, it’s the issue with the whole service. As we experienced with the Euphoria season 2 finale, the app can crash if and when there’s too many people trying to watch something at once. That said, HBO Max is our pick for the best streaming service, even with those hiccups.

Download HBO Max(opens in new tab)

YouTube TV

best apple tve apps youtube tv
(Image credit: Google)

Cutting the cord is never easy and finding a suitable service to consider is even more difficult. But with help from YouTube TV, you might find it to be simple. The YouTube TV service, which has climbed to $64.99 per month, gives you streaming access to more than 70 channels, including local sports and news. It even features DVR support. This is the best Apple TV app for anyone thinking about ditching cable who still craves live programming.

Download YouTube TV(opens in new tab)

Hulu

best apple tv apps hulu
(Image credit: Hulu)

If you’re a Hulu subscriber, download this app to your Apple TV. The stream quality is stellar, and you can watch everything from classics like Seinfeld (all nine seasons) to exclusives like The Mindy Project. Plus, Hulu integrates with Apple’s TV app, so from the home screen, you can quickly access shows you’ve been watching. Oh, and check out our best Hulu movies guide when you’re trying to decide what to watch.

Download Hulu(opens in new tab)

BEST APPLE TV MUSIC AND VIDEO APPS

Pandora

best apple tv apps pandora
(Image credit: Pandora)

Pandora has long been one of the most popular streaming-music apps and its easily one of the best Apple TV apps for music. The service lets you create stations and curates songs based on your tastes. As you might expect, the app includes large album artwork and easily accessible controls. You can use Pandora for free, but you can also sign up for a paid version that will eliminate ads.

Download Pandora(opens in new tab)

YouTube

best apple tv apps youtube
(Image credit: YouTube)

Like the fourth-generation Apple TV, the Apple TV 4K is compatible with a key app that wasn’t available in earlier models: YouTube. After downloading the free YouTube app, you can stream videos, movies and more. The stream quality is quite good, and the breadth of content is impressive.

Download YouTube(opens in new tab)

Spotify

The Spotify app, one of the best Apple TV apps, on an Apple TV
(Image credit: Spotify via Apple)

Yes, Apple Music is right there. Yes, Apple TV owners are more likely to be on Apple Music than anyone else. That said, Spotify is still the king of the streaming music world, and it has an Apple TV app too (unsurprisingly, as it offers an app for practically every platform). Well-laid out, the Spotify app starts you off with what you’ve recently listened to, and has tabs for your library and searching. The only things it’s missing are on-screen lyrics and the animations you sometimes see on mobile. 

Download Spotify(opens in new tab)

Apple Music

best apple tv apps apple music
(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Music is the tech giant’s $10-a-month streaming music service. When you sign up, you can access Apple Music’s millions of songs, as well as curated playlists to listen to the music you love. Apple Music also features a For You section, so you can discover new music that are similar to the tracks you enjoy.

Download Apple Music(opens in new tab)

Discovery Go

discovery go
(Image credit: Discovery)

If you’re a Discovery Channel lover, the Discovery Go app is a must-have for the Apple TV. The app lets you watch full episodes and live TV from Discovery Channel. And it’s available to you for free with your cable TV subscription. The app includes Shark Week programming, Naked and Afraid, and other popular Discovery shows.

Download Discovery Go(opens in new tab)

Showtime Anytime

best apple tv apps showtime anytime
(Image credit: Showtime)

Showtime Anytime is a must-have if you’re a Showtime subscriber through your cable or satellite provider. This app gives you access to all the latest hits, including Homeland and Ray Donovan, as well as older favorites like Dexter.

Download Showtime Anytime(opens in new tab)

Comedy Central

best apple tv apps comedy central
(Image credit: Comedy Central)

The free Comedy Central app has a surprisingly robust amount of content, making it one of the best Apple TV apps. It features a slew of stand-up specials and gives you access to some of the network’s best series, like South Park and The Daily Show. There is also some short-form content you’ll want to check out.

