Apple One vs. Third-Party Subscriptions: Which Is Better Value for Money?
If you’re an Apple fan and use many of its services, you probably already know about Apple One (or you might even be subscribed already).
But what if you’re subscribed to other services and are considering consolidating them all into one monthly fee? Or you’re looking to save some money by getting a complete bundle?
So, let’s look at Apple One and compare it against its most popular competitors. While we’ll check out their differences, we’ll also see if you can save money by going for Apple One.
What Is Apple One?
Apple One is a subscription plan that bundles several Apple services into one monthly payment. It’s like a value meal, where you get a main viand, a side dish, a drink, and a free toy with one purchase.
Apple One includes the following services, depending on your subscription tier:
As of June 2023, its monthly subscription tiers cost $16.95 (Individual), $22.95 (Family), and $32.95 (Premier). But is this monthly cost worth it? Let’s take an in-depth look.
iCloud+ vs. Google One vs. OneDrive
iCloud+ gives you three cloud storage options—50GB for $0.99, 200GB for $2.99, and 2TB for $9.99 monthly. On the other hand, Google One starts at 100GB for $1.99 monthly, while the 200GB and 2TB options are priced the same as iCloud.
Microsoft’s OneDrive is another option. But instead of just cloud storage, the company offers Microsoft 365. The Basic plan costs $1.99 monthly and includes 100GB of cloud storage and web and mobile versions of Microsoft 365.
The Personal Plan, which includes a desktop version of Microsoft 365 and 1TB of cloud storage, costs $6.99, while the Family Plan is $9.99, which still gives you 1TB of storage but includes six users.
iCloud+ is excellent if you’re primarily an Apple user, but if you’re an Android user, iCloud+ isn’t as convenient. Although you canaccess iCloud on your Android phone, Apple doesn’t offer an iCloud app on the Google Play Store.
Google One is an excellent pick for cloud storage, as it costs the same as iCloud+ and has an app for both iOS and Android. However, if you’re buying cloud storage for two or more people (or want the cheapest service), the Microsoft 365 Family Plan is the best option, as it delivers up to 6TB for just $9.99 a month and includes Microsoft 365.
Apple TV+ vs. Netflix
It’s difficult tochoose between Apple TV+ and Netflix, as both are excellent streaming platforms. Although Netflix’s library is far more extensive than Apple’s, both services have incredible exclusives. Netflix has Stranger Things and Peaky Blinders, among others, while Apple TV+ has For All Mankind, Ted Lasso, and more.
So, let’s look at their prices: Apple TV+ only has one subscription tier, costing $6.99 per month. On the other hand, Netflix has four plans:
Apple TV+ lets you watch only on one device at a time, but Netflix’s Standard and Premium tier enables you to watch on two and four devices, respectively. However, withNetflix’s password-sharing crackdown, these devices must all be in the same household.
Apple Music vs. Spotify vs. YouTube Music
Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music have strengths and weaknesses, so we’ll just focus on pricing. Apple Music starts at $4.99/month for basic streaming, but if you want to download songs to your device for offline listening, you must either get the $5.99/month student plan or the $10.99/month individual plan.
On the other hand, you can use YouTube and Spotify for free, although it has ads and is limited to online streaming. Both services offer individual accounts for $9.99 monthly, while you can get a student plan for only $4.99.
YouTube Music, Spotify, and Apple Music also offer family plans for up to six people, costing $14.99, $15.99, and $16.99 per month, respectively.
Apple Arcade vs. Xbox Game Pass vs. Google Play Pass
Apple Arcade costs $4.99 per month and lets you share your subscription with up to five people. This service gives you access to Apple’s gaming library, allowing you to download, install, and play games that are free from ads and microtransactions.
If youcompare Google Play Pass with the Apple Arcade, you’ll find it has the same monthly cost. However, it’s incompatible with iOS and iPadOS, so it’s possible to’t enjoy it on your Apple devices.
