Acorn TV Review – Affordable British and International Streaming

These days, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the abundance of streaming services available. However, if you’re a fan of British entertainment, Acorn TV deserves your attention.

Acorn TV is a subscription streaming service that is packed full of world-class British and international programming. With a large library of commercial-free content at an affordable price, this unique streaming service is a great way to stream premium movies and TV shows from across the pond.

Acorn TV – Company Overview

Acorn TV originally launched in the United States in 2013. In 2020, the company expanded to the United Kingdom. Today, they are also available in Australia, New Zealand, U.S. territories, some European countries, and parts of Latin America.

Pros

• Large library of commercial-free British and other international content – including award-winning programs, originals, and exclusives
• Allows up to 4 simultaneous streams
• Inexpensive pricing
• Can be added to streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video

Cons

• Maximum 720p resolution
• No profiles
• No parental controls

Highlights

BBB rating: (Not-Rated)
Price: $6.99/month
Year founded: 2013
Areas served: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, many U.S. Territories, and parts of Latin America
Contract Required: No
Number of Channels: No live channels
Ad-Free: Yes

Acorn TV’s direct competitor is Britbox. Though the two British-focused streaming services may seem similar and have some content overlap, they are entirely different entities. RLJ Entertainment, a subsidiary of AMC, owns Acorn TV, while Britbox is owned by BBC and ITV.

While Britbox only offers British programming, Acorn TV also has international content from other English-speaking countries, including Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and Canada. Acorn TV has a somewhat smaller selection of content – around 300 total titles – while Britbox boasts 500 titles. Acorn TV is also currently $2 cheaper per month than Britbox.

Why We Like Acorn TV

Acorn TV is a unique streaming service created for fans of British and other international television. You won’t find any rubbish content on Acorn TV. All of its 300+ TV shows and movies are highly rated, with many award-winning and critically acclaimed programs.

Unlike mainstream platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Peacock TV, Acorn TV is not trying to become your primary streaming service. Rather, its curated library of content is targeted at a niche set of viewers drawn to the charm of British productions. And, it excels in this area.

The biggest drawback to Acorn TV is its lack of 1080p streaming. Resolution is limited to 720p. High quality streaming is typically expected, and its absence might be a deal-breaker for a more general platform. However, Acorn TV viewers are willing to overlook this, considering its novel place in the streaming landscape.

Acorn TV’s library includes both newer and classic mysteries, dramas, comedies, and documentaries. Some fan favorites include “Doc Martin”, “A Place to Call Home”, “Murdoch Mysteries”, “The Brokenwood Mysteries”, “Midsomer Murders”, and “Foyle’s War.”

You can also stream exclusive Acorn TV Originals, like “Agatha Raisin”, “Loch Ness”, and “Striking Out.” And, one of the best things about Acorn TV is that all content is commercial-free.

Unlike live TV streaming services like DIRECTV STREAM, all Acorn TV content is on-demand. There are no live channels.

You can stream on up to four devices at once; but, only one user profile is supported. While most content is family-friendly, there are also no parental controls or a ‘Kid’s Mode’ feature.

Acorn TV Streaming – How It Works

Acorn TV is a subscription streaming service that lets viewers watch unlimited, on-demand movies and TV shows for a set monthly or yearly price. Unlike many other streaming services with tiered subscription packages, Acorn TV has just a single plan. You can pay monthly or save by paying yearly.

Plans/Packages – $6.99/mo or $69.99/yr

Acorn TV’s plan costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. Customers can choose whether to pay monthly or annually for the service.

An Acorn TV subscription includes thousands of hours of ad-free television programs and feature films. The latest episodes of TV shows are added each week, so you always have something new to watch.

Channels/Categories

Acorn TV’s large collection of British-focused content includes over 300 titles and thousands of hours of entertainment. Programming is divided into several categories. The streaming service really shines when it comes to British genres like murder mysteries, comedies, and crime dramas.

Mysteries

For those nights when you just want to curl up on your couch with a cup of tea and tune in for a cozy mystery, Acorn TV has got you covered.

Quirky New Zealand mystery “The Brokenwood Mysteries” and Agatha Christie’s “Partners in Crime” are just a few options to satisfy your murder mystery craving.

Comedies

If you’ve ever watched a British comedy series, you know that there is just something about British humor that makes it extremely funny.