Download Comedy Central

and so much more. Be sure to visit our catalog for more information on related topics. You don’t want to miss this!

best apps for 4k tv

Letterboxd

Why you can trust Tom’s Guide  Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Letterboxd, if you’re not familiar, is the social media network for movie lovers. Primarily, it’s used to help people discover and recommend films, as you can use it to track and share your reviews of your favorite movies. It’s also a great tool for tracking your watch list, so you can help your own decision paralysis on movie night.

And in the film profile pages, Letterboxd also gives you details about where you can stream the film you’re interested in. Pro-level Letterboxd subscribers can even search by specific streaming services, such as Hulu and Netflix.

Tubi

We’re all tired of paying for every streaming service under the sun. Which is why we love to recommend the best free streaming services. Tubi is one of these services, delivering you free TV shows and movies. The only catch (if you can call it that), is that you have to watch ads.

Tubi’s lineup is always changing, but at the time of publishing, it’s got everything from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and the first Terminator film. You can also stream episodes of The Nanny, the Shonen Jump anime Naruto and the classic comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? Recent releases on Tubi include Doctor Sleep and Annabelle Comes Home.

Plex

We’ve been big Plex fans at Tom’s Guide for years, but a new update to the DIY streaming app reminds us that the gospel of Plex needs to be spread far and wide. While Plex is all about creating your own streaming service, its latest features help you stream with the wider world. 

First, you’ve got Discover, which rounds up all the popular and interesting shows on all of your streaming services — helping fix decision paralysis. And then there’s Watchlist, which helps you keep track of the shows and movies you want to watch, and where they’re available online.  

Just Watch

One app to rule them all? Kinda. JustWatch is the app I turn to when I need to find out where a show or movie is playing. It’s basically the index of all the shows and movies. It’s also proven invaluable for just keeping track of all the shows and movies I’m watching. And on top of that? You can jump straight from JustWatch to the apps where all those shows and movies are, because they’re all linked together.

Apple’s TV app, another of our favorites, does a lot right. But JustWatch does them better. Not only its its watch list functionality more manageable, but it actually works with Netflix, which the Apple TV app doesn’t.

Sling TV

We recommend Sling TV because it’s both our top pick for the best cable TV alternatives and one of the best streaming services. Why does it rank so highly? Well, it’s packed with a serious set of channel lineups with a starting price of $35 per month, a rate that its competitors can’t touch.

So, whether you want to watch big sports games, or just want to watch most of the popular channels, including Fox, Comedy Central, TNT, USA and countless others, Sling TV is a very fine option. Its Apple TV app has been updated recently, so you also get the latest version.

A24 Screening Room

You may know A24 as a reliable (or often reliably weird, in the case of films such as Lamb and Men) independent entertainment company. But you also may know it as a place whose films don’t always get wider distribution. This is where its virtual screening room app comes into play. Available only on web, Roku and Apple TV, the A24 Screening Room offers film lovers a way to watch its movies at home. Often times, these films are available at thankfully less-than-expensive pricing. Other films (such as Funny Pages) are screened on the A24 Screening Room before theaters get them.

Twitch

the Twitch app, one of the best Apple TV apps
(Image credit: Twitch via Apple)

Twitch isn’t for everyone (some people don’t “get” the idea of watching people play video games), but Twitch is best on the biggest screen in your house. That’s why I have the Twitch tvOS app pretty high on my home screen, as I love to see both the streamers I like and the games they’re playing as large as possible. As a streamer myself, I can tell you all of the elements feel very crunched in, and giving them more space makes sense.

Oh, and don’t go thinking every single streaming device has a Twitch app. Sure, some consoles do, but Roku doesn’t actually have Twitch — something I learned when I ditched Apple TV for Roku.

Download Twitch(opens in new tab)

Disney Plus

best apple tv app disney plus
(Image credit: Disney)

Disney Plus is one of the best Apple TV apps for anyone who cares about the many Disney franchises, including Star Wars and Marvel. You also get access to original shows, The Simpsons and more. It costs $7.99 per month and gives you access to the entire Disney catalog. And you can bundle Disney Plus with Hulu for just $13.99 per month. The Disney Plus app for Apple TV is a must have.

