Yes, Apple One has a free trial, but it isn't a free month of everything. Apple says any services in the bundle you don't already have are free for the first month, while services you already have carry on renewing separately until the trial ends and you switch to Apple One. There's also a separate offer of three months of Apple One with a new iPhone, iPad or Mac.
That first rule is the one to understand before you start. If you already have Apple Music, the Apple One trial won't give you a free month of Apple Music. It only covers the extras. Here's exactly how it works.
What the Apple One free trial covers
Apple's FAQ answers this directly. During the trial:
- Any Apple One services you don't already have are free for the first month.
- Any services you already have continue on their own until the trial is over and you move onto a full Apple One plan.
- After the free trial, the plan renews automatically as a monthly plan, with no long commitment.
Apple's offer terms add that the trial only includes services you're not currently using through a free trial or a membership. So if you're midway through an Apple TV trial, Apple TV won't count as part of your Apple One trial either.
Apple One plans at a glance
Apple says Apple One bundles up to six Apple services with up to 2 TB of iCloud+ storage, depending on the plan:
| Plan | Who it's for | Sharing |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | One person | Apple TV and Apple Arcade still include Family Sharing |
| Family | You plus up to five others | Share every included service through Family Sharing |
| Premier | You plus up to five others, with the full set of services and 2 TB of iCloud+ | Share every included service through Family Sharing |
Apple notes that Family Sharing doesn't switch on by itself. You need to set it up and invite people before they can use the services.
The 3-month offer with a new device
Apple also offers three months of Apple One with any new iPhone, iPad or Mac. Its terms set a few limits:
- It's for new and qualified returning members.
- It's one offer per Apple Account, and one per family if you're in a Family Sharing group, regardless of how many devices you get.
- It isn't available if you or your family have accepted an Apple One three-months-free offer before.
- The offer is good for three months after you first activate the eligible device.
If someone in your family claimed it on their new phone, your new laptop won't bring another one.
How to start the Apple One trial
- Use an iPhone with iOS 14 or later, an iPad with iPadOS 14 or later, or a Mac with macOS Big Sur or later. Apple says those can sign up for Apple One.
- Sign up through Apple One in the App Store, or go to Settings, then Account, and manage your Apple services from there.
- Check which services you already have, because those won't be part of the free month.
- Confirm the trial. Apple says it renews automatically after the trial until you cancel.
- If you picked Family or Premier, set up Family Sharing and invite your family members.
Moving across from separate services
Apple's FAQ says any existing services included in your Apple One plan become part of it automatically, and they stop renewing separately. The exception is iCloud+: if your current iCloud+ plan has more storage than your new Apple One plan, Apple says that iCloud+ plan carries on separately, though you can cancel it. If you cancel Apple One later, Apple says you'll get the chance to keep any individual services you want.
How to cancel
Apple's FAQ says you can cancel in Settings under your Apple Account at least a day before your monthly renewal date, and you keep access until the end of the cycle. You can also cancel on the web. If there's no Cancel button, Apple's support page says the plan is already cancelled.
Apple may suggest Apple One for you
Apple also says that if signing up for Apple One would work out better than separate services, it automatically recommends an Apple One plan when you sign up for an individual Apple service, based on what you already have.
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Is the Apple One free trial worth it?
It's worth it if you're about to add two or more Apple services anyway, because the free month covers everything you don't have yet. It's less useful if you already have most of them, since those keep renewing as normal during the trial. If Apple Music is part of the plan you're testing, here's how to move your Spotify playlists to Apple Music, and if Fitness+ is the draw, my round-up of the best Apple Watch apps is a good next stop.
My verdict: list the Apple services you already have before you start, because the free month only covers the rest. If you've just bought a new iPhone, iPad or Mac, check the three-month offer first.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Apple One free trial?
Apple says services you don't already have are free for the first month. With a new iPhone, iPad or Mac, Apple also offers three months of Apple One.
Does the Apple One trial include services I already have?
No. Apple says the trial only includes services you're not currently using through a free trial or a membership, and the ones you have carry on separately until the trial ends.
Can my family share the Apple One trial?
On Family and Premier, yes. Apple says you can share with up to five other people through Family Sharing, but you need to set it up.
What happens to my iCloud+ storage when I join Apple One?
Apple says it becomes part of Apple One, unless your current iCloud+ plan has more storage than your Apple One plan. Then it carries on separately and you can cancel it.
How do I cancel the Apple One free trial?
Apple says you can cancel in Settings under your Apple Account at least a day before your renewal date, and you keep access until the end of that cycle.
Can I get the 3-month Apple One offer twice?
No. Apple says it's one offer per Apple Account and one per family, and it isn't available if your family has accepted an Apple One three-months-free offer before.
