The 8 best Apple TV apps for streaming, learning, and releaxing

Apple TV 4K is among the more expensive streaming devices on the market. The newer Apple TV 4K (2022) streaming box uses the same processor as the iPhone 13 series, offering speedy performance. You can improve your streaming experience with the right Apple TV apps. There’s an ocean of apps you can download, whether you’re into streaming, music, learning, or meditation.

Knowing which app to install on your Apple streaming product can be daunting. You must make sure you get the best value for your money and the highest entertainment options. To help you decide, we rounded up the best Apple TV apps you can download.

1 Max

The home to original movies and shows

Max, formerly known as HBO Max, is a streaming service full of attention-worthy titles. It’s one of the most expensive services. The lowest tier starts at $10. However, you get your money’s worth with shows like House of Dragons, Sopranos, and Emmy-winning hits Succession and Euphoria. Max has HBO’s entire catalog and the most popular Discovery Plus content. It requires tvOS 14.0 or later to download the app.

Max on Apple App Store

2 Netflix

Does it need an introduction?

Netflix runs on almost anything with a screen. The Apple TV streaming device is no exception. It provides unlimited streaming of TV shows, movies, comedy specials, and original documentaries. Netflix is home to award-winning content like Stranger Things, Money Heist, and The Irishman. The streaming service is cheaper than Max at $6.99 per month. Netflix requires tvOS 16.1 or later to work.

Netflix on Apple App Store

3 Calm

The road to peacefulness

Calm is a fantastic app for guided and unguided meditation. It doesn’t require you to log in on Apple TV. All content available in the TV app can be listened to for free without signing in to a Calm account. Calm provides access to a library of guided meditations, popular sleep stories, and more. It also lets you play its background scenes on your Apple TV, so you don’t need another app like Cityscape.

Open the Calm app and let the remote sit for a few seconds. The controls and descriptions fade away, leaving you with a peaceful scene to watch. Calm requires Apple TV to run tvOS 11.2 or later.

Calm on Apple App Store

4 Amazon Prime Video

A decent selection of movies and shows

Amazon Prime Video is another streaming app available on Apple TV. Its content library may not be as vast as Netflix’s, but you get a decent selection of shows and movies. Enjoy originals like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Man in the High Castle, Reacher, and The Boys. If you aren’t into shows, rent a movie.

Prime Video should be a no-brainer if you do a lot of online shopping. It’s part of the Amazon Prime subscription, costing $14.99 per month. It includes free two-day shipping on purchases, a free Kindle book monthly, and unlimited access to both Amazon Music and Prime Video.

Amazon Prime Video on Apple App Store

5 Letterboxd

Discover new movies and follow critics

Letterboxd is a social media platform for movie buffs. Use the app to discover new movies and critics to follow. You can search for movies you’ve seen or ones that pique your interest. Each movie has its own page with required information, such as a summary of the movie, who starred in it, and who made it. You can also create a catalog of movies you watched or would like to watch. Letterboxd requires tvOS 13.0 or later. It’s free to use. Unlock extra features by paying $27.99 per year.

Letterboxd on Apple App Store

6 Crunchyroll

Netflix but for anime

If you like watching anime, download Crunchyroll on your Apple TV. It’s the global destination for anime streaming. The service has an enormous selection of content with English dubs and subtitles. Crunchyroll also merged its lineup with the on-demand service Funimation to deliver thousands of previously unavailable titles. You can enjoy anime shows like Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, and To Your Eternity.

New anime episodes land on Crunchyroll one hour after they premiere in Japan. However, the streamer has no parental controls. You may need to monitor which anime content your child can watch. Crunchyroll comes with a 14-day free trial. The monthly subscription starts at $8 per month.

Crunchyroll on Apple App Store

7 Carrot Weather

Carrot Weather gives weather updates with humorous, antagonistic commentary. It gives you short-term, 24-hour, and 7-day forecasts with over 100 animations. Carrot Weather has a minimalist user interface with support for Celsius and metric measurements. It is rated suitable for those 12 or above.

Carrot Weather on Apple App Store

8 Endless Learning Academy

It’s for the little fellows

Endless Learning Academy is a learning app for kids in Preschool, Kindergarten, or first grade. It teaches letters, phonics, vocabulary, reading, numbers, math, emotions, and feelings with lesson modules and interactive learning activities. The app has a compelling design that keeps kids engaged. It requires tvOS 9.0 or later and offers a seven-day free trial.

Endless Learning Academy on Apple App Store

Make the most out of Apple TV

The apps on this list help you get the most out of your Apple TV streaming device, whether you’re looking for new content or new things to learn. The apps aren’t limited to one platform. Most can be used on iPhones, iPads, and Apple Vision Pro. While you’re at it, explore the best new movies you can watch at home or the best entertainment apps.