Apple Care Price: Retail, Deals & Price History

AppleCare+ is Apple's optional protection plan. It extends hardware coverage and adds accidental damage repairs for a fee. The monthly price depends on the device, and a newer or more expensive device costs more to cover.

The figures below come from Macworld and Apple's plan pages. Apple adjusts plan prices when it launches new devices, so confirm the number on Apple's site before you buy.

For iPhone, the plan costs $11.99/mo for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16, and $13.99/mo for the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Other devices cost less: $6.49/mo for the 11-inch iPad Air, $7.49/mo for the 13-inch MacBook Air, and $4.99/mo for the Apple Watch Series 11.

Those are monthly prices. You can cancel a monthly plan, which is the main difference from paying once for a fixed term.

Apple lets you pay for iPhone coverage monthly or yearly.

The annual plan costs $119.99/yr for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16, and $139.99/yr for the Pro models and the iPhone Air. Compare that with twelve months of the monthly plan before you choose. The annual option may save money if you plan to keep the coverage for the whole year, and the monthly option gives you flexibility to stop.

The plan price is only part of the cost. When you file a claim for accidental damage, you pay a service fee.

A cracked iPhone screen or back glass costs $29 to fix with coverage. Other accidental damage on an iPhone costs $99. Apple Watch accidental damage starts at $69, and headphone damage costs $29.

Compare those fees with the repair price without coverage. A screen repair can cost much more out of pocket than the service fee, which is where the plan pays for itself. Apple's repair page lists what you would pay without AppleCare+ for your model.

AppleCare One covers several devices under one subscription instead of one plan per device.

AppleCare One Individual starts at $19.99/mo and covers up to three products. Each extra product adds $5.99/mo. AppleCare One Family covers up to six people and costs $49.99/mo.

If you own an iPhone, an Apple Watch, and a laptop, one subscription may cost less than three separate plans. Add up the individual plan prices for your devices to see which is cheaper.

Coverage varies by device and by the date you buy. In general, it extends repair coverage past the standard warranty and includes accidental damage incidents, each subject to a service fee. Battery service is part of the plan on many devices when the battery falls below a set level of health. Some plans include other benefits such as priority support.

Loss and theft are covered only by plans that say so, so do not assume a standard AppleCare+ plan replaces a lost iPhone. Read the terms for your device on Apple's website.

It depends on the device and on how you use it. Consider:

• Repair cost. A device that is expensive to repair makes the plan more valuable.
• Risk. If you drop your phone often or work in rough settings, accidental damage coverage is more likely to pay off.
• Time. You may only need coverage during the first year or two, when the device is new and holds its resale value.
• Alternatives. Some credit cards and carrier plans include protection, so check those before you pay for another plan.

A carefully handled device in a good case may never use what the plan costs. A phone with a history of drops may come out cheaper with coverage. This is general guidance, not financial advice.

You can add AppleCare+ when you buy the device, and Apple also allows you to add it later within a limited window, which varies by product. Waiting too long can mean you cannot add it, so check the deadline on Apple's page. You buy the plan through Apple's website, the Apple Store, or the Settings app on your device.