MLS Apple TV Cost in 2026: Every Pricing Option Explained

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV is the only way to watch every MLS match in 2026. No blackouts, no regional restrictions, every team, every game. But how much does it actually cost? The answer depends on which subscription path you take, and there are more options than Apple makes immediately obvious.

This guide breaks down every pricing tier, compares the real cost across different subscription lengths and bundle options, and tells you which plan is the best value for your specific situation. We will cover the standalone MLS Season Pass, the Apple TV+ bundle (which is almost certainly the better deal), Apple One family plans, the student discount, and the free tier.

2026 MLS Season Pass Pricing at a Glance

| Option | Monthly Cost | Annual/Season Cost | MLS Included? | Other Content | |--------|-------------|-------------------|---------------|---------------| | MLS Season Pass (standalone) | $14.99/month | $99/season | Yes | MLS only | | Apple TV+ | $9.99/month | $99.99/year | Yes (included) | All Apple TV+ originals | | Apple One Individual | $19.95/month | N/A | Yes (via Apple TV+) | TV+, Music, Arcade, iCloud+ (50GB) | | Apple One Family | $25.95/month | N/A | Yes (via Apple TV+) | Same as Individual, up to 6 people | | Apple One Premier | $37.95/month | N/A | Yes (via Apple TV+) | Family + News+ and Fitness+ | | Apple TV+ Student | $4.99/month | N/A | Yes (included) | All Apple TV+ originals | | Free tier | $0 | $0 | 1-2 free games/week | None |

The most important thing to understand: Apple TV+ ($9.99/month) includes MLS Season Pass at no extra cost. This means subscribing to Apple TV+ is cheaper than buying MLS Season Pass standalone ($14.99/month) and gives you more content. Unless you have a very specific reason to buy the standalone pass, Apple TV+ is the better deal.

Option 1: MLS Season Pass Standalone ($14.99/month or $99/season)

What You Get

• Every MLS regular-season match (900+ games)
• All MLS Cup Playoff matches
• MLS Cup Final
• Leagues Cup
• All-Star Game
• Pre-match and post-match studio shows
• Full replay library (every match from 2023 onward)
• Multi-cam options (tactical cam, player cam)
• Real-time stats overlays
• Whip-around show on multi-match days

What You Don't Get

• Apple TV+ original shows and movies (Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, etc.)
• Apple TV+ documentaries and films

Who This Is For

The standalone MLS Season Pass makes sense in exactly one scenario: you want MLS for only a few months of the season and do not want to commit to an ongoing Apple TV+ subscription.

The MLS regular season runs from late February through October, with playoffs through December. If you subscribe month-to-month at $14.99/month for, say, the 8 months of the regular season, you would pay $119.88. The $99/season option saves you roughly $20 if you know you want the full season upfront.

But here's the math problem: Apple TV+ at $9.99/month for those same 8 months costs $79.92 -- and includes MLS Season Pass. There is no scenario where the standalone pass is cheaper than Apple TV+ for the same time period. The standalone exists as a legacy pricing tier, and we suspect Apple will eventually discontinue it.

Our Recommendation

Do not buy this unless you specifically want to avoid having an Apple TV+ subscription for content library reasons. In every financial scenario, Apple TV+ is cheaper and gives you more.

Option 2: Apple TV+ ($9.99/month or $99.99/year) -- The Best Value

What You Get

Everything in the MLS Season Pass standalone, plus:

• Apple TV+ full content library (original shows, movies, documentaries)
• Friday Night Baseball (MLB games, seasonal)
• MLS Season Pass (all MLS matches, included at no extra cost since 2025)

The Bundle Math

Starting with the 2025 season, Apple folded MLS Season Pass into the base Apple TV+ subscription. This was a major pricing shift. Previously, Apple TV+ subscribers got a discounted MLS Season Pass rate ($12.99/month instead of $14.99/month), but it was still an additional charge. Now it is included.

This means a $9.99/month Apple TV+ subscription gives you:

• All Apple TV+ content
• Every MLS match
• No additional purchase required

If you pay annually ($99.99/year), the monthly cost drops to approximately $8.33/month. Over a 10-month MLS season (February through November), you are paying effectively $8.33/month for every MLS game plus Apple's full streaming library.

Monthly vs Annual

| Billing | Total Cost (12 months) | Effective Monthly Rate | Savings vs Monthly | |---------|----------------------|----------------------|-------------------| | Monthly ($9.99/month) | $119.88/year | $9.99/month | -- | | Annual ($99.99/year) | $99.99/year | $8.33/month | $19.89/year |

The annual plan saves you nearly $20 per year. If you plan to keep Apple TV+ year-round (and with the content library growing, many people do), the annual plan is a no-brainer.

Who This Is For

Most MLS fans. If you want to watch MLS in 2026 and you do not already subscribe to Apple TV+, this is the option to choose. If you already subscribe to Apple TV+ for other content, you already have MLS Season Pass -- just open the MLS section in the app.

Option 3: Apple One Bundles

Apple One bundles multiple Apple services into a single subscription at a discount. All Apple One tiers include Apple TV+, which means they all include MLS Season Pass.

