If you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem, you’ve probably heard about Apple One—Apple’s all-in-one subscription bundle that wraps up multiple services into one (hopefully) cost-saving package. But is it actually worth it, or is Apple just finding another way to lock you into its walled garden?

Let’s break it down, no fluff, no corporate jargon—just real talk about what Apple One offers, who it’s for, and whether you should sign up or skip it.

What Is Apple One?

Apple One is Apple’s way of bundling its various subscription services under one roof, giving you a discount in the process. Instead of paying separately for Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, News+, and Fitness+, you pay one price for a package that includes some (or all) of these services, depending on which tier you choose.

The Three Tiers of Apple One

Apple One comes in three flavors:

1. Individual ($19.95/month)
   • Apple Music
   • Apple TV+
   • Apple Arcade
   • 50GB iCloud+
2. Family ($25.95/month)
   • Everything in Individual
   • 200GB iCloud+
   • Share with up to five people
3. Premier ($37.95/month)
   • Everything in Family
   • Apple News+
   • Apple Fitness+
   • 2TB iCloud+

The Premier plan is the most loaded—and the most expensive. But before you assume Apple is just trying to squeeze extra dollars from you, let’s see what you actually get for the price.

Breaking Down the Value

Let’s be real—bundles only make sense if you’re already using (or planning to use) most of the included services. Here’s what each one brings to the table:

Apple Music

Apple’s answer to Spotify. If you’re already paying for Apple Music ($10.99/month for individuals or $16.99/month for family), Apple One starts making sense immediately. The Family and Premier plans include the Family version of Apple Music, which alone covers a good chunk of the cost.

Apple TV+

Apple’s streaming service is hit-or-miss. It has some great original content (Ted Lasso, Severance, Foundation), but it’s not as stacked as Netflix or Disney+. At $9.99/month, it’s a decent value—if you actually watch it.

Apple Arcade

For casual gamers, Apple Arcade is a solid deal. You get access to a library of 200+ games with no ads or in-app purchases for $6.99/month. If you (or your kids) play games on an iPhone or iPad, this can be a nice bonus.

iCloud+

Storage is where Apple gets most people. The free 5GB of iCloud storage is laughable, so if you’re backing up photos, messages, or files, you probably already pay for iCloud+. If you’re on the Family or Premier plan, the 200GB or 2TB storage alone can justify the subscription.

Apple News+ (Premier Only)

If you read a lot of magazines and newspapers, this might be worth it. You get access to premium content from The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and tons of magazines for $12.99/month. But if you’re fine with free news sources, this won’t add much value.

Apple Fitness+ (Premier Only)

Apple’s fitness subscription offers guided workouts, yoga, and meditation for $9.99/month. It’s great if you use an Apple Watch and want a structured workout plan, but if you already have a gym membership or prefer YouTube workouts, this might be unnecessary.

Who Should Get Apple One?

Apple One isn’t for everyone, but it makes sense in certain situations:

• You’re already paying for multiple Apple services – If you’re subscribed to Apple Music, iCloud+, and at least one other service, Apple One might save you money.
• You have a family or share subscriptions – The Family and Premier plans allow sharing with up to five people, making it a great deal if your household already uses Apple services.
• You love Apple’s ecosystem – If you’re an iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV user who enjoys Apple’s seamless integration, this bundle will fit right into your digital life.

But if you only use Apple Music and don’t care about TV+, Arcade, or Fitness+, then you’re better off sticking with individual subscriptions.

Is Apple One a Good Deal?

Let’s do some quick math.

If you pay separately for:

• Apple Music: $10.99
• Apple TV+: $9.99
• Apple Arcade: $6.99
• 50GB iCloud+: $0.99
• Total: $28.96

With Apple One Individual ($19.95/month), you’re saving about $9/month. That’s not bad if you use all four services.

For the Family plan, if two or more people in your household use Apple Music, Apple TV+, and iCloud storage, you’re probably coming out ahead.

The Premier plan is the best value—but only if you actually use Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+. Otherwise, it’s probably overkill.

The Downsides

Apple One sounds great, but there are some things to consider:

1. Locked Into Apple’s Ecosystem – If you ever switch to Android, Apple One becomes useless. You can’t take Apple Music, iCloud, or Fitness+ with you the way you can with Spotify, Google Drive, or Peloton.
2. You Might Be Paying for Stuff You Don’t Use – If you’re only using two services, bundling might not actually save you money.
3. No Customization – Apple One doesn’t let you swap services. If you want Apple Music, iCloud+, and News+, but not Apple TV+ or Arcade, tough luck—you can’t mix and match.

Final Verdict: Should You Get Apple One subscription?

Get it if:

• You already subscribe to at least three of the included services.
• You have a family that shares Apple subscriptions.
• You want to simplify billing and subscription management.

Skip it if:

• You only use one or two Apple services.
• You don’t care about Apple Arcade, News+, or Fitness+.
• You prefer keeping your subscriptions flexible and independent of Apple.

Bottom line? Apple One is a great deal—if you actually use most of what it offers. Otherwise, it’s just another subscription draining your wallet. Be honest with yourself about what you use, and don’t let Apple’s slick marketing convince you to pay for things you don’t need.

What do you think? Is Apple One worth it for you, or are you better off with individual subscriptions? Let’s discuss it!