Download Disney Plus(opens in new tab)

Netflix

best apple tv apps netflix
(Image credit: Netflix)

We wish the Netflix app integrated better with Apple’s TV app — the Netflix shows you’re streaming are MIA from the Now Playing section of the Apple TV interface. But this service still provides access to a wide variety of compelling original shows and movies, from Stranger Things and House of Cards to Luke Cage.

Download Netflix(opens in new tab)

Amazon Prime Video

amazon prime
(Image credit: Amazon Studios)

It took longer than other streaming services to arrive on Apple TV, but Amazon Prime Video has emerged as one of the best Apple TV apps for entertainment. Amazon’’s Prime Video gives you access to thousands of shows and television shows, including lots of free content if you’re a Prime subscriber. You can also use the service to watch Amazon’s original series through the service.

Download Amazon Prime Video(opens in new tab)

Apple TV

A TV open to Apple's TV app, one of the best Apple TV apps, showing the TV+ section
(Image credit: Apple)

Pre-loaded on Apple TVs, but still amazing, Apple’s TV app helps you to stream in a wide number of ways. Most notably, it’s still the place to buy and rent shows and movies, now that iTunes is retired. There’s also Apple TV Channels, the ala carte TV service subscription method. Finally, and most famously, Apple TV Plus is one of the newer entrants into the Apple TV market, but it’s worth streaming for its $4.99 per month. (And if you’ve buy an Apple device, you get three months of the service for free.) With a subscription, you get access to Apple’s original programming, including Ted Lasso and The Morning Show, among others. Best of all, its visual quality and reliability are outstanding.

Apple TV Channels, we should note, is actually our preferred method for subscribing to services such as AMC Plus. Why is that? Well, the AMC Plus Apple TV app has a poor interface that isn’t as responsive or precise when it comes to episode navigation. 

Download Apple TV Plus(opens in new tab)

HBO Max

best apple tv apps: HBO Max
(Image credit: Warner Media)

HBO finally seems to have found a winning formula with HBO Max, its $14.99/month streaming service. Your HBO favorites are there, but you also get an extensive library of movies and shows offering a wide variety of viewing options. It’s one of the pricier streaming services out there, but HBO is betting the giant library of shows and occasional theatrical releases will make it worth your while.

The one downside of the HBO Max app? Well, it’s the issue with the whole service. As we experienced with the Euphoria season 2 finale, the app can crash if and when there’s too many people trying to watch something at once. That said, HBO Max is our pick for the best streaming service, even with those hiccups.

Download HBO Max(opens in new tab)

YouTube TV

best apple tve apps youtube tv
(Image credit: Google)

Cutting the cord is never easy and finding a suitable service to consider is even more difficult. But with help from YouTube TV, you might find it to be simple. The YouTube TV service, which has climbed to $64.99 per month, gives you streaming access to more than 70 channels, including local sports and news. It even features DVR support. This is the best Apple TV app for anyone thinking about ditching cable who still craves live programming.

Download YouTube TV(opens in new tab)

Hulu

best apple tv apps hulu
(Image credit: Hulu)

If you’re a Hulu subscriber, download this app to your Apple TV. The stream quality is stellar, and you can watch everything from classics like Seinfeld (all nine seasons) to exclusives like The Mindy Project. Plus, Hulu integrates with Apple’s TV app, so from the home screen, you can quickly access shows you’ve been watching. Oh, and check out our best Hulu movies guide when you’re trying to decide what to watch.

Download Hulu(opens in new tab)

BEST APPLE TV STREAMING SERVICE APPS

Letterboxd

Why you can trust Tom’s Guide  Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

An image of The Dark Knight's page in Letterboxd on the Apple TV
(Image credit: Letterboxd)

Letterboxd, if you’re not familiar, is the social media network for movie lovers. Primarily, it’s used to help people discover and recommend films, as you can use it to track and share your reviews of your favorite movies. It’s also a great tool for tracking your watch list, so you can help your own decision paralysis on movie night.

