Verizon is sending a clear signal to customers on its decade-old 5G plans: perks are on the chopping block. In emails sent this week, subscribers on legacy plans like 5G Get More and 5G Play More have been notified that their free Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass subscriptions will vanish come September 22, 2025. What once served as a juicy sweetener to lure users into those plans is now a sunset feature, and customers are being nudged toward Verizon’s newer “myPlan” offerings—if they’re willing to pony up extra fees for streaming and gaming services that were once included.
Back when Verizon rolled out its initial 5G lineup in 2021, bundling perks such as a year of Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass felt like a no-brainer to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Unlimited customers got six months free, and 5G Get More and 5G Play More subscribers enjoyed a full year of subscriptions at no additional charge. But over time, Verizon quietly unbundled these goodies, reconfiguring its base plans in 2023 to start at $75 per month ($65 with autopay) and forcing users to add on services à la carte. The strategy effectively disentangled network service from entertainment perks—but for those still on the old plans, the freebies stuck around…until now.
If you’re wondering what it’ll cost to keep playing after September, Verizon’s new pricing guide makes it clear: Apple One—which bundles Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade—runs $15 per month through Verizon (versus $19.95 directly from Apple), while standalone Apple Music is $10 per month. Google Play Pass, meanwhile, has its own standalone rates. For many legacy-plan users who’ve enjoyed these services gratis, the shift represents a significant hit to their monthly budget.
And it’s not just game services that are on the outs. Alongside the end of Apple Arcade and Play Pass, Verizon is axing a suite of loyalty discounts starting September 1, 2025. That includes the $10-per-line loyalty discount, account credits of $10 and $15, and various discounts on select unlimited offers. According to Verizon, the move is part of its effort “to continue improving” network infrastructure and service quality—even if it comes at the expense of long-standing customer rewards.
For customers, the practical takeaway is simple: use up any remaining perks before the September deadline or be prepared to pay full price thereafter. Verizon’s email to subscribers stressed transparency, noting that discounts “will be removed no sooner than September 1, 2025” and urging subscribers to explore myPlan options for more tailored service bundles. Those on legacy plans can still claim their promotional subscriptions through September 22, but after that date, anything unclaimed will simply lapse.
This latest maneuver underlines a broader industry trend: carriers are increasingly unbundling perks to push users toward higher-margin services or to cut costs on benefits that once helped differentiate plans. T-Mobile’s Magenta perks and AT&T’s Disney+ offerings have likewise seen tweaks and removals over the last year, suggesting that the “freebie arms race” may be winding down. For frugal consumers, the message is clear: compare plans carefully, watch for promotional deadlines, and don’t assume that yesterday’s perks will be around forever.
In the wake of these changes, legacy-plan holdouts have a choice: swallow the new add-on fees, switch to a modern myPlan package—where services are bundled at a premium—or consider a jump to MVNOs or other carriers that still offer competitive perks (or lower base rates). Whatever the path, the era of “free” Apple Arcade via your Verizon plan is officially drawing to a close.
