AppleCare+ and AppleCare One provide many of the same core protection benefits, but they are designed for different types of Apple customers.
AppleCare+ is designed around covering an individual product. AppleCare One instead combines coverage for multiple eligible Apple products into a single monthly plan, making it particularly relevant to people who own an iPhone alongside products such as an iPad, Mac, Apple Watch or AirPods.
In the United States, AppleCare One Individual starts at $19.99 per month for up to three eligible products, with additional products costing $5.99 per month each. In the United Kingdom, AppleCare One starts at £16.99 per month for three products, with additional devices costing £4.99 per month each.
Both include AppleCare+ benefits such as unlimited repairs for accidental damage, battery service when the covered battery meets Apple’s service criteria and priority access to Apple support. AppleCare One also includes theft and loss protection for covered iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch models.
One important difference is eligibility. AppleCare One can allow customers to add devices they already own rather than limiting enrollment only to a newly purchased product. Apple says eligible existing devices generally need to be in good condition and four years old or newer, while eligible headphones must generally be one year old or newer. An inspection or diagnostic check may be required.
AppleCare+ can still make more sense if you only want protection for one product. AppleCare One becomes more interesting as the number of Apple products you want covered increases, although the exact saving depends on the devices and individual AppleCare+ plans being compared.
The decision therefore comes down less to the type of protection and more to how many products you need to cover. Before switching, compare the current AppleCare+ cost for your specific devices with the AppleCare One price available in your country.
