AppleCare+ Renewable Monthly Payment Plans Now Available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch

Last year, Apple added monthly payment options to some of its AppleCare+ protection plans on select devices, and now the company has decided to make them even more flexible: On Tuesday, it began offering rolling monthly subscription plans that automatically renew until canceled by the customer.

AppleCare+ renewable monthly plan offered at checkout
As reported by 9to5Mac, customers purchasing an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch can now continue to pay for monthly AppleCare+ coverage for as long as they like, or until Apple can no longer service the device.

The key change in the company's new AppleCare+ legal document was spotted in the following passage, which sets out the terms of Apple's monthly plans.

For Monthly Plans, your Plan Term is one (1) month. Your Plan will automatically renew each month unless cancelled as set forth in the "Cancellation" Section 9 below, including in the event that Apple is no longer able to service your Covered Equipment due to the unavailability of service parts, in which case Apple will provide you with thirty (30) days' prior written notice of cancellation, or as otherwise required by law.

When purchasing an Apple Watch Series 5, iPhone, or iPad via Apple's online store, the change is explicit. Customers who choose AppleCare+ are now asked if they want to "Pay monthly until canceled," as opposed to paying for two years of coverage outright.

However, the subscription-style monthly plans aren't universally available on the Apple Store. For Macs, Apple TV, HomePod, and other AppleCare+ eligible products, Apple is still only offering upfront fixed term payment plans.

It's also worth noting that the monthly AppleCare+ plans do cost more than paying an upfront price. For example, an AppleCare+ plan for Apple Watch Series 5 totals $95.76 when paid monthly for two years, whereas paying for 24 months of coverage upfront costs $79.

Still, it does mean customers who want coverage beyond the two (or in some cases three) years now have the ability to subscribe and the flexibility to cancel whenever they choose.

Apple has yet to open orders for the new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, so the AppleCare+ options don't show yet, but we do know that upfront pricing is going to be $149 and $199, respectively, for those models, and we can be fairly sure that the new monthly rolling plans will be extended to them, too.

Tag: AppleCare

Top Rated Comments

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QquegChristian

2 weeks ago

Not sure if I’m missing something, but I’ve had AppleCare on a monthly basis since last years’ Apple Watch Series 4 and iPhone XS Max came out. How is this different from this year?

You can keep paying for the coverage after 2 years.

I was just thinking that now that I’ve decided to keep my X a third year that a mishap this year would be a big blow without coverage and end up costing me almost as much out of pocket to fix as selling my phone and upgrading to the 11 Pro now.

Rating: 3 Votes

bronksy

2 weeks ago

Re-reading the article, it looks like the 3 year time frame is a MacRumors and not Apple statement. Apple appears to be now offering coverage that will go beyond the traditional 2 years of AppleCare+ on a month-to-month basis, and there doesn't appear to be any time limit on that. However, this timeframe isn't truly unlimited:

"including in the event that Apple is no longer able to service your Covered Equipment due to the unavailability of service parts, in which case Apple will provide you with thirty (30) days' prior written notice of cancellation, or as otherwise required by law"

My guess is that coverage can continue so as long as Apple can service the device, and it's not considered obsolete per below list:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201624

MacRumors appears to be hinting at the fact that this new extended coverage option is perfect for users that keep their phones beyond the usual 2 year coverage period Apple has historically offered, but it's not necessarily limited to 3 years.

Unfortunately, it would appear you still can't add AppleCare+ after 60 days from purchase of the item.

So you can buy the plan on the 2 year plan then roll into a pay monthly if you want- OR do you have to start paying monthly from the beginning if you want to roll past the 2 years?

Rating: 2 Votes

ijordano

2 weeks ago

Everything is a subscription now: your iPhone, your TV, your music, your office applications, and now, your warranty...just insane....

Your optional, extended warranty with extra features. Get a grip

Rating: 2 Votes

newyorksole

2 weeks ago

Ah ok that makes sense. Very interesting. Thanks for clarifying.