And in the film profile pages, Letterboxd also gives you details about where you can stream the film you’re interested in. Pro-level Letterboxd subscribers can even search by specific streaming services, such as Hulu and Netflix.

Download Letterboxd(opens in new tab)

Tubi

The Tubi app's movies view on an Apple TV
(Image credit: Tubi via Apple)

We’re all tired of paying for every streaming service under the sun. Which is why we love to recommend the best free streaming services. Tubi is one of these services, delivering you free TV shows and movies. The only catch (if you can call it that), is that you have to watch ads.

Tubi’s lineup is always changing, but at the time of publishing, it’s got everything from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and the first Terminator film. You can also stream episodes of The Nanny, the Shonen Jump anime Naruto and the classic comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? Recent releases on Tubi include Doctor Sleep and Annabelle Comes Home.

Download Tubi(opens in new tab)

Plex

Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness' screen on Plex's Apple TV app
(Image credit: Plex via Apple)

We’ve been big Plex fans at Tom’s Guide for years, but a new update to the DIY streaming app reminds us that the gospel of Plex needs to be spread far and wide. While Plex is all about creating your own streaming service, its latest features help you stream with the wider world. 

First, you’ve got Discover, which rounds up all the popular and interesting shows on all of your streaming services — helping fix decision paralysis. And then there’s Watchlist, which helps you keep track of the shows and movies you want to watch, and where they’re available online.  

Download Plex(opens in new tab)

Just Watch

The Matrix's page on JustWatch on the Apple TV
(Image credit: JustWatch via Apple)

One app to rule them all? Kinda. JustWatch is the app I turn to when I need to find out where a show or movie is playing. It’s basically the index of all the shows and movies. It’s also proven invaluable for just keeping track of all the shows and movies I’m watching. And on top of that? You can jump straight from JustWatch to the apps where all those shows and movies are, because they’re all linked together.

Apple’s TV app, another of our favorites, does a lot right. But JustWatch does them better. Not only its its watch list functionality more manageable, but it actually works with Netflix, which the Apple TV app doesn’t.

Download JustWatch(opens in new tab)

Sling TV

A TV open to the Sling TV app, one of the best Apple TV apps, showing the movie Thor Ragnarok
(Image credit: Sling TV)

We recommend Sling TV because it’s both our top pick for the best cable TV alternatives and one of the best streaming services. Why does it rank so highly? Well, it’s packed with a serious set of channel lineups with a starting price of $35 per month, a rate that its competitors can’t touch.

So, whether you want to watch big sports games, or just want to watch most of the popular channels, including Fox, Comedy Central, TNT, USA and countless others, Sling TV is a very fine option. Its Apple TV app has been updated recently, so you also get the latest version.

Download Sling(opens in new tab)

A24 Screening Room

The A24 Screening Room app on a TV hooked up to an Apple TV.
(Image credit: A24)

You may know A24 as a reliable (or often reliably weird, in the case of films such as Lamb and Men) independent entertainment company. But you also may know it as a place whose films don’t always get wider distribution. This is where its virtual screening room app comes into play. Available only on web, Roku and Apple TV, the A24 Screening Room offers film lovers a way to watch its movies at home. Often times, these films are available at thankfully less-than-expensive pricing. Other films (such as Funny Pages) are screened on the A24 Screening Room before theaters get them.

Download A24 Screening Room(opens in new tab)

Twitch

the Twitch app, one of the best Apple TV apps
(Image credit: Twitch via Apple)

Twitch isn’t for everyone (some people don’t “get” the idea of watching people play video games), but Twitch is best on the biggest screen in your house. That’s why I have the Twitch tvOS app pretty high on my home screen, as I love to see both the streamers I like and the games they’re playing as large as possible. As a streamer myself, I can tell you all of the elements feel very crunched in, and giving them more space makes sense.

