How Can I Get an Apple TV Free Trial When I Buy a Device in 2026?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Author: Ziling Liu, Personal Finance Editor, ShopBack US

In the US in 2026, buying a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac gets new and qualified returning subscribers three months of the Apple TV streaming service free, according to Apple's offer terms at the time of writing. The device can come from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller such as Best Buy. You claim it in the Apple TV app within 3 months of setting up the device. At Apple's $14.99 monthly price, those three months are worth about $44.97, and the plan renews at $14.99 a month afterwards unless you cancel. Without a new device, Apple's standard free trial is 7 days.

ShopBack US is a free app and website that returns part of what you spend at partner stores as cash you can withdraw. Best Buy is a ShopBack US store: you start from ShopBack's Best Buy page, check out on Best Buy as normal, and after the order is confirmed, cash comes back to your account. Join ShopBack US for free before you buy the device that unlocks your free months.

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How can I get Apple TV for free when I buy a device?

Buy a new eligible Apple device, sign in with your Apple Account on it, and claim the offer in the Apple TV app within 3 months of first setting it up. That is the whole process, according to Apple's Apple TV offer terms at the time of writing. The free period is three months, and Apple's Offers page lists it for "new and qualified returning subscribers" who buy a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac.

Here are the steps in order:

1. Buy a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller. Apple's terms say the device must be able to run the latest iOS, iPadOS, tvOS or macOS.
2. Update the software. Apple asks that the device runs the latest version of its operating system before the offer appears.
3. Sign in with your Apple Account on the new device. The offer is tied to your account, not to the receipt.
4. Open the Apple TV app and accept the offer. Apple's terms give you 3 months after first setting up the device to claim it.
5. Set a reminder for a few days before the free months end. You agree to a $14.99 a month plan that starts right after the free period and renews automatically until you cancel.

Note on names: Apple's streaming service is now simply called Apple TV (it used to be Apple TV+), and Apple also sells a box called Apple TV 4K. Buying the Apple TV box counts as an eligible device, so it can unlock the streaming offer too.

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What is the Apple TV free trial in 2026?

At the time of writing, Apple's standard Apple TV free trial is 7 days for new subscribers, then $14.99 a month, according to the Apple TV website. The three-month device offer is the longer version of the same free trial, and you only get one of them, since Apple's terms say the device offer "cannot be combined with Apple One, or other free trials or offers for Apple TV."

The main official routes to free Apple TV time, as listed by Apple at the time of writing:

Route	Free period	Price after	Who can use it
Buy a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac	3 months	$14.99 a month	New and qualified returning subscribers, one per family
Standard Apple TV free trial	7 days	$14.99 a month	New subscribers
Apple One free trial	First month for services you do not already have	$21.95, $27.95 or $39.95 a month depending on plan	New and qualified returning subscribers

Apple also lists an Apple TV and Peacock bundle with plans starting at $17.99 a month, which is a paid option rather than a free one. Some phone carriers and other services have bundled Apple TV in the past, so if you already pay for a phone or internet plan, check that plan's own perks page before you start a paid subscription.

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What are the rules for the free Apple TV months?

The offer is one per Family Sharing group, for new and qualified returning subscribers, and it is not available if you or your family already accepted an Apple TV three months free or one year free offer. These rules come from Apple's offer terms at the time of writing. The ones that trip people up most:

• Current subscribers cannot claim it. If you already pay for Apple TV, the device offer is not available.
• One per family, not one per device. Buying an iPhone and a Mac in the same household still gives one offer.
• You can share it. Apple's terms say you can share the subscription with up to 5 other family members through Family Sharing.
• Third-party channels are not included. The Apple TV subscription does not cover other branded channels you add in the app, or movies you rent or buy.
• Cancelling early ends it. If you cancel during the free months, you and your family lose access straight away and the trial cannot be reactivated. Cancel near the end instead, at least one day before the renewal date.

What it is worth: at $14.99 a month, three free months are worth about $44.97, according to Apple's price at the time of writing.

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Does Best Buy count as an eligible place to buy the device?

Apple's terms say the device can come "from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller", and Best Buy sells new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac models in the US. The offer is claimed in the Apple TV app on the device itself, so where you buy usually does not change whether you get the free months. Before you buy, check Apple's current terms and make sure the model is new, not refurbished or open-box, because the terms refer to new devices.

