Though Apple is known for hardware products like the iPhone, Apple Watch, and MacBook, its software and services division is an increasingly important part of the business. From iCloud storage and App Store purchases to Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions, Cupertino makes billions serving up cloud-based services alongside its gadgets.
Apple would love it if you paid for all of its subscription services, but you're not made of money. The company's solution is Apple One, which bundles its disparate services into one package. But how much does it cost, how do you subscribe, and is it even worth buying?
What Is Apple One?
(Credit: Apple)Just as Disney offers a bundle with discounted access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, Apple does the same with its growing list of subscription services. But while Disney's bundle is all about video-streaming services, Apple One runs the gamut from storage and news to music and video games. Services that are included in an Apple One package include:
How Much Is Apple One?
Some services and features are only available to specific subscription tiers. After yet another price hike, the most affordable option starts at $20 per month after a 30-day free trial. Here are the three current plan options.
Individual: This plan costs $19.95 per month and grants you access to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of storage on iCloud+. Each service is for an individual user and technically cannot be shared with others, though Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade support Family Sharing whether or not you have an Apple One plan.
Family: To share access with people in your household, the Family plan costs $25.95 per month and works across five other user accounts. You also get 200GB of iCloud storage.
Premier: The most expensive plan is the $37.95-per-month Premier tier, which also includes access to Apple News+ and Fitness+. This plan also grants access to five other family members and includes 2TB of iCloud storage.
How to Sign Up for Apple One
(Credit: Lance Whitney)To sign up for the Apple One bundle, you must use an iPhone running iOS 14 or later, an iPad with iPadOS 14 or later, or a Mac with macOS Big Sur 11.1 or later. If you access Apple Fitness+ on an Apple TV, you'll need tvOS 14 or later. (The fitness service no longer requires an Apple Watch to work, but if you connect one, it'll need to be an Apple Watch Series 3 or later.)
Once your devices are updated, open Settings on your iPhone and iPad, tap your name and choose Subscriptions. Select the Try It Now link under Get Apple One, then pick a plan. On a Mac, you can subscribe from the App Store. Click the View Information link at the top of the window and click the Manage link. Select Try it now for Apple One, then choose your plan.
Is Apple One Worth it?
There's no doubt that Apple One will save you money. If you subscribe to Music, TV+, and Arcade, and pay for 50GB of iCloud storage, it costs nearly $29 a month, so you save $9 per month with the $19.95 Individual tier. The multi-user plans save you even more, since the services can be shared among your whole family.
However, whether or not the Apple One subscription is a good buy depends on what services you actually use. If you already subscribe to several of these Apple services, it's a no-brainer. But if you're only interested in, say Music and TV+, you probably don't need to shell out for Apple Arcade and cloud storage. And if you have no interest in news or workouts, there's no reason to get the Premier package, even if it's objectively a good deal.
The devices you use every day also make a difference here. If you only use Apple devices, it makes sense to pay for these services, since many of them are exclusive to the iPhone or Mac. If this matters to you, there may be a better way to spend your money.
How to Cancel Apple One
(Credit: Lance Whitney)If you try Apple One and don't feel like it's for you, canceling is easy. Like any of your other subscriptions managed by Apple, you can cancel through your device's Settings or the App Store.
On a mobile device, tap Settings and choose your name, then select Subscriptions. Choose Apple One under the Active subs section, then choose Cancel Subscription. You can also do this if you open the App Store, then tap your profile and choose Subscriptions.
Cancel from a Mac by opening System Preferences > Apple ID, then choose Media & Purchases and choose Manage next to Subscriptions. If you're still using iTunes, go to Account > View My Account and disable Apple One from your list of subs.