Apple has a strong affinity for its own products and services. With offerings such as the iPhone, Mac, Apple TV, Apple News, and Apple Music, users can immerse themselves in a comprehensive digital lifestyle without stepping outside Apple’s ecosystem. However, there once was no streamlined option to consolidate these services, leading to potentially exorbitant costs if you wished to acquire all Apple devices and subscriptions. This changed in 2020 with the introduction of Apple One, a subscription package that encompassed access to Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud+ storage. An upgraded version added Apple Fitness+ and Apple News+, alongside a boost in storage to 2TB.

The caveat? Despite Apple One being more economical than purchasing each service separately, it has recently undergone significant price hikes since its inception. Originally, the plan started at $14.95 per month and caped at $29.95. Now, subscribers face fees ranging from $19.95 to a steep $37.95 per month. The question remains: Have the enhancements warranted the increased rate, or is it more sensible to select the individual services you actually use?

Apple One Subscription Options

Apple currently offers three distinct Apple One plans, all maintaining the same fundamental offerings. As of now, subscribers can opt for:

• Individual plan: Includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud+ storage for $19.95 per month (up from $14.95 in 2020).

• Family plan: Offers Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 200GB of iCloud+ storage for $24.95 per month (an increase from $19.95 in 2020) for up to five individuals.

• Premier plan: This comprehensive option provides Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 2TB of iCloud+ storage for $37.95 per month (a rise from $29.95 in 2020) available to up to five users.

A few notable points appear here. To begin, all the plans have seen price rises surpassing standard inflation rates, as recorded by the official US Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator, with the Family plan being the exception. Secondly, Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+ are exclusively available in the Premier plan, although this has been the structure from the start. Lastly, while a plethora of value exists for households filled with Apple enthusiasts, the basic services remain unchanged and lack any additional in-app features for Apple One users, painting a less favorable picture for the brand.

However, the complete picture is more complex than mere numbers indicate. Apple has made strides in enhancing its services since 2020, although the extent of these improvements might vary by the subscription plan chosen.

Apple News+

For many Apple One subscribers, the most compelling enhancements are found in Apple News+. Recently, this service has pivoted towards aspects like games and recipes, inspired perhaps by publications such as The New York Times.

Among its latest initiatives is the Emoji Game, which mimics Wordle but with emojis. Launched on World Emoji Day 2025, this feature supplements existing puzzles, including daily crosswords and Sudoku initiated in 2023. This creative addition reflects Apple’s focus on innovative experiences, a trend that might well continue in the future.

For those uninterested in puzzles, the News+ app introduced a Food section, offering an extensive array of recipes, restaurant critiques, and culinary tips sourced from a variety of publishers. Apple’s editorial team curates content into a unified list, making it accessible and aesthetically appealing.

While these additions may not cater to everyone’s tastes, they illustrate Apple’s commitment to remaining competitive as gaming and media apps continue gaining popularity.

Apple Music+

For those less interested in news, Apple Music+ has seen its own notable enhancements since 2020. In 2021, Apple Music+ introduced spatial audio and lossless audio across its library. With the upcoming iOS 26 release, Music+ is poised to debut a range of new features, including time-synced lyrics translations, pronunciation guides, an Automix capability for seamless track transitions, animated album art on the lock screen, and a karaoke function for iPhone iOS 26 users with Apple TV access.

This extensive feature set is currently in testing through a developer beta, with plans for a public beta to follow shortly.

Apple Fitness+

For those less frequent at the gym, interest in these upgrades may dwindle. However, Apple Fitness+ has introduced Strava integration for better running metrics, a feature that fitness enthusiasts will appreciate. The service has also rolled out multi-week exercise regimens designed to progressively strengthen users over time, as well as improved visibility for its Custom Plans launched in 2023.

Apple Arcade

Gaming enthusiasts will find Apple Arcade particularly engaging. This service has featured exclusive games and adaptations from prevalent titles, all devoid of microtransactions. The game library continually evolves, with new titles being added while others may be removed or lose exclusive rights. Notably, one’s enjoyment of Arcade may hinge on the current game assortment, yet an incoming upgrade, the Apple Games app, will enhance the overall experience by allowing navigation via controller, presenting all Apple Arcade games in a focused format.

Apple TV+

The Apple TV experience has evolved, highlighted by a recent app redesign that enhances content discovery alongside improvements in subtitles and dialogue within tvOS 18. Although several of these advancements are exclusive to Apple TV box users, each device compatible with the Apple TV+ app benefits from streaming the latest shows.

Since 2020, Apple’s library has featured numerous acclaimed titles, including the breakout hit Severance, a sci-fi workplace drama, to the well-received spy thriller Slow Horses and Seth Rogen’s satirical piece, The Studio, which garnered multiple Emmy nominations. It appears Apple is spearheading a new wave of prestige television.

Apple iCloud+

Last but not least, there’s iCloud+. This service is straightforward, maintaining the same storage options as established in 2020. The notable addition here is Apple Invites, which serves as a response to event organization apps like Partiful. Users must be iCloud+ subscribers to create invitations, although anyone can receive them, which might feel limiting.

Evaluating the Worth of Apple One

After reviewing Apple One’s development since its launch, it’s evident that the service has not stagnated, yet its value may vary depending on the user’s household profile.

For individuals, subscribing might not seem justified unless you’re heavily engaged with Apple’s ecosystem and utilize many of its services. If Apple Fitness+, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade aren’t part of your routine, it may lead to overpaying, especially with recent price surges relative to general inflation. The array of improvements might not be sufficient to justify the higher cost.

Conversely, if you belong to a household filled with Apple devotees, the service begins to present value. The Premier plan, while expensive, offers a savings of $29 per month compared to subscribing to each service separately for one person. It’s even more attractive with multiple users collectively benefiting from Apple One. The Family Plan is another favorable option for those not requiring Fitness+ or News+ or for those with different storage needs.

Nonetheless, the desire for lower-cost tiers that include Fitness+ and News+ remains. For those who enjoy Apple products yet exist outside the family dynamic, paying for a comprehensive package intended for multiple users may not feel entirely worthwhile, even if bundled savings are evident compared to individual subscriptions.