Oh, and don’t go thinking every single streaming device has a Twitch app. Sure, some consoles do, but Roku doesn’t actually have Twitch — something I learned when I ditched Apple TV for Roku.

Download Twitch(opens in new tab)

Disney Plus

best apple tv app disney plus
(Image credit: Disney)

Disney Plus is one of the best Apple TV apps for anyone who cares about the many Disney franchises, including Star Wars and Marvel. You also get access to original shows, The Simpsons and more. It costs $7.99 per month and gives you access to the entire Disney catalog. And you can bundle Disney Plus with Hulu for just $13.99 per month. The Disney Plus app for Apple TV is a must have.

Download Disney Plus(opens in new tab)

Netflix

best apple tv apps netflix
(Image credit: Netflix)

We wish the Netflix app integrated better with Apple’s TV app — the Netflix shows you’re streaming are MIA from the Now Playing section of the Apple TV interface. But this service still provides access to a wide variety of compelling original shows and movies, from Stranger Things and House of Cards to Luke Cage.

Download Netflix(opens in new tab)

Amazon Prime Video

amazon prime
(Image credit: Amazon Studios)

It took longer than other streaming services to arrive on Apple TV, but Amazon Prime Video has emerged as one of the best Apple TV apps for entertainment. Amazon’’s Prime Video gives you access to thousands of shows and television shows, including lots of free content if you’re a Prime subscriber. You can also use the service to watch Amazon’s original series through the service.

Download Amazon Prime Video(opens in new tab)

Apple TV

A TV open to Apple's TV app, one of the best Apple TV apps, showing the TV+ section
(Image credit: Apple)

Pre-loaded on Apple TVs, but still amazing, Apple’s TV app helps you to stream in a wide number of ways. Most notably, it’s still the place to buy and rent shows and movies, now that iTunes is retired. There’s also Apple TV Channels, the ala carte TV service subscription method. Finally, and most famously, Apple TV Plus is one of the newer entrants into the Apple TV market, but it’s worth streaming for its $4.99 per month. (And if you’ve buy an Apple device, you get three months of the service for free.) With a subscription, you get access to Apple’s original programming, including Ted Lasso and The Morning Show, among others. Best of all, its visual quality and reliability are outstanding.

Apple TV Channels, we should note, is actually our preferred method for subscribing to services such as AMC Plus. Why is that? Well, the AMC Plus Apple TV app has a poor interface that isn’t as responsive or precise when it comes to episode navigation. 

Download Apple TV Plus(opens in new tab)

HBO Max

best apple tv apps: HBO Max
(Image credit: Warner Media)

HBO finally seems to have found a winning formula with HBO Max, its $14.99/month streaming service. Your HBO favorites are there, but you also get an extensive library of movies and shows offering a wide variety of viewing options. It’s one of the pricier streaming services out there, but HBO is betting the giant library of shows and occasional theatrical releases will make it worth your while.

The one downside of the HBO Max app? Well, it’s the issue with the whole service. As we experienced with the Euphoria season 2 finale, the app can crash if and when there’s too many people trying to watch something at once. That said, HBO Max is our pick for the best streaming service, even with those hiccups.

Download HBO Max(opens in new tab)

YouTube TV

best apple tve apps youtube tv
(Image credit: Google)

Cutting the cord is never easy and finding a suitable service to consider is even more difficult. But with help from YouTube TV, you might find it to be simple. The YouTube TV service, which has climbed to $64.99 per month, gives you streaming access to more than 70 channels, including local sports and news. It even features DVR support. This is the best Apple TV app for anyone thinking about ditching cable who still craves live programming.

Download YouTube TV(opens in new tab)

Hulu

best apple tv apps hulu
(Image credit: Hulu)

If you’re a Hulu subscriber, download this app to your Apple TV. The stream quality is stellar, and you can watch everything from classics like Seinfeld (all nine seasons) to exclusives like The Mindy Project. Plus, Hulu integrates with Apple’s TV app, so from the home screen, you can quickly access shows you’ve been watching. Oh, and check out our best Hulu movies guide when you’re trying to decide what to watch.

