Imagine this scenario – you come home after a long day and want to relax with a great movie. The selection on TV isn’t impressive, but that’s where on-demand services come into play. These platforms enable thousands of titles to pick from, which ensures you’ll find something right up your alley.
This guide focuses on comparing Starz and Apple TV+, with the focus on the VOD section. Check out these crucial considerations before picking your favorite on-demand service!
Quick Overview Starz vs Apple TV+
Starz has a rich history that goes back to 1994. Lions Gate Entertainment owns this brand, primarily famous as a pay television network. If you sign up for Starz, you get access to a rich selection of television channels with premium entertainment content. Additionally, you can access the huge library of originals and other exciting titles.
Apple TV+ is the official streaming service of the famous tech giant Apple. It launched in 2019 and is available in over 100 countries. Original content makes up the majority of the Apple TV+’s library. That’s an important consideration since you won’t find most of their titles anywhere else.
Before we get into details, here’s a quick comparison of Starz and Apple TV+ in different sections!
| Starz | Apple TV+ | |
| Pricing | $8.99/month
$23.99/quarter |
$4.99/month |
| Free Trial Length | 7 days | 7 days
3 months with an eligible Apple device |
| Popular Content | Thor: The Dark World
Stripped: Las Vegas Venom Who Killed Tupac? |
Severance
Wecrashed Jason Sudeikis Ted Lasso Foundation |
| Original Content | Outlander
Shining Vale Power Book IV: Force |
Roar
Slow Horses The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey |
| Home Theater Features | Up to 4K
Dolby Atmos |
4K, Full HD (1080p)
HDR Dolby Atmos |
| Offline Viewing | Only selected titles on mobile | Yes |
| Device Support | Web, iPhone, iPad, Fire TV, Kindle Fire, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, LG, Smart TVs, | Web, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPlay, Playstation, Xbox, Samsung, LG, Vizio, Sony, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Android TV |
| Simultaneous Streams | 4 | 6 |
Best Pricing: Starz vs Apple TV+
| STARZ On-Demand $5 for 3 Months $8.99 / month | 1,200+ titles Hit movies and series 4 simultaneous streams | SIGN UP |
Both services offer affordable pricing plans, but we’ll pick Starz as the winner in this category. The reason is simple – it offers better value for the money.
You’ll find over 1,400 titles in the Starz library, including some blockbusters and original content. All that is available for only $8.99 per month, and you can save if you choose quarterly payments. Starz doesn’t have add-ons, but it will include its premium channel selection with the package. Check out this Starz pricing guide to learn more.
Apple TV+ also doesn’t complicate things with pricing. It has one plan, and it costs you $4.99 monthly. The biggest advantage is that Apple tries to secure original content. However, it’s not easy to make original TV shows and movies. That’s why the library doesn’t seem so rich, especially since it’s a relatively new VOD service. You can read our article on Apple TV+ cost to get more info about the pricing.
Best Free Trial: Starz vs Apple TV+
Apple TV+ takes the win in this category because of the additional option. If you purchase an eligible Apple device, you get three months of this VOD platform for free. That’s convenient if you are planning to purchase a new iPhone or iPad. The bonus package isn’t worth much, but it’s a nice gesture from Apple. And even if you choose the usual free trial option, you’ll get seven days for free. It’s more than enough to try the service and see if it meets your expectations.
Starz also offers a seven-day free trial to its users. You’ll need to provide your financial information to activate it. Don’t forget that automatic payments after the trial expires apply to both services. Make sure to cancel the subscription if you don’t want your card or PayPal to be charged.
Best Content Library: Starz vs Apple TV+
We’ll pick Starz as the winner in this category. It’s hard to estimate, but some say you can watch over 1,400 titles. The platform offers 17 TV channels with premium content if you prefer that way of enjoying movies and TV shows.
Apple TV+ has some true gems in its library. However, it mostly focuses on its original titles. Although the company planned to make 100% of the content for the library, they changed that plan. Based on that, we can expect the number of titles to grow in the future.
