MGM Plus: Pricing, content, and more about the service formerly known as Epix

We are now years into the so-called streaming wars, with a host of media companies vying for our eyeballs (and credit card information). So, MGM Plus (stylized as MGM+) is operating in a crowded field with with its subscription streaming service. While Netflix was the early favorite to come out on top, there’s some stiff competition out there. Max (formerly HBO Max) has been making waves with its massive library of Warner Bros.-owned content plus new buzz-worthy originals, and Amazon Prime Video has been a contender for years, especially with its global reach. Nearly all of them launch new shows and movies every week.

But with a combination of legacy titles in its rich library, along with a host of new, prestige originals, MGM Plus does have some impressive legs to stand on.

The big question is — is MGM Plus worth it? We’ve gone through all the different questions you might have about the streaming service, from pricing to content offering to various specs and more. Have a look for yourself below.

What is MGM Plus?

Before we focus on just streaming, it’s worthwhile to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. MGM Plus isn’t just a streaming service. Owned by MGM, it is a 24-hour premium TV network. It offers a total of four premium, ad-free, pay TV channels and on-demand services.

Before it was called MGM Plus, Epix was also among the first legacy cable channels to offer its library online, and it has adapted to that model well. While Epix’s online offerings came under the “Epix Now” brand, content currently exists in both cable and streaming forms under the single MGM Plus banner.

The streaming platform is currently available at mgmplus.com and through the MGM Plus app on Android and iOS.

So, functionally, MGM Plus is two things. It’s a traditional cable network with four distinct channels, and it’s a streaming service. Its library ranges from original scripted and documentary content to a huge library of Hollywood films.

Is MGM Plus worth it?

So is MGM Plus worth the subscription fee? Entertainment is personal and subjective, so your mileage may vary. But MGM Plus offers a lot of bang for your buck.

With a low price point, a huge library of content including exclusive titles, and quality specs, it’s a solid service that deserves your attention. It won’t serve as a full cable replacement or even a comprehensive Netflix alternative, but it can be a fantastic second or third service for streaming fanatics looking for even more content.

How do you sign up?

The simplest and cheapest way to get MGM Plus on demand is to subscribe to the cable network. All MGM Plus cable subscribers get free access to the streaming platform. This applies to anyone with a TV or digital subscription to MGM Plus — prices vary depending on provider and location within the US.

The following providers offer the service nationally:

How much does MGM Plus cost?

MGM Plususually costs about $5.99 per month as a cable channel. You’ll have to check your local providers to confirm or to look for special deals. MGM Plus isn’t just limited to cable subscribers though. Cord cutters have a great option, outlined below.

Cord cutters can still access the same streaming content as cable subscribers; you’ll just need to sign up with a streaming-only account. You can sign up at the official website and download the app from your favourite app store. That will set you back $5.99 per month, so not breaking the bank by streaming standards.

With that $5.99 subscription, you can cancel anytime, stream unlimited MGM Plus content, download titles to watch offline, and watch on multiple devices. MGM Plus doesn’t advertise exactly how many screens can be logged in and streaming at once, so buyer beware. If you’re looking to share your password with friends or even just live with a big family or a lot of roommates, you may max out at some point.

How do I get MGM Plus for free?

If you subscribe to MGM Plus through your cable or digital provider, then you already have access through the MGM Plus app. You may want to double-check in case you already have it as part of your existing cable bundle too. The app isn’t exactly free in this case, but since you’re already paying for the cable service, the app is effectively a free add-on.

If you sign up for the streaming app, you’ll get free trial access, but only for seven days, so be sure to cancel within that window to avoid being charged. You could double and triple up on the trial by getting MGM Plus through Prime Video or Apple TV channels or similar services too.

Other than that, you don’t have too many options for free access, beyond getting login info from a friend. MGM Plus does periodically offer specific titles to watch for free, but these are rare, and typically the free viewing window is short.

What devices does MGM Plus support?

There are some limits to device compatibility, but overall, MGM Plus offers quite a few options.

The MGM Plus app is compatible with Xbox and PlayStation consoles, Android phones and tablets, Roku players, Apple TV, iPhones and iPads, Amazon Fire TV, TiVo, and Chromecast. You can also stream from a variety of browsers on both Windows and MacOS.