Apple One Individual ($19.95/month)

| Service | Standalone Price | Included in Apple One Individual | |---------|-----------------|--------------------------------| | Apple TV+ | $9.99/month | Yes | | Apple Music | $10.99/month | Yes | | Apple Arcade | $6.99/month | Yes | | iCloud+ (50GB) | $0.99/month | Yes | | Total if bought separately | $28.96/month | $19.95/month |

Savings: $9.01/month ($108.12/year)

If you already subscribe to Apple Music and Apple TV+, adding Apple One Individual costs less than what you are currently paying for just those two services -- and you get Arcade and iCloud+ storage as a bonus. MLS Season Pass is included through the Apple TV+ component.

Apple One Family ($25.95/month)

| Service | Standalone Price | Included in Apple One Family | |---------|-----------------|------------------------------| | Apple TV+ | $9.99/month | Yes (shareable with up to 6 family members) | | Apple Music Family | $16.99/month | Yes | | Apple Arcade | $6.99/month | Yes | | iCloud+ (200GB) | $2.99/month | Yes | | Total if bought separately | $36.96/month | $25.95/month |

Savings: $11.01/month ($132.12/year)

The Family plan is the best option for households with multiple MLS fans. Because Apple TV+ is shared across the family group, every member of your household gets access to MLS Season Pass. A household with two or more people who want to watch MLS on their own devices saves significantly compared to individual subscriptions.

Important note: each family member can watch different matches simultaneously on their own device. If one person wants to watch LAFC while another watches New York City FC, both can stream at the same time under the Family plan.

Apple One Premier ($37.95/month)

| Service | Standalone Price | Included in Apple One Premier | |---------|-----------------|-------------------------------| | Apple TV+ | $9.99/month | Yes | | Apple Music Family | $16.99/month | Yes | | Apple Arcade | $6.99/month | Yes | | iCloud+ (2TB) | $9.99/month | Yes | | Apple News+ | $12.99/month | Yes | | Apple Fitness+ | $9.99/month | Yes | | Total if bought separately | $66.95/month | $37.95/month |

Savings: $29.00/month ($348.00/year)

Premier is the kitchen sink. If your household uses most Apple services, the savings are substantial. MLS Season Pass is included. The 2TB of iCloud+ storage alone is worth $9.99/month. But if you do not use News+ or Fitness+, the Family plan at $25.95/month is probably enough.

Option 4: Student Discount ($4.99/month)

Apple offers a student-priced Apple TV+ subscription at $4.99/month (50% off the standard $9.99/month). This includes MLS Season Pass.

Eligibility

• Currently enrolled at a college or university
• Verified through Apple's student verification partner (UNiDAYS)
• Available for up to 48 months (4 years)

What You Get

Identical to the standard Apple TV+ subscription: all Apple TV+ content, MLS Season Pass, every MLS match. The only difference is the price.

How to Get It

1. Go to tv.apple.com or open the Apple TV app
2. Start a subscription
3. Select the student plan
4. Verify your enrollment through UNiDAYS

At $4.99/month, the student plan is the cheapest way to watch every MLS match legally. Over a 10-month season, that is $49.90 total for 900+ live matches -- roughly $0.05 per game.

Option 5: Free Tier ($0)

You can watch some MLS on Apple TV without paying anything. Apple offers a free tier that requires only a free Apple ID (no credit card, no subscription).

What the Free Tier Includes

• 1-2 free matches per week during the regular season, selected by Apple and rotated weekly
• Select playoff matches (Apple typically makes at least one playoff match per round free)
• Highlights and clips for all matches

What It Does Not Include

• On-demand replays of non-free matches
• Multi-cam options
• Full pre-match and post-match studio coverage
• Choice of which matches to watch (Apple selects the free games)

How to Access

1. Download the Apple TV app (free)
2. Create a free Apple ID (if you do not have one)
3. Open MLS Season Pass
4. Look for matches labeled "Free"

The free matches typically feature high-profile matchups: Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers, or other rivalry and marquee matches. They rotate weekly, so you cannot count on your specific team being free in any given week.

Additionally, matches on FOX and ABC are available free over-the-air with an antenna. Between the Apple free tier and antenna broadcasts, a committed non-paying fan can watch 2-4 MLS matches per week for free. See our MLS free streams guide for more options.

Cost Comparison: MLS vs Other Sports Streaming

How does the cost of watching MLS compare to watching other American sports leagues?

| Sport/League | Platform | Monthly Cost | What You Get | |-------------|----------|-------------|--------------| | MLS | Apple TV+ | $9.99 | Every match, no blackouts | | NFL | NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTube TV) | $449/season (~$28/month over 4 months) | Out-of-market games only (local/national still on cable) | | NBA | NBA League Pass | $14.99/month or $99.99/season | Out-of-market games (local teams blacked out) | | MLB | MLB.TV | $24.99/month or $139.99/season | Out-of-market games (local teams blacked out) | | NHL | ESPN+ | $10.99/month | Out-of-market games (local teams blacked out) | | Premier League | Peacock Premium | $13.99/month | Most matches (some on NBC/USA) |

MLS on Apple TV is the cheapest all-access sports streaming option in American professional sports, and it is the only one with zero blackouts. NFL Sunday Ticket costs 3x more and still blacks out local games. NBA League Pass and MLB.TV both have local blackout restrictions. MLS Season Pass via Apple TV+ at $9.99/month gives you every game for every team with no restrictions.