Download Hulu(opens in new tab)

BEST APPLE TV MUSIC AND VIDEO APPS

Pandora

best apple tv apps pandora
(Image credit: Pandora)

Pandora has long been one of the most popular streaming-music apps and its easily one of the best Apple TV apps for music. The service lets you create stations and curates songs based on your tastes. As you might expect, the app includes large album artwork and easily accessible controls. You can use Pandora for free, but you can also sign up for a paid version that will eliminate ads.

Download Pandora(opens in new tab)

YouTube

best apple tv apps youtube
(Image credit: YouTube)

Like the fourth-generation Apple TV, the Apple TV 4K is compatible with a key app that wasn’t available in earlier models: YouTube. After downloading the free YouTube app, you can stream videos, movies and more. The stream quality is quite good, and the breadth of content is impressive.

Download YouTube(opens in new tab)

Spotify

The Spotify app, one of the best Apple TV apps, on an Apple TV
(Image credit: Spotify via Apple)

Yes, Apple Music is right there. Yes, Apple TV owners are more likely to be on Apple Music than anyone else. That said, Spotify is still the king of the streaming music world, and it has an Apple TV app too (unsurprisingly, as it offers an app for practically every platform). Well-laid out, the Spotify app starts you off with what you’ve recently listened to, and has tabs for your library and searching. The only things it’s missing are on-screen lyrics and the animations you sometimes see on mobile. 

Download Spotify(opens in new tab)

Apple Music

best apple tv apps apple music
(Image credit: Apple)

Apple Music is the tech giant’s $10-a-month streaming music service. When you sign up, you can access Apple Music’s millions of songs, as well as curated playlists to listen to the music you love. Apple Music also features a For You section, so you can discover new music that are similar to the tracks you enjoy.

Download Apple Music(opens in new tab)

Discovery Go

discovery go
(Image credit: Discovery)

If you’re a Discovery Channel lover, the Discovery Go app is a must-have for the Apple TV. The app lets you watch full episodes and live TV from Discovery Channel. And it’s available to you for free with your cable TV subscription. The app includes Shark Week programming, Naked and Afraid, and other popular Discovery shows.

Download Discovery Go(opens in new tab)

Showtime Anytime

best apple tv apps showtime anytime
(Image credit: Showtime)

Showtime Anytime is a must-have if you’re a Showtime subscriber through your cable or satellite provider. This app gives you access to all the latest hits, including Homeland and Ray Donovan, as well as older favorites like Dexter.

Download Showtime Anytime(opens in new tab)

Comedy Central

best apple tv apps comedy central
(Image credit: Comedy Central)

The free Comedy Central app has a surprisingly robust amount of content, making it one of the best Apple TV apps. It features a slew of stand-up specials and gives you access to some of the network’s best series, like South Park and The Daily Show. There is also some short-form content you’ll want to check out.

Download Comedy Central

Pandora

Pandora has long been one of the most popular streaming-music apps and its easily one of the best Apple TV apps for music. The service lets you create stations and curates songs based on your tastes. As you might expect, the app includes large album artwork and easily accessible controls. You can use Pandora for free, but you can also sign up for a paid version that will eliminate ads.

YouTube

Like the fourth-generation Apple TV, the Apple TV 4K is compatible with a key app that wasn’t available in earlier models: YouTube. After downloading the free YouTube app, you can stream videos, movies and more. The stream quality is quite good, and the breadth of content is impressive.

Download YouTube(opens in new tab)

Spotify

Yes, Apple Music is right there. Yes, Apple TV owners are more likely to be on Apple Music than anyone else. That said, Spotify is still the king of the streaming music world, and it has an Apple TV app too (unsurprisingly, as it offers an app for practically every platform). Well-laid out, the Spotify app starts you off with what you’ve recently listened to, and has tabs for your library and searching. The only things it’s missing are on-screen lyrics and the animations you sometimes see on mobile. 

