Apple ID Is Now Apple Account, and It Is Still Free
Creating an Apple Account costs nothing. Apple does not charge you to make one, even though the setup screen usually asks for a payment method.
That payment prompt confuses a lot of people. It exists for purchases you make later, unrelated to the free account itself.
One more thing worth knowing before you start: Apple renamed “Apple ID” to “Apple Account” in September 2024. You sign in with the same email address or phone number and the same password, so nothing about your login changed.
Why Apple Asks for a Card Anyway
Apple wants your Apple Account ready to buy something the moment you want to, whether that is an app, a song, or an iCloud+ storage plan.
So the setup screen offers a payment method up front. You are never required to enter one, and Apple states plainly that you will not be charged until you actually make a purchase.
How to Create One Without Entering a Card
The exact screen depends on the device, but the choice to skip payment is always there. Apple’s current instructions, verified on its own support site, work like this.
On an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro during setup:
- Tap “Forgot password or don’t have an account?” then tap “Create a Free Apple Account.”
- Enter your birthday and name, then tap Continue.
- Provide an email address. No email yet? Tap “Don’t have an email address?” for a free iCloud address.
- Verify your email, create a password, and set your country or region.
Already have a device set up and just want a new account from the App Store? Open the App Store, tap My Account, then tap “Create New Apple Account.” Walk through the same email, password, and region steps, then choose None when the payment screen appears.
On a Mac: open System Settings, click Sign In in the sidebar, then click “Don’t Have an Account?” and follow the same steps, choosing None for payment.
On a Windows PC: open the Apple Music or Apple TV app, click Sign In, then “Create New Apple Account,” and choose None when asked for billing information.
On the web, without any Apple device: go to account.apple.com and click “Create Your Apple Account.” This replaced the old appleid.apple.com signup page. You will still need to verify your email and phone number.
What Apple Will Still Ask For
Even with payment set to None, Apple asks for a phone number during setup. That number helps verify your identity and recover the account if you get locked out later.
In some countries, Apple may also ask you to confirm that you are an adult. If you skip that step, Settings will remind you to confirm your age later.
Shoppers in mainland China have one extra step: Apple requires a +86 phone number there for identity verification. It does not affect the free None payment option, and the number can be changed later.
What Actually Costs Money
The account is free forever. What you pay for is anything you choose to buy through it.
That covers app purchases and purchases made inside apps, paid subscriptions like Apple Music or Apple Arcade, iCloud+ storage plans past the free 5GB, and anything bought through Apple Pay. None of those charges happen automatically just because you created an account.
How Many Accounts Can You Create
Apple does not publish a hard limit for personal use, and plenty of people run a second Apple Account for a shared Apple Music login or a kid’s device.
Keep the number small anyway. Every extra account is another password to lose track of, and Apple’s own error message, “the maximum number of free accounts have been activated,” shows up when a single device or network creates too many accounts too quickly.
If Setup Says Your Account Cannot Be Created Right Now
This is usually temporary. Apple’s own troubleshooting page suggests updating your device software, checking your internet connection, and trying again later or on a different network. If you already have an account and are just adding another, Apple points you toward resetting your password or using a different email or phone number instead.
If you are trying to set one up without a phone number and hitting a wall, or you already have an account and just forgot the password, those are different problems with their own fixes.
FAQ
Do I have to give Apple a credit card?
No. Choose None on the payment screen during setup or later in Settings. You can add a card anytime you actually want to buy something.
Is Apple ID and Apple Account the same thing?
Yes. Apple renamed Apple ID to Apple Account in September 2024. The sign in email, phone number, and password did not change.
Does deleting an Apple Account cost anything?
No. Deleting an account through Apple’s privacy site is permanent and free. Deactivating it is also free and reversible, though that option is only available in some countries, so it may not show up for every account.
Still stuck on the account itself? See how to fix a verification code that never arrives, or what to do about an account disabled for security reasons. Signing up without an email on hand? Check whether an Apple Account has to be an email address.