Apple offers a military discount, here’s how to get it

If you’re a member of the U.S. military, Apple offers an easy way to save 10% on eligible products and accessories. It’s available to current and veteran members of the U.S. military and their immediate family members living in the same household. While you’ll need to verify your eligibility to access the discount, the process is simple. There are also a few limitations you’ll want to know about before placing an order. Here’s everything you need to know.

Who’s eligible for Apple’s military discount and how much is it?

Per Apple:

A 10% discount is available to current and Veteran members of the US Military, National Guard and Reserve. Immediate family members who reside in the same household are also eligible.

How verification works

Verification is handled through ID.me. Creating an ID.me account is free, and current military members can verify their service using their .mil email address. Veterans can enter details of their service information for ID.me to verify, or upload images of official documents (such as a DD-214) for ID.me to review and confirm their eligibility. Once you’re verified, your ID.me account can also be used to access military discounts from other retailers and services that support ID.me verification.

How to shop and get the discount

Once verified, you can start shopping by visiting Apple’s Store for Veterans and Military. The discount only applies to Apple products and accessories (including Beats) so third-party products aren’t eligible. Apple services, such as Apple Music and iCloud+, are also excluded. Orders can be shipped directly to you, or you can choose in-store pickup if the product is available at a nearby Apple Store.

What you should know before buying

You can’t use Apple Card Monthly Installments or Apple Upgrade

This is probably the biggest catch. Apple specifically says ACMI isn’t available when shopping through the Veterans and Military Store. You can still earn 3% back in Daily Cash with Apple Card, but you lose the option to finance your purchase at 0% interest over several months. Apple Upgrade also isn’t available when purchasing through the military store.

You’ll have to check out through Apple’s website

The only way to get the military discount is to make your purchase through Apple’s website in a browser. The Apple Store app isn’t an option, which means you also can’t take advantage of Apple’s “Get Ready” feature to select your iPhone model, color, storage capacity, and carrier ahead of pre-orders opening. Instead, you’ll have to navigate Apple’s website on launch day, when demand is high and server traffic can make checkout more challenging. Whether the 10% savings is worth giving up the convenience of a potentially quicker checkout is ultimately up to you.

Carrier discounts don’t apply to iPhone purchases

The military discount can’t be combined with carrier promotions or discounts on iPhone purchases. You can still trade in your existing iPhone through Apple and receive the applicable trade-in value, but you can’t take advantage of carrier-specific trade-in offers, like promotions that give you a larger credit when you trade in an eligible device and activate or upgrade a line.

Apple limits how many products you can buy each year

- 3 computers

- 3 iPads

- 3 iPhones

- 3 Apple Vision Pro headsets

- 3 AirPods

- 3 Apple Watches

- 3 HomePods

- 3 Apple TVs

- 10 AirTag single-packs

- 2 AirTag four-packs

These purchase limits reset on January 1 each year.

Apple’s military discount is a useful perk, especially if you’re buying a product at launch and want to save 10% right away. However, it’s worth comparing prices with other retailers before you buy, since sales and promotions can sometimes beat Apple’s discount. The military store also comes with a few limitations, so you’ll want to weigh the savings against the features and payment options you’re giving up. Even with those caveats, 10% off can make a real difference on an expensive Apple purchase.