Every year, more and more people are cutting the cord and saving a few bucks by subscribing to a streaming service instead. But with so many options to choose from, how do you decide which one to go with?
In this guide, we’ll do an in-depth comparison of Shudder and Apple TV+ to help you decide which is the better option for you.
Quick Overview: Shudder vs. Apple TV+
If you’re a horror fan, Shudder was made just for you. Shudder is an on-demand streaming service that’s similar to Netflix, but with a twist: all its content falls into the horror genre. Subscribers not only get thousands of classic horror movies but also all kinds of horror-related TV shows as well, including a growing list of Shudder originals to enjoy.
Apple TV+ is Apple’s entry in the on-demand streaming market, but with a catch: it only offers its original content. For a low price, you can get access to a small handful of star-studded, award-winning streaming content.
So, which one is better? Below, we’ve covered all their differences, from price to special features and content, in order to be able to declare an overall winner.
First, let’s start with the basics:
| Shudder | Apple TV+ | |
| Pricing | $5.99/month | $4.99/month |
| Free Trial Length | 7 days | 7 days |
| Popular Content | Mayhem
The Dark and the Wicked Halloween |
Ted Lasso
The Morning Show Coda |
| Original Content | Creepshow
The Mortuary Collection Revenge |
WeCrashed
For All Mankind Pachinko |
| Home Theater Features | Up to 720p | Up to 4K
Dolby Atmos |
| Offline Viewing | No | Yes |
| Device Support | Apple, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Xbox, select Samsung TVs | Apple, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Android TV, Xbox, PlayStation |
| Simultaneous Streams | 1 | 6 |
Best Pricing: Shudder vs. Apple TV+
When it comes to pricing, Apple TV+ is the cheaper option, and it comes with more variety in terms of content than Shudder if you don’t just want titles in the horror genre.
US Apple TV+ subscribers will pay just $4.99 per month to get access to Apple TV+, which is reasonable when comparing it to similar services – although it does offer a smaller content library respective to other services.
Apple is also running a deal offering 3 months free with the purchase of an Apple device. If you buy a new iPod Touch, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV or Mac computer, you can take full advantage of the offer.
When it comes to Shudder, wherever you live, the cost is the same. You can either pay $5.99/month or save money with an upfront payment of $56.99 for a year of service. In Canada, the UK, and Ireland, pricing is adjusted to reflect the local currency, but the rate is the same.
Another way to get Shudder is to purchase a subscription to one of the streaming services that offer Shudder as an add-on. Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV both carry Shudder – however, the content on Shudder can vary when you purchase your subscription through a third-party.
| Shudder 7-Day Free Trial $5.99 / month | 630+ titles Also includes 41 series and 7 podcast Famous thrillers 1 simultaneous stream | SIGN UP |
Best Free Trial: Shudder vs. Apple TV+
Both Shudder and Apple TV+ offer 7-day free trials so you can give each streaming service a fair go before committing.
Best Content Library: Shudder vs. Apple TV+
When it comes to which has the better content library, it really depends on what you like watching. Shudder offers a ton more content to choose from, while Apple TV+ offers about 50 titles across multiple genres. If you prefer scary flicks, Shudder is the better choice, with over 400 horror titles to browse and watch.
What to Watch on Shudder
Thrillers, horror movies, zombie flicks, and all kinds of other horror-related titles can be found in Shudder’s online vault. One of the service’s main attractions is its growing library of original content. New releases come out very frequently, as well. In addition to on-demand content, some themed live channel feeds are also available.
Some popular titles include:
- Anything for Jackson
- Kandisha
- Knife + Heart
- Scare Me
- They Look Like People
What to Watch on Apple TV+
Apple TV+ offers an all-original line-up with many well-known and well-liked actors and actresses. As of this time of writing, there are 80+ individual titles available on the service. Apple plans to spend billions of dollars per year on content, giving Apple TV+ a good amount of future potential.
Some popular titles include:
- The Morning Show
- Coda
- For All Mankind
- WeCrashed
- Stillwater
Not sure what other content is available on Apple TV+? Flixed is here to help with the Flixed Apple TV+ Content Guide.
Best Home Theater Features: Shudder vs. Apple TV+
When it comes to a better home theatre experience, Apple TV+ wins by a landslide.
Shudder is lacking behind most other streaming services by only offering up to 720p streaming quality and no support for Dolby Atmos. In contrast, Apple TV+ supports 4K resolution and Dolby Atmos, making for an all-around better watching experience.
Best Offline Viewing: Shudder vs. Apple TV+
Apple TV+ will let you download shows and movies. You can then watch this content, later on, offline, on any compatible device of your choosing. The process for downloading shows and other content is relatively simple and you can do so on your iPhone, your Mac, or other Apple devices.
Unfortunately, you can’t download content with Shudder. The standalone Shudder app doesn’t support this feature.
The only way to get around this and watch Shudder content offline is to get the Shudder add-on for Amazon Prime Video. if you have an Amazon Fire Tablet or the Amazon Prime Video app, you can download content for offline viewing.
Best Device Support: Shudder vs. Apple TV+
When it comes to device support, Shudder and Apple TV+ don’t differ too widely. Apple TV+ just offers slightly more options than Shudder.
To check out the full device support for each streaming service, check out our complete Shudder and Apple TV+ supported devices lists.
Best Simultaneous Streaming: Shudder vs. Apple TV+
With your $4.99 per month subscription with Apple TV+, you’ll get 6 simultaneous device streams per account. That means you can stream Apple TV+ on up to 6 devices at once at no additional cost.
Unfortunately, Shudder doesn’t support simultaneous streaming. In other words, you can only stream to one device at a time. You can try and get around this by getting YouTube TV’s Shudder add-on. Since YouTube TV supports three simultaneous streams, you’ll be able to watch Shudder through the YouTube TV app even if two other people are watching streams through your account.
Like YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video also has a Shudder add-on and supports simultaneous streaming. If you get Shudder through Amazon Video, you can watch Shudder content on three devices at once. But keep in mind that if you subscribe to Shudder through a different streaming service, you won’t be able to watch Shudder’s live feeds.
Which is Better: Shudder vs. Apple TV+ in 2022?
Overall, Apple TV+ wins this one. With better features and more variety in terms of content, it’s the better overall choice, as long as you don’t mind that it only offers its own original content.
However, if you love the horror genre, Shudder is hard to pass on. Despite its lower streaming quality and lack of special features, its focus on carrying the best scary flicks and series, larger content library and consistent release schedule make it worth trying out.
Tara Khudairi is a freelance content writer and copywriter based in Toronto. Since 2014, she has contributed to brands and blogs alike to tackle popular topics relating to technology, personal finance, entertainment, travel and lifestyle. Whether it’s the latest streaming service or cryptocurrency, she’s passionate about making the complex simple. When she’s not busy typing away, you’ll find Tara watching Netflix’s latest true crime doc or a classic 90’s horror flick.
