Gaming Subscriptions · pricing · Updated September 2026
Apple Arcade pricing (2026)
Apple Arcade starts at $4.17/mo (Apple Arcade — Annual) as checked on 2026-09-02, read from Apple Arcade's own pricing page; 2 plans. Best for Apple device households wanting premium, curated games without ads or in-app purchases. Every figure below links to its source and the date we captured it.
At a glance
- Entry price: $4.17/mo (Apple Arcade — Annual)
- Free tier: No · 30-day trial
- Compliance: HIPAA — · SOC 2 — · GDPR —
- Best for: Apple device households wanting premium, curated games without ads or in-app purchases; Parents looking for a safe, ad-free gaming environment for children; Families — up to 5 members covered under one subscription; Casual and mid-core gamers on iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV; Players who want offline play without needing a console or PC
As of · every figure below links to its source
Apple Arcade plans & pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Billing | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Arcade — Monthly | $6.99 | −40% | flat | 200+ exclusive games across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV. Family Sharing included (up to 5 additional family members at no extra cost). New device purchasers may receive a 3-month free trial. | apple.com |
| Apple Arcade — Annual | $4.17 | — | flat | Billed as $49.99/yr ($4.17/mo effective). Month-to-month rate is $6.99/mo. Discount ~40% vs monthly. Same content as monthly plan. | apple.com |
Last verified 2026-09-02. Primary: official page https://www.apple.com/apple-arcade/ fetched 2026-06-14 — returned monthly and annual USD pricing. Corroboration: Wikipedia Apple Arcade article confirmed identical prices ($6.99/mo, $49.99/yr). Re-verified 2026-09-02 against the live pricing page; published figures unchanged. Cross-checked against en.wikipedia.org.
Price changes
Price on record
$4.17/moFirst on record 2026-06-27
A new dated entry is stamped here each time the price moves — the record builds itself.
Tracked since June 2026. No change record has cleared two sources yet, so nothing is published on the wire.
Capabilities
Integrations: Apple One bundle (Individual, Family, Premier tiers), Apple Games app (personalized recommendations), Game Center (achievements and leaderboards), iCloud (cross-device save sync), Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro.
Key features: 200+ exclusive games with no ads and no in-app purchases across all titles; Arcade Originals — exclusive titles (Sneaky Sasquatch, Sonic Dream Team, What the Golf?, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Hello Kitty Island Adventure); App Store Greats — premium mobile games curated for Arcade; Full offline play supported — no internet connection required during gameplay; iCloud sync across all linked Apple devices; Family Sharing — up to 5 family members included at no extra cost; Game Center integration — achievements, leaderboards, social features; Controller support — DualSense, Xbox controller, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, Joy-Cons (iOS 16+); Available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro.
Plan limits: No free tier — paid subscription required; 1-month free trial (standalone); 3-month trial with eligible new Apple device purchase; One offer per Apple Account — ineligible if previously redeemed a trial; Game progress stored in iCloud — lost if iCloud account is unlinked after cancellation; App Store Greats category limited to iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro (not all platforms); Game controller support varies by individual title; Regional content availability restrictions apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Apple Arcade cost?
Apple Arcade starts at $4.17/mo (Apple Arcade — Annual); it has 2 published plans. Verified 2026-09-02.
Is Apple Arcade cheaper billed annually?
Yes. Apple Arcade publishes a 40% discount for paying annually (on the Apple Arcade — Monthly plan). Verified 2026-09-02.
What are cheaper alternatives to Apple Arcade?
Cheaper gaming subscriptions than Apple Arcade (entry $4.17/mo) include Nintendo Switch Online at $1.67/mo, EA Play at $3.33/mo. Verified 2026-09-02.
Does Apple Arcade support HIPAA?
Apple Arcade HIPAA support: —. SOC 2: —. GDPR: —.
Does Apple Arcade have a free plan?
Apple Arcade free tier: No; 30-day free trial.
Apple Arcade vs alternatives
Cheaper gaming subscriptions alternatives
- EA Play from $3.33/mo
- Nintendo Switch Online from $1.67/mo
More gaming subscriptions tools
Related categories
Display this standing
Apple Arcade currently holds a bronze deskmark here — Rank 5 of 7 · Gaming Subscriptions. Anyone may show it. There is nothing to apply for, nothing to pay, and displaying it changes no score: the standing comes from the published algorithm and money never touches it.
The image is drawn from our live data, so it follows the standing rather than freezing it: if Apple Arcade moves up or down a tier, the plaque on your own site says so at our next publish. Nothing is tracked beyond the ordinary web-server log that records any image request.