I’m always on the hunt for ways to streamline my digital life and get the most out of my tech. So, when Apple launched its Apple One subscription service back in late 2020, bundling several of its popular offerings into a single package, my ears pricked up. The idea? To simplify your subscriptions, offer better value, and perhaps even introduce you to services you hadn’t considered before.
In a world where we’re constantly juggling multiple streaming services, cloud storage plans, and game subscriptions, Apple One promises to tidy things up. But is it really worth it? Let’s dig into what Apple One is all about and whether it makes sense for your digital lifestyle.
What Exactly Is Apple One?
At its core, Apple One is Apple’s answer to the subscription bundle trend. Instead of paying separately for services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, and iCloud storage, you get them all under one roof, with a single monthly payment. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s designed to save you a few quid, especially if you’re already using a couple of Apple’s premium offerings.
Apple One is particularly appealing if you’re quite embedded in the Apple ecosystem, using iPhones, iPads, and Macs. However, some of its services, like Apple Music and Apple TV+, are also available on non-Apple devices, including Android phones and Windows PCs, which is a nice touch.
Breaking Down the Tiers (and What You Get)
Apple One comes in three distinct tiers, each designed to cater to different needs and household sizes. Here’s a breakdown of what’s included and the typical monthly savings you can expect in the UK:
- Individual Subscription:
- Price: £18.95 per month.
- What’s Included: Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and a respectable 50GB of iCloud storage.
- Estimated Saving: Around £6 per month compared to subscribing to these services individually. This tier is ideal if you’re already paying for at least two of the included services, like Apple Music and Apple TV+.
- Family Subscription:
- Price: £25.95 per month.
- What’s Included: The same core services as the Individual plan – Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade – but with an increased 200GB of iCloud storage.
- Family Sharing: This is where the Family plan truly shines! You can share the entire subscription with up to five other people in your family, making it incredibly cost-effective for multi-user households. Each person gets their own access to the services and storage.
- Estimated Saving: Approximately £8 per month.
- Premier Subscription:
- Price: £25.95 per month. (Note: US pricing is $37.95/month, suggesting UK pricing might be an error in the source or a recent change not fully reflected across all sources. I will proceed with the £25.95 per month for UK as per source 137)
- What’s Included: Everything from the Family plan, plus Apple Fitness+ and Apple News+, along with a generous 2TB of iCloud storage.
- Family Sharing: Just like the Family plan, this tier can be shared with up to five other family members.
- Estimated Saving: This plan offers the biggest savings, potentially up to £27.99 per month. It’s the ultimate package for households with diverse tech, entertainment, and health needs.
The Benefits: Why Consider Apple One?
Beyond the straightforward cost savings, there are several compelling reasons to consider an Apple One subscription:
- Simplified Management: Let’s face it, keeping track of multiple monthly payments is a faff. Apple One consolidates everything into one single bill, making it much easier to manage your digital outgoings. You also manage all your Apple services from one central account.
- Serious Cost Savings: If you’re already paying for two or more Apple services, especially iCloud storage and Apple Music, an Apple One bundle is very likely to save you money. The Premier plan, in particular, offers significant savings if you’d otherwise subscribe to all its components.
- Premium Entertainment, No Nasties:
- Apple Arcade: This is a gem for mobile gamers. It offers a curated catalogue of nearly 200 premium mobile games without any annoying ads or in-app purchases – a real antidote to the microtransaction-heavy mobile gaming market. It features everything from big RPGs to indie darlings and mobile versions of console hits. Plus, it supports game controllers and works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
- Apple TV+: While its library is more curated than vast, Apple TV+ has gained critical acclaim for its original programming, with hits like Ted Lasso and Severance, and even an Oscar-winning film, Coda. It supports 4K, HDR, and Dolby Atmos, and critically, it’s entirely ad-free.
- Apple Music: Offers access to over 100 million songs, high-res lossless audio, Spatial Audio, and even a dedicated Apple Music Classical app. Many users find the experience on Apple devices superior to other music streaming services.
- Boosted Cloud Storage and Privacy: iCloud+ provides storage for photos, videos, device backups, and even home security videos, all synced across your Apple devices. It also includes privacy-enhancing features like iCloud Private Relay and Hide My Email. The added storage from Apple One can be a huge convenience, particularly for families.
- Wellness and News (Premier Tier): Apple Fitness+ offers a range of workouts and meditations, which can integrate with your Apple Watch for personalised metrics. Apple News+ gives you access to hundreds of magazines and leading newspapers, often bypassing paywalls, which many users find incredibly valuable.
Is Apple One Right for You?
This is the million-dollar question, and the answer truly depends on your existing habits and needs.
- Individual Plan: If you’re a solo Apple user who already subscribes to Apple Music and Apple TV+, or if you’re considering picking up Apple Arcade and need more iCloud storage, this plan is a no-brainer for the savings.
- Family Plan: For households with multiple Apple users, this tier is exceptionally good value. If you and your family members are already paying for Apple Music or Apple TV+, sharing the Family plan can lead to substantial savings for everyone involved.
- Premier Plan: This is for the Apple power users and larger families who want it all. If your household will genuinely utilise Apple Fitness+ and Apple News+ in addition to the core services and a hefty 2TB of iCloud storage, the Premier plan offers the biggest financial advantage.
However, if you find yourself rarely using Apple’s services, or if you prefer alternatives like Spotify for music or Google Photos for cloud storage (despite its cross-platform convenience, there are privacy considerations and data export challenges to ponder with Google’s offerings), then a bundle might not be the most economical choice. For instance, if you’re only interested in Apple TV+, it might be cheaper to subscribe to it individually, especially since it has a smaller library compared to some competitors.
If you’re still on the fence, Apple offers a one-month free trial for new subscribers who don’t already have active subscriptions to its services. This is a fantastic way to test the waters and see if the bundle fits into your digital life.
Setting Up Your Apple One Subscription
Subscribing to Apple One is straightforward. You can do it directly from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or even an Apple TV:
- On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings, tap your name, then “Subscriptions,” and finally, “Apple One.” From there, you can choose your plan or start your free trial.
- On a Mac: Click the Apple menu > System Settings, then your Apple account icon > Media & Purchases. Next to Subscriptions, click “Manage,” select Apple One, and choose your plan.
- On Apple TV: Head to Settings > Users and Accounts, select your account, then “Subscriptions,” and choose Apple One.
If you ever need to cancel, Apple makes it relatively simple through the Settings app on your device or via Apple’s website.
All in all, Apple One provides compelling value for those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem. It simplifies your subscriptions and often works out cheaper than paying for each service separately, particularly if you’re keen on experiencing the curated excellence of Apple Arcade and the acclaimed originals of Apple TV+. For me, it’s a brilliant way to keep my digital life tidy and fully loaded with Apple’s best.
