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Apple did not eliminate every prepaid AppleCare+ plan. The reported February 2025 change removed, or moved toward removing, the option to buy two- or three-year AppleCare+ coverage upfront at physical Apple Stores and through the AppleCare menu on the device. Monthly and annual plans remained available, and Apple’s current U.S. legal terms still refer to single-pay and fixed-term plans in some circumstances.
That means availability depends on the product, country, purchase date, and sales channel. A plan that is unavailable in an Apple Store may still appear through Apple’s online store or another eligible purchase flow.
What changed with AppleCare+?
On February 2, 2025, reporting attributed to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple was phasing out prepaid two- and three-year AppleCare+ purchases at physical Apple retail stores and in the AppleCare purchase interface on Apple devices. Follow-up coverage reported that the retail change had been implemented by February 4, 2025. See the reports from 9to5Mac, MacRumors, and AppleInsider.
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What “multi-year” means here
- Prepaid or fixed-term AppleCare+: One payment for a defined period, generally two years for many covered devices under Apple’s U.S. terms. Certain Apple Watch Edition and Hermès plans can run for three years.
- Monthly AppleCare+: Recurring coverage that generally renews each month until canceled or otherwise terminated.
- Annual AppleCare+: Recurring one-year periods where Apple offers that option for the product and region.
- AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss: A different plan that adds theft and loss protection for eligible products and has its own fees, limits, and terms.
- AppleCare One: A separate multi-device subscription—not a prepaid replacement for a single-device fixed-term plan.
What changed—and what did not?
| Question | Best-supported answer |
|---|---|
| Did Apple stop selling prepaid AppleCare+ at physical Apple Stores? | Reports said yes, beginning in February 2025. |
| Did Apple eliminate all fixed-term AppleCare+ plans? | Not established. Current Apple U.S. terms still contain single-pay and fixed-term language. |
| Could the online Apple Store show a different option? | Yes. The original report said online prepaid sales would continue for the time being. |
| Were existing prepaid plans canceled? | There is no evidence of a retroactive cancellation or automatic conversion. |
| Can coverage continue after expiration? | Sometimes. Apple says eligible customers might be able to buy new recurring coverage within 45 days after an existing plan expires. |
| Is AppleCare One the same as AppleCare+? | No. It is a separate subscription intended to cover multiple Apple devices. |
Are existing AppleCare+ plans safe?
The reported retail change concerns new purchases and enrollment flows. It does not indicate that Apple canceled existing prepaid coverage. If you already paid for a fixed-term AppleCare+ plan, its coverage should continue under the terms associated with that plan.
Cancellation and refund rules differ between recurring and paid-in-full plans. Apple’s support guidance on canceling AppleCare coverage explains that refunds can depend on factors such as country, state or province, purchase channel, and how long ago the plan was purchased. Some paid-in-full plans may also be transferable to a new owner. Check the applicable terms before canceling if you plan to sell or give away the device.
How to check which AppleCare+ options you actually have
- On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings > General > AppleCare & Warranty. On a Mac, open the AppleCare and warranty information available for that device.
- Review the plan options shown for the specific product. Do not assume another iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch will have the same choices.
- Check Apple’s online purchase flow for the device. A fixed-term option may appear online even if it is not offered in a store or on the device.
- If the option is missing, contact Apple Support and ask specifically whether the device qualifies for a fixed-term, annual, or monthly AppleCare+ plan.
Eligibility windows are product- and region-specific. Do not rely on a generic purchase deadline commonly associated with new devices; follow the offer displayed for your device.
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What happens when AppleCare+ expires?
Apple’s current U.S. support guidance says you might be able to purchase new AppleCare coverage within 45 days after an existing plan expires. The new coverage uses recurring payments, and Apple may require the device to pass an eligibility check. This option is not guaranteed for every product or country and is not an extension of the old prepaid term.
Check Settings > General > AppleCare & Warranty or Apple’s coverage tools soon after expiration if continued protection matters. Details are in Apple’s guidance on obtaining coverage after an AppleCare plan expires.
Does a subscription cost more?
Not necessarily. The answer requires comparing the complete cost for the same device, plan, region, and coverage period.
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Use these calculations:
- Monthly total: monthly price × number of months.
- Annual total: annual price × number of years.
- Fixed-term total: the one-time purchase price for the defined term.
A prepaid plan can provide price certainty and may cost less over the same two- or three-year period. Its disadvantages are the larger upfront payment and the risk of paying for coverage after selling or replacing the device.
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Monthly or annual coverage lowers the initial cost and may let you continue protecting a device beyond its original fixed term. But payments continue until canceled or coverage ends, and renewal pricing or service fees can change subject to the plan terms and required notice. A failed payment can also end recurring coverage.
For a February 2025 U.S. example, coverage cited two-year AppleCare+ for an iPhone 16 Pro Max at $199 upfront versus $9.99 per month. That example is historical and device-specific; it should not be treated as a current 2026 price or applied to other products.
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AppleCare One is not a prepaid-plan replacement
AppleCare One is designed for customers with several eligible Apple devices. Apple’s U.S. marketing page listed it at $19.99 per month for up to three devices, with additional devices listed at $5.99 per month each, as seen on August 18, 2026. Prices and eligibility can change.
The plan may include AppleCare+ benefits and theft and loss coverage for eligible iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch devices. It can make sense for a household with multiple devices, but it is not automatically cheaper than buying individual plans—especially if you own only one iPhone or Mac.
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Why would Apple favor recurring plans?
Recurring coverage creates an ongoing payment relationship and reduces the upfront cost for customers. It may also keep customers covered for longer. Bloomberg’s reporting framed the shift as part of Apple’s broader interest in subscription revenue, but that is reported context and analysis—not a confirmed explanation from Apple.
Regional and product differences matter
The February 2025 reports were primarily about the U.S. retail experience. AppleCare availability, prices, taxes, renewal rules, cancellation rights, insurance arrangements, and consumer protections vary by country and region. The change should not be described as a worldwide ban without country-specific evidence.
Options can also differ based on whether the device was purchased from Apple, a carrier, or an authorized reseller. Some products may offer monthly coverage without offering annual or fixed-term coverage. Apple’s U.S. terms archive separates rules by plan purchase date, including terms for purchases beginning July 15, 2026; the document that applies to your purchase controls.
Which option fits you?
- Choose a fixed-term plan when available if you want one payment, predictable pricing, and expect to keep the device for the full covered period.
- Choose monthly coverage if the upfront cost matters, you may keep the device for several years, or you want the possibility of continuing coverage beyond the original term.
- Compare annual coverage when it is offered and you prefer fewer transactions than monthly billing but do not want a large upfront payment.
- Consider AppleCare One when you have multiple eligible devices and its combined price and benefits beat individual plans for your household.
- Consider Theft and Loss coverage only if that protection is important. Standard AppleCare+ and AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss are not interchangeable.
Before choosing a competing carrier or credit-card benefit, read its current terms. Carrier plans can differ in replacement logistics and billing, while credit-card benefits may cover only extended warranty periods or specific types of damage. Neither should be treated as a full AppleCare+ substitute without checking the actual agreement.
The bottom line
Apple’s February 2025 move was a meaningful shift toward subscription-based AppleCare+ enrollment in physical stores and on-device purchase flows. But “Apple eliminated prepaid multi-year AppleCare+ everywhere” is too broad. Apple’s current U.S. legal documents still reference single-pay and fixed-term plans, while online, product, and regional availability can differ. Check the offer for your exact device and compare the full cost—not just the monthly payment—before enrolling.
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