How MLS Season Pass Pricing Has Changed

The pricing has evolved since the Apple deal launched in 2023:

| Year | MLS Season Pass (standalone) | Apple TV+ (with MLS) | Key Change | |------|------------------------------|---------------------|------------| | 2023 | $14.99/month or $99/season | $9.99/month + $12.99/month MLS add-on | MLS was a separate add-on purchase | | 2024 | $14.99/month or $99/season | $9.99/month + $12.99/month MLS add-on | No change | | 2025 | $14.99/month or $99/season | $9.99/month (MLS included) | MLS bundled into Apple TV+ at no extra cost | | 2026 | $14.99/month or $99/season | $9.99/month (MLS included) | No change from 2025 |

The 2025 bundling decision was the most significant pricing change. By including MLS Season Pass in the base Apple TV+ subscription, Apple removed the biggest barrier to MLS viewership: the perception of paying for "another subscription just for soccer." Now, MLS is a free bonus for the 50+ million Apple TV+ subscribers in North America.

Which Plan Should You Choose?

Decision Flowchart

Do you already subscribe to Apple TV+?

• Yes: You already have MLS Season Pass. Open the Apple TV app and navigate to MLS. Done.
• No: Continue below.

Are you a college student?

• Yes: Get Apple TV+ Student at $4.99/month. Best deal available.
• No: Continue below.

Do you subscribe to Apple Music?

• Yes: Consider Apple One Individual ($19.95/month). It costs less than Apple Music + Apple TV+ separately ($20.98/month) and you get Arcade and iCloud+ as bonuses.
• No: Continue below.

Does your household have 2+ people who want MLS?

• Yes: Consider Apple One Family ($25.95/month). Everyone in the household gets MLS on their own device.
• No: Continue below.

Do you want MLS year-round or just during the season?

• Year-round: Get Apple TV+ annual plan ($99.99/year = $8.33/month effective). Best rate for a full-year commitment.
• Season only: Get Apple TV+ monthly ($9.99/month) and cancel during the off-season (December-February).

Cost by Scenario

| Fan Type | Best Option | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | |----------|------------|-------------|-------------| | Student | Apple TV+ Student | $4.99 | $49.90 (10 months) | | Solo fan, budget-conscious | Apple TV+ monthly (cancel off-season) | $9.99 | $99.90 (10 months) | | Solo fan, year-round | Apple TV+ annual | $8.33 effective | $99.99 | | Household, 2+ fans | Apple One Family | $25.95 | $311.40 | | Apple ecosystem user | Apple One Individual | $19.95 | $239.40 | | Casual, free only | Free tier + antenna | $0 | $0 |

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my MLS Season Pass with family?

Yes, through Apple's Family Sharing feature. If you subscribe to Apple TV+ or Apple One Family, up to 6 family members can access MLS Season Pass on their own devices simultaneously. Each person needs their own Apple ID linked to the Family Sharing group.

Is there a free trial?

Apple occasionally offers a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ for new subscribers. If you buy a new Apple device (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV), you typically get 3 months of Apple TV+ free. Check the Apple TV app for current trial offers.

Can I watch MLS on multiple devices at the same time?

Yes. Apple TV+ allows simultaneous streaming on up to 6 devices. With Family Sharing, each family member can watch a different match on their own device at the same time.

Do I need an iPhone or Mac to watch MLS on Apple TV?

No. The Apple TV app is available on non-Apple devices including Samsung and LG smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Chromecast, and any web browser. You do need an Apple ID (free to create) but you do not need to own any Apple hardware.

What happens to my subscription during the off-season?

Your Apple TV+ subscription continues year-round, giving you access to Apple's content library even when MLS is not in season. If you only want MLS, you can cancel after the season ends (typically December) and resubscribe when the new season starts (typically late February). There is no penalty for canceling and resubscribing.

Is MLS Season Pass available outside the United States?

Yes. MLS Season Pass is available globally through Apple TV. Pricing varies by country -- in many markets, it is significantly cheaper than the U.S. price. In some countries, MLS Season Pass is included in the base Apple TV+ subscription at the local price.

The Bottom Line

The most cost-effective way to watch every MLS match in 2026 is an Apple TV+ subscription at $9.99/month (or $8.33/month if you pay annually). This gives you every game, no blackouts, plus Apple's full streaming library. For students, it drops to $4.99/month. For families, Apple One Family at $25.95/month covers everyone in the household.

Do not buy the standalone MLS Season Pass at $14.99/month -- it costs more and gives you less than Apple TV+.

For more on how the Apple TV deal works, what the viewing experience is like, and what has changed since 2023, see our MLS on Apple TV guide. To find today's matches and kickoff times, check our matches page or our guide to MLS games on TV today. And for the full broadcast landscape including channel numbers, see what channel MLS is on.

Check the 2026 season page for the full calendar, or visit our standings page to follow the current race.