Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, iCloud+, News+, Apple One… The list of Apple’s subscription options is enough to make your head spin. Each subscription comes with its own questions: Is it better than its competitors? Is it worth the monthly price? If I subscribe, will I use it? How can I best bundle my subscriptions? Lucky for you, I’ve tried every Apple subscription out there and can tell you with confidence which are worth the monthly price tag.
Apple Music - ($10.99/month)
Apple Music is my favorite of all Apple subscriptions. I love having virtually unlimited music at my fingertips, no ads clogging up my playlists, and knowing that the artists I’m listening to are fairly compensated. I’ve tried a few other music subscription services, but this one beats them all. It offers all the music and none of the stress, an experience I haven’t had since I kept my music on my iPod.
My Verdict: Go for It!
It Might Be For You If…
- You’re a regular music listener
- None of your current options are checking all your boxes
- You enjoy high usability and little stress.
iCloud+ - (From $0.99/month)
I pay for iCloud+ but I don’t love that I do. I know, I know, that there are cheaper and more sensible storage options, but honestly I can’t be bothered. I used to tell myself I was going to back up my photos, never do it, then lose years of memories when my phone would inevitably die after one too many drops. Now, I don’t have to think of it and my photos stay safe. I recently sprung for the 2TB ($9.99/month) and am now sharing it with my sister, but my gut tells me I’m doing the wrong thing.
My Verdict: It Depends…
It Might Be For You If…
- You have too much data and enjoy knowing it’s automatically backed up
- You don’t want to have to take the time to move photos and other information into a different app or platform
- You have family members with whom you can share the storage space.
Apple Arcade - ($4.99/month)
I’m a huge mobile gamer, so it pains me to say this, but Apple Arcade really isn’t worth it. I’ve had two free trials, and I expected to feel a pinch when the trial ended and I had to stop playing the games, but… I didn’t. Besides one game where I got to move puzzle pieces to their correct places and watch patterns turn from black and white to color, I honestly do not remember a single game I played on Apple Arcade.
My Verdict: Nope!
It Might Be For You If…
- You are paying for a monthly game subscription and want to get more for your money
- You want to avoid ads
- You want access to specific Arcade games.
Apple TV+ - ($6.99/month)
Two words: Ted Lasso. Kidding! Sort of. Out of all the streaming services out there, Apple TV+ holds its own in content quality. Many of today’s top shows and movies can be streamed there, and its originals are almost always top-quality, whether you’re looking for something to give you hope (again, Ted Lasso) or something darker and more challenging, like The Morning Show. Additionally, Apple TV makes it easy to live-stream Apple events, which is a huge plus for me. However, with so many streaming services out there, it can be hard to choose.
My Verdict: Go for It!
It Might Be For You If…
- You enjoy the programming Apple TV+ offers
- You enjoy watching Apple events through the Apple TV app
- You own an Apple TV and can take advantage of the high-quality streaming experience.
Apple Fitness+ - ($9.99/month)
This is a controversial one, I’m sure. I did enjoy the seamless integration with my Apple Watch that Fitness+ offered, and you can’t argue against the quality of content. The trainers are top-notch, the workouts cover many fitness levels and video lengths, and they draw from Apple Music’s library, so you don’t have to relive my 2010’s nightmare of holding a plank to The Common Domain Song That Never Ends. But… there are so many other fitness options out there. And most of them are free. I just don’t see the need for this one.
My Verdict: It Depends…
It Might Be For You If…
- You pay for many different gym/fitness app subscriptions and are looking for one subscription that provides everything
- You particularly enjoy the format, instructors, and workouts offered
- You love workouts with Apple Watch integration
- You prioritize consistent new content.
Apple News + - ($9.99/month)
I am from a generation unused to paying for news. Not that I don’t think reporters and news outlets should be paid fairly, just that it never crosses my mind. Sure, sometimes I’m blocked by a paywall, but most of the time I can find the information I’m looking for elsewhere. That being said, I’ve had a free trial of Apple News+ and never ended up using it once. I have on occasion tried to tap on a news story that came up as a notification on my iPhone only to find I needed to subscribe to access it, but I’ve never felt bitter swiping away.
My Verdict: Nope!
It Might Be For You If…
- You subscribe to several news sources separately that are all included in Apple News+
- You want access to their digital magazine archives (though who needs that when you have iPhone Life? Cue cheesy grin)
- You enjoy having the news integrated thoroughly with your Apple Devices.
Whether or not an Apple subscription is right for you depends a lot not only on your own needs and preferences, but also which other subscriptions you might want to spring for. Apple One can offer a cheaper way to bundle subscriptions, but it has some gaps in its offering, like only offering Fitness+ in its Premier tier, which has much more than most people will use.