From classic medical comedy-drama “Doc Martin” to the eclectic “Detectorists,” Acorn TV has plenty of humor to keep you entertained.

Crime Dramas

What would a British TV streaming service be without drama?

Classic crime dramas like “Midsomer Murders” as well as modern, award-winning crime series like “Happy Valley” or the Emmy-nominated “Killing Eve” are included.

World-Class Originals

Acorn TV produces its own Originals that are exclusive to the platform. Featuring quality production, compelling acting, and superior screenwriting, Acorn TV Originals are genuinely worth watching.

Some of the most popular Acorn TV Originals include comedy-mystery “Agatha Raisin,” the award-winning series “Mystery Road”, crime drama “The Chelsea Detective”, detective show “Dalgliesh”, Welsh thriller “Keeping Faith”, and the charming “Queens of Mystery.”

Additional Acorn TV Programs

Acorn TV content is centered around binge-worthy episodic series. However, there are also many feature films to choose from.

Examples include Agatha Christie’s “The Witness for the Prosecution”, the historical drama “A Nightingale Falling,” and the British adaption of Daphne du Maurier’s novel “The Scapegoat.”

You will also find British history and travel documentaries like “She-Wolves: England’s Early Queens,” “Britain’s Most Scenic Counties,” or “Monty Don’s Japanese Gardens.”

Outside the Anglosphere, you have programs like the classic Canadian drama series “Murdoch Mysteries,” the Australian crime-drama “Black Snow” and the American neo-noir miniseries “Monsieur Spade.” The vast majority of content on Acorn TV is in English, but there are also some foreign language gems like “Darkness: Those Who Kill” (Danish), “Faking Hitler” (German), and “Wisting” (Norwegian.)

How To Watch / Acorn TV App

To watch Acorn TV, you will need a high-speed internet connection and a streaming device.

Supported devices include:

• Smart TVs from Roku, Amazon Fire, Samsung, Tizen, and Android
• Streaming sticks and devices from Roku, Amazon Fire
• Apple TV (4th gen and later)
• Apple iPhone and iPad (iOS 9.0 and later)
• Android Phone and Tablet (Version 4.2 and later)

To begin streaming on any of these devices, you will need to download the Acorn TV app from Roku, Amazon, Apple, or Google Play.

Alternatively, you can also stream Acorn TV from your computer directly through your web browser by logging in to the website. Google Chrome is recommended.

You can also use Google Chromecast to cast from your mobile phone, tablet, or computer.

How To Sign Up

To sign up for Acorn TV, simply visit their Sign Up page on the website and click the ‘Start Your Free Trial’ button. You will be prompted to create an account, then enter a payment method and check-out.

Your 7-day trial will begin immediately, and you can get started streaming right away. Once this free period is over, you will be automatically billed for your first cycle.

Alternatively, Acorn TV is available to purchase as an add-on for a few streaming services. If you already have Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, or YouTube TV, then you can opt to subscribe to Acorn TV directly through one of these third-party platforms.

How To Cancel

To cancel Acorn TV, log in to your account on the website. Then select ‘My Acorn TV’ from the top right-hand corner. From here, click ‘Manage Account,’ then ‘Cancel Membership.’ A button asking if you wish to cancel Acorn TV will appear. Click this to confirm your cancellation.

This method works if you signed up for Acorn TV on the official website. If you signed up through a third-party company like Google Play, Roku, iTunes, or Amazon Prime, then you will need to cancel your subscription through the corresponding platform.

Customer Service Contact Info

If you need help with your Acorn TV service, your first resource is their dedicated Help Center. It is full of useful information and solutions to common issues.

If you need additional assistance, then you can fill out the Contact Us form on the Acorn TV website to get in touch with a customer service representative.

Is Acorn TV a Smart Choice for TV Streaming?

Enthusiasts of British entertainment will appreciate all that Acorn TV has to offer. Acorn TV is affordable, free of commercials, and includes a great selection of programs that you can’t typically find on other streaming platforms.

Its lack of HD streaming and smaller library compared to rival Britbox are noticeable drawbacks; but, overall, Acorn TV is a solid option for supplementing your streaming subscriptions with the latest and greatest content British production has to offer.

That said, Acorn TV is in no way a replacement for cable or satellite television. If you are looking for a full-fledged, cord-cutting streaming service, check out our in-depth reviews of the best TV streaming services to discover the smartest choice for your budget and entertainment preferences.