Rating: 1 Votes

Canubis

2 weeks ago

Can one really count on this for more than 2 years? Who says Apple won't just cancel the plans beyond 2 years or after the first incident?

Rating: 1 Votes

tbayrgs

2 weeks ago

I am curious what happens when you purchase another Apple Watch or any Apple devices for that matter.

So based on that language, if you have an Apple Watch for 3 years and then purchase another one, you can keep paying the monthly fee and you would be covered?

Applecare+ is device specific.

If you choose to pay monthly for Applecare+ on an iPhone, Watch, or iPad, you will be automatically billed every month until you cancel it or Apple no longer services that model (becomes ‘vintage’). That Applecare+ plan is tied to that specific serial number and only that number. If you purchase a new watch, you would need to sign up for Applecare+ again for that specific device.
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Is there no way to pay it upfront anymore on an iPhone?

Yup, you can pay for the first two years upfront. At the end of those two years, you can roll into the monthly plan going forward from that point if you choose.

Rating: 1 Votes

Dwalls90

2 weeks ago

Yeah a lot of these new articles are confusing. This 1 included.

I still don’t see where Apple says you can still pay for AppleCare beyond 2 years. Let me look again Lol.

Can one really count on this for more than 2 years? Who says Apple won't just cancel the plans beyond 2 years or after the first incident?

Rating: 1 Votes

jaack

2 weeks ago

Anyone know if they are bringing the monthly plan to the UK

It's not available for the Apple Watch preorders so probably not this year (or for now at least)

Rating: 1 Votes

ApfelKuchen

2 weeks ago

Sometimes it pays to read the Terms and Conditions (note that it's important to read the Terms and Conditions that apply where you live, since they can vary from country to country).

Interesting note regarding renewals (quoting the US Terms and Conditions, emphasis added):

For Single-Pay Plans, your Plan Term is two (2) years (or three (3) years for Apple Watch Edition or Hermès). Apple is not obligated to renew your Single-Pay Plan. If Apple does offer to renew, Apple will determine the price and terms.

That emphasized part is new. Previously there was no mention of renewal at all. That suggests that Apple is allowing for the possibility of extending the coverage past 2/3 years.

Until now, AppleCare has not been renewable under any circumstances. It appears they've reconsidered. On the monthly payment plans that makes AppleCare+ consistent with most of the monthly plans offered by the phone companies, which typically bill monthly on an indefinite basis. And if they do offer extensions on the pay-in-one-lump-sum plans... also a big change for Apple.

Can one really count on this for more than 2 years? Who says Apple won't just cancel the plans beyond 2 years or after the first incident?

Apple's Terms and Conditions do cover these questions. For the month-to-month plans (again, the US terms):

For Monthly Plans, your Plan Term is one (1) month. Your Plan will automatically renew each month unless cancelled as set forth in the “Cancellation” Section 9 below, including in the event that Apple is no longer able to service your Covered Equipment due to the unavailability of service parts, in which case Apple will provide you with thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of cancellation, or as otherwise required by law.

In other words, the monthly plan is no longer a 2-year plan, but an indefinitely renewing plan. As far as cancellations go, the Terms do describe the circumstances under which Apple is able to cancel. The reasons for cancellation by Apple would be non-payment of monthly plans, fraud, or repair parts becoming unavailable.

9.2 Apple’s Cancellation Rights

If your Payment Source cannot be charged for any reason for amounts due, including for any Monthly Plan renewal payment, and you have not otherwise made the appropriate payment by the due date or any applicable renewal date, your Plan may be cancelled for nonpayment and your Plan coverage will cease from the due date or renewal date.

Additionally, unless applicable local law provides otherwise, Apple may cancel this Plan for fraud or material misrepresentation, or if service parts for the Covered Equipment are not available, upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice. If local law permits and Apple cancels this Plan for the unavailability of service parts, you will receive a pro-rata refund for the Plan’s unexpired Term.

I've never heard of someone's coverage being canceled after a single incident.

Rating: 1 Votes