Apple has introduced new AppleCare+ options that change the question from “Do I need coverage?” to “Which plan fits my devices?” The lineup now includes individual plans, AppleCare One for multiple devices, and AppleCare One Family for households with several Apple products and users.
Every Apple device already includes a one-year warranty at no extra cost. That warranty covers problems such as factory defects and hardware failures, but it does not cover accidental damage, theft, or loss. Those limits make AppleCare+ a separate choice for people who want help with more types of repairs.
What AppleCare+ covers
AppleCare+ plans include unlimited repairs for accidental damage, although each repair can still include a service fee. A damaged iPhone screen costs $29 to repair under the plan, while other phone damage costs $99. Theft or loss replacement carries a $149 service fee.
The monthly cost depends on the device and the coverage selected. AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss for an iPhone 17 Pro costs $13.99 a month or $139.99 per year. The same coverage for an iPhone 17e costs $9.99 monthly or $99.99 yearly, while AirPods Pro coverage costs $1.99 a month or $19.99 a year.
Those prices matter because a single repair can make coverage easier to justify. A full year of AppleCare for an iPhone 17, combined with the screen repair fee, costs less than one out-of-warranty screen fix. For someone worried about a cracked screen, that difference can turn AppleCare+ from an optional expense into a practical way to control repair costs.
Still, the value depends on how many devices need protection and what kinds of problems concern the owner. The one-year warranty already handles factory defects and hardware failures, so AppleCare+ adds the most value for accidental damage, damaged screens, theft, and loss.
AppleCare One covers more devices
AppleCare One covers three devices for $19.99 per month. Each additional device costs another $5.99. AppleCare+ for individuals, by comparison, covers three devices registered under the subscriber’s Apple ID, giving one person a way to group eligible products under coverage instead of managing each plan separately.
AppleCare One is available outside the US in the UK, France, Germany, and Australia. The plan is aimed at people who have several Apple products, since one monthly payment can cover a group of devices rather than relying on separate coverage for each one.
AppleCare One Family extends that idea to a household. It costs $50 per month and covers all eligible devices for up to six family members. The Family plan covers most Apple products less than four years old, and members can add older devices under the plan. New devices using a family member’s Apple ID are automatically included.
The Family plan also includes battery replacement at no cost, along with repairs for accidental damage, damaged screens, and damaged back glass. That combination may appeal to households with several phones and other Apple products, especially when more than one person wants theft and loss coverage.
Family coverage has a clear limit
AppleCare One Family limits theft and loss claims to six per year. If six people belong to the plan, that works out to one claim per person for the year. The limit is important because the Family plan covers up to six members, but theft and loss protection is not unlimited in the same way accidental-damage repairs are.
To sign up for AppleCare One Family, users must set up Family Sharing in Settings. That step connects the eligible devices and users under the family group, while new devices using a member’s Apple ID join automatically.
How other insurance compares
AppleCare+ is not the only option. Third-party insurance plans are available from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and MVNOs such as Mint Mobile, as well as SquareTrade. AT&T plans start at $16 a month, with no deductible on certain repairs. SquareTrade’s accidental-damage-only plans start at $8.99 a month.
Those alternatives show why the cheapest monthly price does not tell the whole story. SquareTrade starts below AppleCare+ coverage for an iPhone 17e, but its listed option covers accidental damage only. AppleCare+ plans can include theft and loss, while the repair fee depends on the problem.
The choice comes down to the device, the number of people covered, and the risk a user wants to manage. A single iPhone owner may prefer an individual AppleCare+ plan, while someone with several devices can consider AppleCare One. A household with eligible products for several people may find AppleCare One Family easier to manage, provided the six-claim yearly limit fits its needs.
AppleCare+ does not replace the one-year warranty; it adds coverage beyond factory defects and hardware failures. The new plans make that extra coverage available in more ways, from a single device to a group of products shared by an entire family.
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