What is AppleCare+, and is it worth the price? 2025 overview

Speaking honestly, I've gone back and forth on AppleCare+ for years. Sometimes, I skip it, only to regret it later when my iPhone gets damaged. Other times, when I buy it and nothing happens to my phone, I feel like I've wasted my money.

I'm sure you're dealing with the same dilemma. Is AppleCare worth it, or should you just risk it?

I'll break down everything AppleCare+ covers, including its cost and service charges, to help you decide whether you should get it for your new Apple device.

What is AppleCare+?

AppleCare is an insurance plan for Apple devices. It extends the standard warranty to cover other items, such as device breakage and battery deterioration. Subscribers also get access to priority technical support and extras, such as a replacement device if their repair takes longer than expected.

AppleCare+ applies to a single device, and you can purchase it at the time of buying that device. If you don't, you'll have 90 days to activate the service, which you can do right from your iPhone or Mac. You can choose to pay monthly, or for one, two, or three years upfront.

AppleCare vs. AppleCare Plus

AppleCare is Apple’s standard limited warranty that comes with all devices, giving you one year of coverage for hardware issues and 90 days of free technical support. But here’s the catch — it only covers problems caused by factory defects. So if you accidentally drop your phone or spill coffee on your MacBook, you're out of luck.

On the other hand, AppleCare+ extends this warranty beyond the single year, and it covers accidental damage from handling, or ADH. If you accidentally break your screen or back glass, you’ll only need to pay a small service fee for Apple to fix it. Battery replacements don’t even have a service fee.

So, how does AppleCare+ work compared to the limited warranty? Here's a quick look at the differences:

If you need…	What AppleCare gives you	What AppleCare+ gives you
Coverage length	Just 1 year of hardware + 90 days of support	Up to 3 years (depends on the device)
Accidental damage	Not included	Covered with a small service fee
Battery replacement	Only for battery defects	Covered if battery health drops below 80%
Screen repairs	Not covered	Discounted service fee
Tech support	90 days only	24/7 priority support
Loss & Theft option	Not available	Included for iPhones (at extra cost)
International repairs	Limited options	Covered at Apple Stores and authorized providers

How to check if you have AppleCare

It's always a good idea to know your coverage status and when it's set to expire so that you can extend it on time. You can do so right from your device or through Apple's website.

Here's how to check whether you have AppleCare or AppleCare+ on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General > About.
3. AppleCare & Warranty (or Limited Warranty).
4. Tap your device.

If you have AppleCare+, you'll see the coverage details and expiration date.

To check whether you have AppleCare or AppleCare+ using your Mac, here's what you should do:

1. Click the Apple menu > System Settings.
2. Click General.
3. Click AppleCare & Warranty.

You should see the validity status and details of your coverage.

Also read: What to do if your MacBook Pro screen goes black.

Is AppleCare+ worth subscribing to?

If you're wondering, "Should I get AppleCare+?" the answer is: it depends.

AppleCare+ can be your best friend if you often drop or lose your iPhone. But if your biggest worry is software issues and priority support, you might not need it. Apple devices have a long history of being reliable, and the most common problems most of us face, such as slow performance or overheating, can be fixed without AppleCare+.

Optimize your Mac performance

An app like CleanMyMac can help you optimize your Mac's performance by clearing clutter, uninstalling unwanted programs, updating apps, and scanning for malware. I often use its Smart Care tool to scan my entire Mac and identify issues and actions I need to take to get everything performing optimally.

Manage your iPhone storage

CleanMy®Phone does the same for iPhones. It helps you manage device storage and organize your files. It focuses on photos and videos, since they tend to take up the most space. It can identify duplicates and blurry shots, organize photos by category, and group similar photos or unique ones.

Monitor your Mac’s system

iStat Menus is another app I use to make sure my Mac works as expected and identify any potential issues before they become problems. It's a comprehensive Mac monitor that gives stats on the CPU load, memory load, disk usage, temperature, fan sensors, and battery, among others.