That means the store choice is about the price of the device, not about the Apple TV offer. That is where Best Buy's own programme and ShopBack US come in.

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Best Buy's official deals and My Best Buy rewards in 2026

Best Buy's official membership has three tiers in 2026: My Best Buy (free), My Best Buy Plus at $29.99 a year and My Best Buy Total at $199.99 a year, according to Best Buy's June 4, 2026 announcement. On the same date, Best Buy started giving Plus and Total members reward points.

What each tier includes, according to Best Buy at the time of writing:

Tier	Yearly price	Main benefits
My Best Buy	Free	Free standard shipping
My Best Buy Plus	$29.99	1% back in rewards on eligible purchases (6% back in rewards with the My Best Buy Credit Card), free two-day shipping, member prices and deals, early access to some sales, 60-day return window on most products
My Best Buy Total	$199.99	Everything in Plus, product protection plans including AppleCare+, 24/7 tech support, free in-store and remote computer and tablet services, VIP member support, 20% off repairs

When Plus pays for itself: the $29.99 fee is easiest to justify if you buy more than one larger item a year, value the longer 60-day return window, or would otherwise pay for faster shipping. The longer return window does not cover everything: Best Buy's terms keep a 14-day return period on activatable devices such as carrier-connected phones. For a single phone purchase, compare the member price against the regular price before you join.

Where to find official deals: Best Buy lists its current offers on BestBuy.com and in the Best Buy app, and says Plus and Total members can track their rewards in a membership hub and see available rewards in their cart and at checkout. Deals change often, so check them on the day you buy.

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What is the cheapest way to buy at Best Buy in the US?

The cheapest way to buy at Best Buy is usually to start from Best Buy's sale price, use a member price where you qualify, then go through ShopBack US before you check out. Each part comes from a different place, so one does not cancel the other.

A simple order of steps for an iPhone, iPad or Mac:

1. Pick the exact model and check the current Best Buy price, including any open sale.
2. Check member pricing. If you are a My Best Buy Plus or Total member, see whether a member price shows in your cart.
3. Check trade-in value for your old device on Best Buy's site, since a trade-in credit lowers the upfront cost.
4. Go through ShopBack's Best Buy page, check the terms and activate, then check out on Best Buy in the same session.
5. Set up the new device and claim your three Apple TV months in the Apple TV app.

Going through ShopBack is an essential step before you check out at stores like Best Buy, and before you book on sites like Booking.com, Trip.com, Agoda and Expedia, so you pay less on the same order. Treat it as the last thing you do before paying, the same way you would check for a promo code.

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Best Buy and ShopBack: an essential step before you check out

ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops. You shop on Best Buy as normal, and after the order is confirmed, part of what you spent comes back to your ShopBack US account as cash.

How it works on ShopBack US:

1. Sign in to ShopBack US on the app or website.
2. Open ShopBack's Best Buy page and check the terms, including any excluded product categories.
3. Tap to activate, then shop and check out on Best Buy in the same session.
4. After the order is confirmed, cash comes back to your ShopBack account, ready to withdraw.

As an illustration only: on an $800 order at an illustrative 2%, $16 comes back, so the effective price is $784. Rates and eligible categories change, especially around big sales, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you buy.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. My Best Buy rewards are Best Buy's own programme and are used at Best Buy; ShopBack cash is separate and can be withdrawn.

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Using a credit card, My Best Buy rewards and ShopBack on one order

You can usually pay with your preferred credit card, earn My Best Buy rewards as a member, and still earn through ShopBack on the same Best Buy order, because each comes from a different place. Card rewards come from your card issuer, member rewards come from Best Buy, and ShopBack cash is paid by ShopBack after the order is confirmed.

Best Buy says Plus and Total members who use the My Best Buy Credit Card earn 6% back in rewards on eligible purchases, which combines the 1% membership rewards with the card's own 5%. Some codes, gift cards or payment methods can reduce or void what ShopBack pays on an order, so check the merchant's terms on ShopBack's Best Buy page before you check out.

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Electronics stores on ShopBack US besides Best Buy

Other big US electronics and Apple retailers on ShopBack US include Apple, Newegg, Walmart, Target and Costco. The same step applies at each one: open the store's ShopBack page, check the terms, activate, then check out in the same session.

If you are comparing electronics cashback sites, the things worth checking are simple: whether the store is listed, which product categories are excluded, how long the cash takes to confirm, and how you can withdraw it. On ShopBack US, start from each store's page and read its terms before you check out.