Apple Music

Apple Music is the tech giant’s $10-a-month streaming music service. When you sign up, you can access Apple Music’s millions of songs, as well as curated playlists to listen to the music you love. Apple Music also features a For You section, so you can discover new music that are similar to the tracks you enjoy.

Discovery Go

If you’re a Discovery Channel lover, the Discovery Go app is a must-have for the Apple TV. The app lets you watch full episodes and live TV from Discovery Channel. And it’s available to you for free with your cable TV subscription. The app includes Shark Week programming, Naked and Afraid, and other popular Discovery shows.

Showtime Anytime

Showtime Anytime is a must-have if you’re a Showtime subscriber through your cable or satellite provider. This app gives you access to all the latest hits, including Homeland and Ray Donovan, as well as older favorites like Dexter.

Comedy Central

The free Comedy Central app has a surprisingly robust amount of content, making it one of the best Apple TV apps. It features a slew of stand-up specials and gives you access to some of the network’s best series, like South Park and The Daily Show. There is also some short-form content you’ll want to check out.

Best apps for 4k apple tv

Reuters TV

It is important to be informed of various happenings, trends and events worldwide. However, our busy schedule means that we cannot stay glued to our Apple devices all day. Not to worry, Reuters Tv is here to keep you updated. There is various and latest world news available.

Immediately a user launches an app, the amount of time to be spent is asked to help a user check any form of addiction. News selections are based on the most important trends around the world so you do not have to worry about any inconsequential stuff being aired. Also, the kind of news to be aired can be tailored according to the user’s preferences. Whatever rocks your boat! Most importantly, the app enables a user to stay informed every day. Great choice, indeed.

YouTube TV

This app does not need any introduction. It is easily the world’s most popular video-dedicated app available. It is highly recommended because of the array of content available on it be it live or uploaded videos. Check out a comprehensive review of the app.

Also, various pixels are available according to a user’s data volume or internet quality. Perusing the app is easy because of the simplified navigation system that has been put in place. Also, videos can be auto-played one after the other, giving a user the television experience. Furthermore, the full-screen mode is made available in a landscape form and a user can queue a series of videos to be viewed.

The app can double as a TV app and a social network. Different opinions are aired and comments can be made under the videos. Therefore, YouTube can both be entertaining and educating.

Twitter

Twitter is the go-to app for the latest happening in the world and trending news and stories. The Twitter Apple TV app is straightforward with no Paywall and does not require you to sign to use it. For Sports lovers, this is one of the best Apple TV apps to stream the Major League Soccer, NBA and follow the NFL. It’s a no-brainer, this app is a must.

Plex

Plex is well known for those who use a media server and has been around for a long time. The app is now available for Apple TV and is one of the best clients for the media server. Plex offers a wide array of options with DVR functionality and cloud storage support; it also supports 4K streaming and provides premium TV access. Users can access a lot of content and see news from various channels; certainly one of the best Apple TV apps.

Amazon Prime Video

It may have taken a while for this app to come to Apple, but it is worth it because it gives a user some of the best viewing experiences. There are thousands of television shows available on the app. Lots of free content are available for Prime subscribers. Also, Amazon’s original series are available on the app.

Videos are loaded quickly on the app. Buffering is eliminated to give users an enjoyable experience. The ‘Watch Next’ section is available to view recently viewed TV shows and movies. This makes it easy to view videos that have been watched before or those that haven’t been completed.

Furthermore, videos can be saved to be viewed later. Great choice!

ESPN

This is the iOS app for the popular sports channel. It is quite obvious that it is dedicated to sports and every sports lover shall find this app resourceful. It showcases ESPN’s channels and their popular programmes can be viewed. You can stream live matches, watch highlights and view live scores.

The app has a home tab which shows highlights and live scores; users can choose their favourite teams so one can stay updated. The app is the bomb!