Minimum system requirements

Before you sign up, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the right home set-up to support MGM Plus, so have a look at the relevant specs below.

Supported operating systems:

• Windows 8.1 or higher
• MacOS 10.10 or higher

Supported browsers:

• Google Chrome version 40 or higher
• Microsoft Edge version 38 or higher
• Mozilla Firefox version 40 or higher
• Safari 10 or higher

Can I download MGM Plus content?

If you’re not sure you’ll have a reliable internet connection or plan to be offline, you can still make use of your MGM Plus subscription using the downloading function in the app.

Tap on the download option on the film or episode you want to download. You can see everything you’ve downloaded to your device in the “Downloads” menu. When you’re offline, open the app, and it will automatically take you to the “Downloads” menu.

Downloading doesn’t cost anything extra, and most MGM Plus content is available to download. If a certain title isn’t available to download for whatever reason, you simply won’t see the download icon anywhere.

Where is MGM Plus available?

Let’s start with the bad news. If you’re anywhere outside the US or its territories, you’re out of luck. MGM Plus is all American. That might change, but for now, those are the cards we’ve been dealt.

If you’re in America, you’re in luck. The cable network and streamer are available across the country and its territories. If you want the full cable experience, you’ll need to check your local TV or digital providers to find out how to sign up. If you’re just looking for a new streaming site, though, all you need is a steady internet connection and you’re good to go with the MGM Plus app.

What can I watch on MGM Plus?

Now that you know what MGM Plus is, how much it costs, and where to find it, what can you actually watch on it? It’s all well and good to know what this will do to your budget, but let’s dig into what you actually get with your subscription.

The MGM Plus library

The MGM Plus film library is quite impressive, with a massive roster of classic and contemporary Hollywood films and indie darlings. These include recent blockbusters and indies along with classic films and obscure cult hits. You can also check out franchises including James Bond, The Hunger Games, and Star Trek.

Availability varies, with some titles cycled out to make room for new films every two weeks.

MGM Plus Originals

Where things get a little more exclusive at MGM Plus is in the selection of originals. Like its fellow premium cable networks like HBO and Showtime, MGM Plus produces a wide variety of critically-acclaimed original content.

MGM Plus original titles range from polished procedurals and genre series to enlightening and informative docuseries.

On the fiction side, the network produces a huge number of shows. Some are familiar properties, like the following:

• From tells the terrifying story of a town that won’t let its inhabitants leave.
• Billy the Kid chronicles the adventures of the infamous outlaw cowboy.
• Pennyworth follows the early days of Batman’s butler Alfred Pennyworth. (Later seasons have moved to HBO Max.)
• Condor updates the story of Three Days of the Condor.
• The surprise hit Get Shorty adapts the best-selling novel of the same name, first made into a movie in 1995.
• War of the Worlds is the latest adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic alien invasion novel.

MGM Plus also boasts lush period dramas and other heavy hitters:

• Britannia, about the Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD.
• Belgravia, about 19th century British high society, from the creators of Downton Abbey.
• The star-studded espionage drama Berlin Station.
• The historical mob drama Godfather of Harlem.

The non-fiction side of MGM Plus is just as impressive:

• Learn about the history of punk music in Punk.
• Follow a trail of corruption and fraud in The Panama Papers.
• Superstar Samuel L. Jackson explores shipping routes that were used in the American slave trade in Enslaved.
• Learn about recent political history in Slow Burn, adapted from the hit podcast with Leon Neyfakh.
• Reality TV hit The Contender, a boxing competition format from reality star producer Mark Burnett.

There’s original programming for just about every taste at MGM Plus.

How does Epix hold up to the competition?

With some Netflix premium subscriptions coming in at $20 per month, it’s hard to argue with the $5.99 price tag on an MGM Plus subscription.

If you’re looking for a one-stop streaming service, you won’t get the variety of something like Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or Netflix, which offer huge libraries of films and TV series from different studios and networks, along with their own originals.

But MGM Plus is a great add-on if you want some extra movie options or series you won’t find anywhere else. And it’s ad-free, unlike free services like Tubi and Pluto TV.

With a crowded field that includes the above services as well as Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus, Mubi, Peacock, Shudder, Britbox, the Criterion Channel, and seemingly more new options every day, MGM Plus is quietly holding its own as an affordable premium option.

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