What does AppleCare+ cover?

AppleCare+ extends the standard (limited) warranty to give subscribers additional coverage and advantages. Here's what it covers.

Lower repair costs

AppleCare+ insures your iPhone or Mac against accidental damage. It doesn't cover the whole cost of repair (you'll still need to pay a service fee), but the cost will be way lower than regular repairs.

For example, breaking the front glass of your iPhone 16 Pro will set you back $329, compared to a service fee of just $29 with AppleCare+. For a cracked screen and a damaged back glass, the cost is $429 without AppleCare+ and $58 with AppleCare+.

Apple-certified repairs

When you go to third-party repair shops, you won’t know the quality until the work is done. AppleCare+ handles all repairs and other services by Apple-trained technicians using genuine Apple products. This guarantees your device will work as before, and your warranty stays intact.

24/7 tech support

If you run into a problem you can't fix yourself, you can always reach out to Apple. AppleCare+ subscribers get priority access to the support team, who can quickly diagnose the issue. It's a great perk, especially if you're not very tech-savvy.

Free battery replacement

AppleCare+ covers replacements when your battery health drops below 80% of its original capacity. You won't have to pay anything, which is great, considering regular replacement costs $99.

Theft and Loss protection (iPhone only)

iPhone users can expand their AppleCare+ to cover theft and loss. If your phone gets lost or stolen, you can get a replacement for $149, which is much cheaper than buying a new one that usually costs over $1,000.

How much does AppleCare+ cost?

AppleCare+ pricing varies depending on the device and whether you want to make a one-time or monthly subscription payment.

Here's a quick overview of what it costs to insure various Apple devices.

Macs and MacBooks:

• Mac mini starts at $3.49/month or $34.99/year, while Mac Studio and iMac are $5.99/month or $59.99/year.
• Mac Pro is the most expensive at $17.99/month or $179.99/year.
• MacBook Air costs $6.99–$7.99/month or $69.99–$79.99/year.
• MacBook Pro ranges from $9.99 to $14.99/month or $99.99–$149.99/year.

iPhones (with Theft and Loss Protection):

• From $9.99/month (iPhone 16e) to $13.99/month (iPhone 16 Pro Max).

iPads:

• $3.49–$8.49/month or $34.99–$84.99/year, based on model.

Apple Watch:

• $2.49–$4.99/month or $24.99–$49.99/year across models.

Note that the pricing may vary slightly depending on the region.

How to cancel AppleCare+?

At some point, you may feel that the coverage isn’t worth it or you no longer need it. The good thing is you can cancel it at any time. If you're within the first 30 days, you'll even get a full refund, minus the cost of any services you might have received.

If you're past the 30-day period, Apple says it will give you a refund for the remaining coverage you won’t be using.

Here's how to cancel AppleCare+ on iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings > Apple Account.
2. Tap Subscriptions.
3. Tap AppleCare+.
4. Tap Cancel Subscription.

Here's how to cancel AppleCare+ on Mac:

1. Open the App Store app.
2. Click on your name.
3. Click Account Settings > Manage.
4. Click AppleCare+.
5. Click Cancel Subscription.

Ideally, cancel yours at least a day before the subscription is due.

Is AppleCare+ worth it? Final thoughts

If you want to know that your i is always protected, no matter what, then AppleCare+ is the right investment.

But is AppleCare worth it for a MacBook? Depends on how careful you are with your device. For me, the biggest concern is software; that’s why I stick to apps like CleanMyMac (for my MacBook) and CleanMy®Phone (for my iPhone) that do all the job. They’re my favorite when it comes to need-to-optimize-my-device time. Plus, I keep an eye on how my MacBook works with the help of iStat Menus, which monitors the device’s system in real-time, and I can get stats from the menu bar.

You can get all these apps with Setapp. It’s a cool subscription service with 250+ top macOS and iOS apps in one place, all available under a single subscription plan. It comes with a 7-day free trial, so make sure to give it a try!