Apple’s been offering a very generous 12-month free trial of the Apple TV+ streaming service, but the company will be reducing the offer down to three months beginning next month.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS:
- The current 1-year free trial promo ends on June 30.
- The trial period is shrinking soon to 3 months.
- The new Apple TV+ trial terms go into effect July 1.
- The offer remains limited to new device purchases.
Apple TV+ trial reducing to 3 months from July 1
The updated Apple TV+ promotion terms published on the Apple website reveal that the trial period is indeed shrinking from twelve months down to just three months of free service.
Apple has been offering yearlong trials of Apple TV+ with new device purchases since November 2019. It has since added nine additional months of free service by extending the fee trial twice, first until February 2021 and then until July 2021.
Apple TV+ launched with a limited selection of original shows and movies, making the service a tough sell. As an example, the service currently hosts less than a hundred original movies and shows. Apple does not report subscriber count, but analysts estimate that Apple TV+ has about 40 million members, with most accounts using the free trial.
→ How to cancel your Apple TV+ subscription
Apple TV+ also does not have a rich library of licenses content like Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services have. Because of the service’s limited appeal, Apple has used promotions like providing one year of free service to get customers hooked to the service.
Apple TV+ costs $5 per month ($50/year) and is offered as part of the Apple One bundle.
How to get a free Apple TV+ trial after July 1, 2021
Eligible devices activated on July 1, 2021 or later qualify for three free months, while those activated on June 30, 2021 or earlier will qualify for offers of one year free Apple TV+.
Don’t worry if you’ve previously accepted Apple’s one-year trial. According to the document, you will retain your benefits and Apple won’t downgrade you to the three-month trial.
When purchasing a new Apple device from July 1 onward, be sure to claim it in the TV app on your new device within 90 days of first setting up the device. After the 90 days have expired, you will no longer be able to redeem the offer.
To see the offer appear, be sure to sign in with your Apple ID on the new device. Eligible devices include any new iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV or Mac.