What to Watch on Starz
Starz has a fine selection of titles available in the content library. There are dozens of original TV shows and movies. You’ll also find a premium selection in comedy, horror, kid-friendly, and other genres. Starz is a pay television network, and it has 17 channels in its package. From the premium selection to Westerns, Suspense, and even a channel available in Spanish, you’ll always find something fun there.
The platform keeps adding new titles to the library. Here are some movies and TV shows you should watch on Starz:
- Iron Man 3
- Hellboy II
- Shining Vale
- Stripped: Las Vegas
- Ghostbusters Afterlife
What to Watch on Apple+TV
Apple believed that original content was the way to position itself in the VOD market. That’s why they started by creating movies and shows they believed would appeal to the audience. However, they realized the importance of changing the strategy. It was impossible to create enough content for Apple TV+ to compete with the giant players in this category. Today, Apple TV+ is a mixture of mostly original content and some intriguing titles.
Here is what you should check on Apple TV+ if you choose to pick a free trial:
- CODA
- Roar
- Severance
- Wecrashed
- Suspicion
It’s worth noting you can also enjoy Major League Baseball live games on Friday and daily coverage.
Best Home Theater Features: Starz vs Apple TV+
The truth is both platforms do a great job in this area, but Apple TV+ wins by a small margin. The service has many unique titles available in 4K, and its streaming quality is impressive. Dolby Atmos will ensure optimal sound levels, and the only thing that could be better is faster loading time when starting a movie.
Starz also offers resolutions up to 4K for titles in its library. The sound and streaming qualities are admirable. Also, some third-party content titles are only available in 1080p. While that’ll cover most viewers’ needs, those who are picky might not be happy with that resolution.
Best Offline Viewing: Starz vs Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is a winner because it allows downloading the desired content and watching it offline. The downloading process is simple on Apple devices. The content quantity to download depends on your device’s capacity. You can learn more in our Apple TV+ offline viewing guide.
As you can see in our Starz offline viewing guide, the platform is quite restrictive when it comes to downloading titles. But while you can’t take screenshots of the content you are watching on devices, you can now download select titles on Starz and enjoy them on the go.
Best Device Support: Starz vs Apple TV+
Starz is the clear winner in this category since it has excellent cross-platform support. It’s compatible with various smart TVs, including LG WebOS, SmartHub Samsung TVs, and Android smart TVs. The app works flawlessly on mobile devices and tablets, as well as on desktop browsers and gaming consoles. If you prefer media players like Roku and Amazon Fire TV, Starz will also meet your expectations. You can learn about Starz device support in our article covering that topic.
Apple TV+ also has above-average device support. However, the compatibility works best on Apple TVs, iPhones, and other devices using iOS. It could have better performance on other smart TVs, but the platform could enhance in that area in the future.
Best Simultaneous Streaming: Starz vs Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is extremely generous and allows up to six devices to stream this service simultaneously. It’ll cover the entire family’s needs and ensures everyone can watch their desired content at any time. Managing the profile is easy, especially if you have experience with Apple service.
Starz is also generous compared to other streaming platforms in the market. You can watch on up to four devices simultaneously. It’s simple to set everything up and ensure multiple users can enjoy the platform.
Which Is Better: Starz vs Apple TV+ in 2022?
The ultimate winner in this showdown is Starz. It edges the competitor because it has more titles in the library. You can enjoy over 1,400 movies and TV shows, including a TV channel lineup. The original titles are all high-quality, and fans of different genres will enjoy them.
That doesn’t mean the Apple TV+ is the wrong choice. On the contrary, it offers many original titles. If you check the lineup and find the unique production gems attractive, you can’t go wrong with this platform. It’s also cheaper than the competitor, so your budget won’t suffer much.
Aneeca Younas is a graduated journalist with years of experience writing in different niches based in Oakland, CA. She is a huge movie fan that also enjoys watching sports. That's why she spends hours daily using various streaming services. Over the years, Aneeca profiled herself as an expert in cable-free and VOD platforms.