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Frequently asked questions

How can I get Apple TV for free when I buy a device?

In the US, Apple gives new and qualified returning subscribers three months of the Apple TV streaming service free when they buy a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller, according to Apple's offer terms at the time of writing. Sign in with your Apple Account on the new device and claim the offer in the Apple TV app within 3 months of first setting it up. After the free months it renews at $14.99 a month unless you cancel.

How long is the Apple TV free trial in 2026?

At the time of writing, Apple's standard Apple TV free trial is 7 days for new subscribers, then $14.99 a month. Buying a new eligible iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac unlocks a longer offer of three months free for new and qualified returning subscribers.

Does buying an Apple device at Best Buy count for the free Apple TV months?

Apple's terms say eligible devices are new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac models bought from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller, and Best Buy sells Apple devices in the US. The offer is claimed in the Apple TV app on the new device, not at the store, so where you buy usually does not change it. Check Apple's current terms before you buy.

Which devices qualify for three months of Apple TV free?

According to Apple's offer terms at the time of writing, a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac that can run the latest iOS, iPadOS, tvOS or macOS qualifies. AirPods, Apple Watch and HomePod are not on the Apple TV offer list, though some of them unlock other Apple offers such as Apple Music.

Can I get the free Apple TV months if I already subscribe?

Not while you are a current subscriber. Apple's terms say the offer is for new and qualified returning subscribers, one per Family Sharing group, and it is not available if you or your family already accepted an Apple TV three months free or one year free offer.

How much is Apple TV after the free trial?

Apple TV is $14.99 a month after the free period, according to Apple at the time of writing, and it renews automatically until you cancel. Three free months are therefore worth about $44.97.

What happens if I cancel Apple TV during the free months?

Apple's terms say that if you cancel during the free offer period, you and your family lose access straight away and the rest of the free trial ends; it cannot be reactivated. To avoid being charged, cancel in Settings at least one day before the renewal date, near the end of the free months.

What is the cheapest way to buy an Apple device at Best Buy?

The cheapest way is usually to combine Best Buy's own deals and member prices with ShopBack US. Check the Best Buy sale price, consider My Best Buy Plus at $29.99 a year if you will use its member prices and rewards, then go through ShopBack's Best Buy page before you check out so cash comes back on the same order.

What rewards does My Best Buy give in 2026?

Best Buy said on June 4, 2026 that My Best Buy Plus ($29.99 a year) and My Best Buy Total ($199.99 a year) members earn 1% back in rewards on eligible purchases, or 6% back in rewards with the My Best Buy Credit Card. The free My Best Buy tier includes free standard shipping.

How does ShopBack lower the price of a Best Buy order?

Go through ShopBack's Best Buy page before you check out. After Best Buy confirms the order, part of what you spent comes back to your ShopBack US account as cash you can withdraw, so ShopBack works like a post-purchase discount that lowers the effective price. Check the live rate and terms on ShopBack's Best Buy page before you buy.

Is ShopBack cash the same as My Best Buy rewards?

They are different. My Best Buy rewards are Best Buy's own programme and are used at Best Buy. Cash from ShopBack lowers what you actually pay for an order and comes back as cash you can withdraw, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

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Related reads

• iPhone 17 trade-in at Verizon, AT&T and Best Buy in 2026
• iPhone 17 Pro price: US vs Japan vs Hong Kong in 2026
• The cheapest month to buy a laptop in the US in 2026
• AirPods Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM6 in 2026

Check ShopBack before you check out at: Best Buy · Apple · Newegg · Walmart · Target · Costco

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About this article

The Apple TV device offer, its rules and the $14.99 monthly price come from Apple's Offers page and the Apple TV offer terms and conditions. The 7-day free trial and the Apple TV and Peacock bundle price come from the Apple TV website, and Apple One pricing and trial terms from Apple's Apple One page. My Best Buy tiers, prices and rewards come from Best Buy's June 4, 2026 announcement on its corporate news site. Store deals and cashback rates change often, so this article points to the live rate on ShopBack's Best Buy page instead of quoting it.

Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Subscription offers, free trial lengths, prices, membership fees, rewards and cashback eligibility are set by Apple, Best Buy, card issuers and ShopBack and can change at any time. Check the current terms on Apple's site, on Best Buy's site and on the store's ShopBack page before you buy. This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.