TED

If you use Social Media very well you must have seen those TED motivational videos and talks. Key figures in society and well-known people give talks to a group of people and share their inspirational and success stories. There are times when you may feel down and just need that pep talk or someone to cheer you up, look no further than TED. The app gives you access to all these videos and syncs with your profile so you can watch TED talks anytime. Highly recommended and one of the best Apple TV apps.

Netflix

No best Apple TV apps list is complete without Netflix. Netflix has been a household name for years. The company started out as a video delivery outfit. However, it is hardly possible for movie lovers to watch their favourite movies and TV shows on their devices without using Netflix.

Netflix offers a wide array of catalogues for users to peruse. Also, they offer TV shows produced by their company. It is worthy of note that the TV shows available on Netflix are season complete and that isn’t the case with most of Netflix’s competitors. Some popular shows offered by Netflix include Daredevil, Orange is the new black, Narcos, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. It’s great for binge-watching and it is quite possible to join the conversation while watching shows. There are many more great features available so it is fitting that a user downloads the app.

CBS News

News, news and news. That’s what you get with CBS. The importance of keeping up with the latest happenings in your world cannot be over-emphasized. CBS News app for Apple TV provides this. This app features CBSN, a 24/7 digital news channel from CBS News. CBSN has live-anchored coverage, original reporting, and breaking news in an innovative interactive video experience. Watch what’s life now or use on-demand to view past segments on topics that interest you the most.

You will also get on-demand video clips or full episodes from CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning, 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, Sunday Morning and Face the Nation. With daily updates, the CBS News app is your one-stop source for comprehensive original reporting, new videos and commentary from respected journalists.

Carrot Weather

It is good to keep up with the weather condition to know what the seasons are like daily. Already one of the most downloaded apps on App store, Carrot Weather has been featured by CNN, The New York Times, Wired, Good Morning America and many more. Highly recommended for your Apple TV.

How to add, delete and install Apple TV apps

The first thing you’re going to need to do is actually, you know, install apps to your Apple TV. This will not only give you some streaming options, but it’ll make Apple’s TV app a lot more useful (until Apple announces that rumored streaming service, at least).

The TV app pulls together everything you’re watching from most services (except Netflix) and keeps track of it for you. So you can just open it up and it knows that you’re on season 4, episode 3 of Game of Thrones. It can also tell you which of your apps hosts certain shows and movies and will automatically open them for you.

How to add, delete and install Apple TV apps

To install an app, you just have to head to the App Store. Here, you’ll find a number of collections that highlight app by type, including things like sports streaming apps, games and more. You’ll also see the most popular apps, both free and paid. It’s a good place to get started. On top of that, if you already know what you want you can head to the search toggle and type in your app.

Once you’ve done that, you’ll see the app added to your Home Screen, which is divided into two sections. The top line is basically the dock, where you can arrange your favorite apps for easy choosing. Below that your apps are just sorta listed, like they are on the iPhone.

How to add, delete and install Apple TV apps

To move the apps, do the following:

1) Select an app and press and hold the Select button on the Apple TV remote. Everything will start jiggling.
2) Swipe up, down, left and right to move it around.
3) Move it to the top row if you’re adding it to your favorite apps.
4) Hit the select button on the remote again to lock everything into place.

You can also create folders that make things a little easier to manage. Here’s how you do that.

1) Select an app and press and hold the Select button on the Apple TV remote.
2) Swipe to move the selected app over another one.
3) Hold it over until a folder is created.
4) Click select to create the folder.

How to delete Apple TV apps

Say you haven’t used an app in forever, or you unsubscribed to Netflix because the monthly fees are just too much. It’s pretty simple to simply delete that app forever.

1) Select and app and hold the touchpad until it jiggles.
2) Press the Play/Pause button.
3) Choose Delete.

Be warned that if you delete an app, it’ll delete all the data associated with it. So if you have progress saved in a game or log-in information, that’s all gone from your Apple TV. If you choose to reinstall the app for whatever reason, you’ll have to re-enter that information.

How to add, delete and install Apple TV apps

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