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    Entertainment & Media
    Beginner
    4 min read 5 stepsApril 20, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Use Acorn TV to Watch British and International Shows

    Acorn TV streams British dramas, mysteries, and international series. Learn how to sign up, browse, and watch on any device.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Entertainment & Media
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    4 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    acorn tv
    british tv
    streaming
    mysteries
    dramas
    international
    1

    Go to the Acorn TV website

    ~23s
    Open your web browser and go to acorn.tv. You will see a sign-up page offering a free trial. Click the button to start your trial and enter your email address and a password to create your account.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: If you already pay for Amazon Prime, search "Acorn TV" inside the Prime Video app instead. You can subscribe directly there without creating a separate Acorn TV account.

    2

    Choose your subscription plan

    ~21s
    Acorn TV offers monthly and annual billing. The annual plan saves you money compared to paying month-to-month. Enter your payment information to complete the sign-up. Your free trial begins right away and you will not be charged until the trial period ends.

    Warning

    Set a reminder on your phone or calendar for the end of the trial period if you want to cancel before being billed.

    3

    Download the Acorn TV app on your device

    ~19s
    On a phone or tablet, open the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or Google Play Store (Android) and search for "Acorn TV." Download the free app. On a smart TV, open your TV's app store and search for Acorn TV. On Roku or Fire Stick, search the channel store for Acorn TV and add it.
    4

    Sign in and start watching

    ~25s
    Open the app and sign in with the email and password you created on the website. Browse by genre or use the search bar to find a specific show. Tap any title to see a description and episode list, then tap an episode to begin watching.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: Use the "My List" feature to save shows you want to watch later. This keeps everything in one place so you never lose your place in a series.

    5

    Adjust your settings for comfortable viewing

    ~17s
    Inside the app, you can turn on subtitles and closed captions — look for the speech bubble or "CC" icon while a video is playing. You can also adjust the text size for subtitles. Many Acorn TV programs are British productions, so subtitles can be helpful for understanding accents.

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    Acorn TV is a streaming service focused on British and international television — think cozy mysteries, period dramas, crime thrillers, and beloved UK series you won't find on the big-name platforms. If you enjoy shows like Midsomer Murders, Doc Martin, or Agatha Raisin, this is the service built for you.

    The service costs around $6.99 per month and offers a free trial so you can explore before committing. You can watch on a smart TV, phone, tablet, computer, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, or Apple TV. There is no cable subscription required.

    Acorn TV is owned by AMC Networks, which means the library is curated and well-maintained rather than stuffed with low-quality content. New episodes and series are added every week.

    Getting started is straightforward. You create a free account on the Acorn TV website, choose a subscription plan, and begin watching right away. If you already have an Amazon Prime account, you can also add Acorn TV as an Amazon Prime Video channel, which makes billing and access even simpler.

    The library leans heavily toward British content but also includes Australian, New Zealand, and Irish productions. The search and browse tools are clean and easy to navigate. You can create a watchlist so you don't lose track of a series mid-season.

    If you watch with a family member or partner, one account covers two simultaneous streams — meaning two people can watch different shows at the same time on the same subscription. Acorn TV does not have a family or student pricing tier, but the single subscription price is reasonable for what you get.

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    acorn tv
    british tv
    streaming
    mysteries
    dramas
    international

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