Use your Apple ID balance to pay for subscriptions and purchases

When you have money in your Apple ID account, you can spend it on apps, subscriptions, in-app purchases, and other content without entering a credit card. Apple draws from your balance first before asking for another payment method. You load this balance by adding funds through iTunes or the App Store, or by redeeming gift cards.

The process works the same way across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Once money sits in your account, it stays there until you spend it—there is no expiration date. You can check your balance anytime in Settings or the App Store, and you can use it for almost anything Apple sells except physical hardware like iPhones or MacBooks.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apple ID balance pays for apps, subscriptions, and in-app purchases before your credit card is charged.
  • You add funds by redeeming gift cards, using a payment method on file, or accepting store credit from refunds.
  • Check your balance in Settings under your name, then Account, then Media & Purchases.
  • If your balance runs out mid-purchase, Apple will prompt you to add a payment method for the remainder.
  • You cannot transfer your balance to another person or use it to buy physical products like devices or AppleCare.

How to add money to your Apple ID balance

The most common way to load your balance is by redeeming an Apple gift card. You can buy these at most retailers—grocery stores, pharmacies, electronics shops—in amounts from $15 to $200. Open the App Store or iTunes, tap your profile picture in the top right corner, select Redeem Gift Card or Code, and scan or type the code on the back of the card. The full amount goes into your balance when ready.

You can also add funds directly without a gift card. In the App Store, go to your profile, tap your name, then Account. Select Add Funds to Account. Choose an amount ($10, $25, $50, or $100) and pick a payment method—a credit card, debit card, or Apple Pay. The money appears in your balance right away. Some people use this method to set spending limits for family members or to avoid entering their card details repeatedly.

If you receive a refund from Apple—for an app you bought but did not want, or a subscription you cancelled mid-cycle—that money goes back into your Apple ID balance, not your original payment method. This store credit sits there until you spend it.

Check your Apple ID balance on any device

On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then select Account. Tap Media & Purchases, then View Account. Your balance appears at the top of the screen. If you have a family organizer account, you will see your personal balance and any shared family balance.

On Mac, open the App Store, click your account picture in the top right, then select Account Settings. Your balance shows in the Account Information section. On Apple Watch, you cannot view your balance directly, but any purchases you make will draw from it first.

You can also see your balance in the App Store when you try to buy something. If you have enough in your account, the purchase button will show the amount that will be charged to your balance. If you do not have enough, it will show how much more you need and ask for a payment method.

What happens when your balance runs out during a purchase

If you start a purchase and your Apple ID balance does not cover the full amount, Apple will ask you to add another payment method for the difference. For example, if an app costs $4.99 and you have $2 in your balance, you will be asked to provide a credit card or debit card for the remaining $2.99. The transaction will not complete without a second payment method.

This applies to subscriptions as well. If you subscribe to Apple Music or iCloud+ using your balance, and your balance runs out before the next billing date, Apple will charge your backup payment method. You can change which payment method is used by going to Settings, your name, Account, and Payment Method.

If you do not want Apple to charge a backup card, you must keep your balance topped up or remove all payment methods from your account. However, removing payment methods means you cannot make purchases that exceed your balance.

Use your balance for subscriptions and recurring charges

When you start a subscription—Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, or any other recurring service—you can pay with your Apple ID balance. Apple will charge your balance on each billing date. If your balance is too low, Apple will use your backup payment method instead.

You can see which subscriptions are active and which payment method they use by going to Settings, your name, Subscriptions. Tap any subscription to see its renewal date and payment method. If you want a subscription to use only your Apple ID balance and never charge a card, you will need to keep your balance high enough to cover each renewal.

Some people use this method to control spending—by loading a set amount into their balance each month, they create a natural spending cap. This works especially well for family accounts, where a parent can load money into a child's account and let them spend freely up to that limit.

What you cannot buy with Apple ID balance

Your Apple ID balance works for digital content and services: apps, games, in-app purchases, subscriptions, books, music, movies, TV shows, and iCloud storage. It does not work for physical products. You cannot use your balance to buy an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, or any other hardware, even from Apple's online store.

You also cannot use your balance to purchase AppleCare, AppleCare+, or device protection plans. These are treated as physical services tied to hardware and require a credit or debit card. Gift cards themselves cannot be purchased with Apple ID balance—you must use a payment method on file.

You cannot transfer your balance to another person, not even a family member. The money is locked to your Apple ID and can only be spent by you. If you want to give someone money to spend in the App Store, buy them a gift card instead.

Manage your payment methods and balance settings

To see all payment methods linked to your Apple ID, go to Settings, your name, Account, then Payment Method. You can add a new card, remove an old one, or change which card is your default. If you remove all payment methods, you can still spend your Apple ID balance, but you will not be able to make purchases that exceed it.

If you want to prevent accidental purchases, you can turn on purchase confirmation. Go to Settings, your name, Media & Purchases, and toggle Require Password. This makes Apple ask for your password or Face ID before any purchase, even if you have a balance. Some parents use this to monitor what their children are buying.

If you notice unauthorized charges to your balance, report them to Apple Support when ready. Go to reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, and select the transaction you want to dispute. Apple can reverse charges and help you find your account if it has been compromised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Apple ID balance to buy a gift card?

No. Gift cards must be purchased with a credit card, debit card, or Apple Pay—not with your Apple ID balance. However, you can redeem a gift card to add funds to your balance.

What happens to my balance if I delete my Apple ID?

If you delete your Apple ID, any remaining balance is lost. Apple does not refund unused balances. Before you delete your account, spend any remaining funds or contact Apple Support to discuss your options.

Can I use my balance on a family member's device?

No. Your balance is tied to your Apple ID only. Family members cannot spend your balance. However, if you are a family organizer, you can create a shared family balance that all members can draw from.

Does my Apple ID balance expire?

No. Money in your Apple ID account does not expire and will stay there until you spend it. There is no time limit.

Can I get a refund of my Apple ID balance to my bank account?

No. Apple does not refund balances to bank accounts or payment methods. Your balance can only be spent on Apple products and services. If you have unused funds, you can only recover them by contacting Apple Support, and refunds are not may provide.