Among all of the streaming and entertainment services vying for your attention, there is one you’ve overlooked. That’s right; Apple One actually offers an almost unparalleled level of entertainment, and you’ve been missing out all this time.
What Is Apple One?
Introduced in 2020, Apple One is a subscription service that bundles multiple Apple services, with tiered packages so you only pay for the services that you want. By grouping key services, you can save money versus what you would pay for the individual plans on their own, including Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, iCloud+ storage, Apple News+, and Apple Fitness+.
The current Apple One packages are as follows:
- Individual plan ($19.95 per month): Includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud+ storage
- Family plan ($25.95 per month): Includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 200GB of iCloud+ storage for up to five other people
- Premier plan ($37.95 per month): Includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and 2TB of iCloud+ storage shared with up to five other people
As you can see, there is something available at almost all price points, covering all the subscription bases.
Why Apple One Is the Best Entertainment Package
There are several reasons Apple One is the best entertainment package you’re not currently using.
Apple Music (second only to Spotify in total users) features 100 million songs, more than 30,000 expert-curated playlists, and, better still, Apple is always adding new features. It also features exclusive radio stations that offer live and recorded shows tailored to specific music genres and artists. To date, these include the flagship Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, Apple Music Country, Apple Música Uno, Apple Music Club, and Apple Music Chill.
Over on Apple TV+, you can find some of the most popular TV shows and films, such as Severance, Your Friends and Neighbors, The Studio, and others. Since Apple TV+ launched in 2019, new content has been added monthly, and today it’s one of the most popular streaming services.
Next up, Apple Arcade offers a growing library of exclusive and iconic games across various genres, including action, brain teasers, sports, and more. Each is available to download without ads, and it’s easy to get started with Apple Arcade, even for newcomers.
And then there’s Apple News+, which offers access to over 400 leading publications, featuring a mix of local, national, and international titles. In recent years, Apple News+ has also introduced daily and weekly puzzles in various formats.
Meanwhile, Apple Fitness+ unlocks an ever-changing list of workout videos across 12 different types, such as HIIT, Yoga, Meditation, and more.
Finally, there’s iCloud+, which expands upon Apple’s free iCloud backup service by offering additional storage and other benefits. Depending on your Apple One plan, you and your family can gain up to 2TB of storage, where you can back up your photos, videos, notes, and more in a secure environment. A membership with iCloud+ also includes unique party invitations with Apple Invites, enhanced privacy tools, and additional features.
Savings and Convenience
Entertainment subscriptions are expensive, so it’s important to save money where you can. I like that my Apple One subscription saves me money overall, especially as I really make full use of each area of the subscription each month. However, these savings vary significantly, depending on what package you choose.
The Individual plan saves you approximately $9 per month compared to subscribing to these services separately. The Family plan, meanwhile, saves you $11. The Premier plan saves you the most money each month, approximately $29, representing a 43% saving.
Content and the ability to save money aren’t the only reasons I think Apple One is the best entertainment package currently available. Convenience is another reason. Each of the services mentioned is available across multiple Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. Additionally, services like Apple Music and Apple TV+ are available on non-Apple devices, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming boxes such as Google TV, Roku, and Fire TV.
It’s also worth noting that some of these services are available on Windows and Android devices through the web or a dedicated app. For example, you can now find separate apps for Apple TV+ and Apple Music for Android and PC.
And recall that two of the three Apple One plans are designed for families. That means they can also access all this content on their Apple and non-Apple devices.
How to Switch to Apple One
There are probably a few thoughts going through your head as you read this, such as a worry that you won’t use all the services, or a concern that you don’t have the right devices.
On the latter, I wish Apple offered more than three tiers of Apple One. In particular, it would be nice to see an individual package where you could switch out Apple Arcade for Apple Fitness+ or Apple News+, but that is probably not feasible based on current pricing. Regardless, even with the three tiers Apple currently offers, you should be able to find one that suits your needs and budget.
Depending on your situation, you might be able to subscribe to Apple One on a trial basis, which means it would cost you nothing in the short term. If you’ve never had an Apple One subscription, you can likely get a complimentary 30-day membership at the time that you go to sign up. That free trial will only include subscriptions that you are not currently using through a free trial or a subscription. Plans automatically renew after the trial until canceled.
Checking Eligibility
It takes just a few seconds to know whether you have a device or devices that support Apple One. If you own an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV, you’re good to go, since you need at least one of those devices to subscribe. Once you do, you can access other content through other supported means.
Simple Steps to Subscribe
There are different ways to subscribe to Apple One. The easiest way is through your mobile device, either an iPhone or iPad. To get started, open the Settings app and select your name at the top of the device. From there, select “Subscriptions” and follow the directions. On a Mac, you must first open the App Store and choose your profile. From there, you should find a link to Apple One. Finally, on an Apple TV, you can subscribe to Apple One by navigating to the Subscriptions section within your Apple ID settings.
Regardless of your device, you’ll be asked to select your tier and payment method. If you select a family tier, you’ll be asked to choose your Apple Family Members. Once you’re signed up, Apple One titles will be available on supported devices where you’re logged in with your Apple ID. You will also likely receive an email from Apple shortly after signing up, providing more details on how to activate your membership.
When in doubt about how to subscribe, visit Apple One, which will point you in the right direction.