Given that, you’re only other option is Xbox Game Pass for iOS. You can play Xbox Game Pass titles on your iPhone or iPad via cloud streaming. It’s also more expensive, at $14.99 a month, but it will allow you to play games on your iPhone or iPad that you’ll never find on the App Store.
Apple Fitness+ vs. Strava
If you’re into exercise and fitness, you’ll want to subscribe to Apple Fitness+, which costs $9.99 monthly. You can also share your subscription with up to five others via Family Sharing.
Strava is another option when it comes to fitness apps. Although it’s not on our list of thebest Apple Fitness+ alternatives, it’s still a great service. Strava is perfect for outdoor activities like running, cycling, and hiking. However, it costs $11.99 a month for an individual: you cannot share its subscription.
Nevertheless, Strava has more features than Apple Fitness+, which primarily focuses on home workouts. So, Strava’s two-dollar premium is perfect for the adventurous users out there.
Apple News+ vs. The Wall Street Journal
Apple News+ is a news reader that lets you read pieces from several publications, including The Wall Street Journal, TIME, Car and Driver, Sports Illustrated, and more. Its subscription costs $9.99 monthly, but the number of publications it includes makes it a great buy—assuming you’re a new reader.
But if you prefer a particular brand, say, The Wall Street Journal, you may subscribe directly for just $2 monthly. However, that limits you to that specific brand.
So, if you want to read news from various sources, the Apple News+ subscription is an excellent pick over The Wall Street Journal, especially as it includes the latter in your purchase.
Will You Save Money With Apple One?
So, now that we know the individual prices of each subscription and its alternatives, will you save money with Apple One? Let’s compare:
Subscription Plan
Individual
$0.99 (50GB)
$2.99 (200GB)
$9.99 (2TB)
Apple Music
Apple Arcade
Apple Fitness+
Not Available
Apple News+
Total Cost
According to our table, you’ll save a lot of money if you pick Apple One over singular subscriptions. But what if you don’t use all the services offered? Let’s consider a situation where you only want 200GB of cloud storage, a streaming service, and a music app.
If you go for Apple’s offerings—namely, the 200GB iCloud+ plan for $2.99, the Apple TV+ subscription for $6.99, and Apple Music for $10.99, you’re only spending $20.97 a month—$1.98 cheaper than the Apple One Family plan.
But if you choose non-Apple subscriptions, like the $2.99 200GB Google One plan, $9.99 for Netflix Basic, and $9.99 for Spotify, you’re paying $22.97 a month—two cents more expensive the Apple One’s Family plan offering.
This result means you should just subscribe individually to Apple services instead of moving to Apple One if you don’t need other subscriptions, like Apple Arcade. But what if you need 200GB of cloud storage, a music streaming service, and gaming on your smart TV? Let’s check out your options:
The 200GB Google One plan will set you back $2.99, Spotify will cost $9.99, and Google Play Pass will cost $4.99, for a total of $17.97 every month. On the other hand, 200G of iCloud storage costs $2.99, Apple Music costs $10.99, and Apple Arcade costs $4.99, for a total of $18.97 monthly.
As you may see, third-party apps are slightly more affordable than Apple’s offering.
Overall, if you use most services offered in Apple One, it’s definitely going to save you some money. But if you only choose a couple of services, you’ll have to quantify it yourself—do Apple’s offerings you use cost less individually? Sometimes, the answer is yes, but there are also times when the answer is no, as we’ve discovered above.
Apple One Is Great Value for Money for a Select Few
The Apple One subscription is an excellent purchase if you use or prefer most of the services included in each plan and live in an all-Apple household.
But if you own a Windows PC or Android device, binge-watch on Amazon Prime or Netflix exclusives, and just can’t be bothered to transfer your massive Spotify playlist, you might be better off picking individual plans to your taste.
Looking to save some money on your Apple subscriptions? Follow these steps to sign up for Apple One instead.
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