Apple licensing is the set of terms under which Apple Inc. licenses its software to individuals and organizations. Apple states in each software licence agreement (SLA) that its software is “licensed, not sold”, and it keeps a public index of current SLAs for its operating systems and applications.[1][2] Most Apple licences share one feature: the software may run only on Apple-branded hardware.[2][10] Beyond that, the unit of licensing depends on how the software was obtained. Operating systems are licensed per device. Mac App Store apps are licensed to organizations per individual user or per shared Mac. Apps and books bought in volume are assigned to users or devices through Apple Business. Developer access is sold as an annual membership.[2][4][5][6] For the general models, see concurrent and device licensing, named user licensing and subscription and consumption licensing.
Editions
Apple does not sell editions in the sense used by database or server vendors. Its commercially relevant software falls into the product families below, each governed by its own document.
| Product family | Governing document | How it is acquired | Main licensing unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| macOS | macOS Tahoe 26 SLA (EA1955) | Preinstalled, Mac App Store, software update, volume licence | Apple-branded computer; per individual or shared Mac for organizations[2] |
| iOS and iPadOS | iOS and iPadOS 26 SLA (EA1956) | Preinstalled | Single Apple-branded Device[3] |
| Apple apps (Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pages, Keynote, Numbers and others) | Per-app SLA plus Apple Media Services Terms | Mac App Store, volume purchase, Apple Creator Studio | Per individual or per shared Mac for organizations[11][12] |
| App Store apps from third parties | Standard EULA or custom EULA | App Store, Volume Content Service | Per individual or per shared device; per assigned user or device[4][5] |
| Apple Business | Apple Business Terms of Service (LYL252) | Online enrollment | Organization; Authorized Users and Authorized Devices[5] |
| Xcode and Apple SDKs | Xcode and Apple SDKs Agreement (EA2002) | Free download | Apple-branded computer running macOS[10] |
| Apple Developer Program and Enterprise Program | DPLA (LYL255) and ADEP agreement (LYL241) | Annual membership | Membership year[6][7] |
| Xcode Cloud | DPLA and Xcode Cloud price page | Included hours plus monthly subscription | Compute hour[9] |
| AppleCare technical support | Apple Business Terms Attachment 3 and Service Plan matrix | Service plan | Support Incident[5][14] |
Apple publishes prices for developer memberships, Xcode Cloud tiers and Apple Creator Studio on its web pages, but no part numbers. The Apple Developer Program costs $99 per year and the Enterprise Program $299 per year.[8] Xcode Cloud subscriptions range from US$49.99 a month for 100 compute hours to US$3,999.99 a month for 10,000.[9] Apple Creator Studio costs $12.99 a month or $129 a year.[13] The catalog records these as SKU rows with partNumber null.
Metrics
All rows use Apple’s own terms. The deeper articles explain how each one is counted.
| Apple term | Catalog row | Unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple-branded computer | Apple-branded computer | Device | macOS SLA §2A[2] |
| Mac Computer, used by a single individual or shared | Mac Computer (per individual or shared) | User | macOS SLA §2B(ii); Final Cut Pro SLA §2A(ii)[2][11] |
| Virtual operating system environment | Virtual operating system environment instance | Instance | macOS SLA §2B(iii)[2] |
| Apple-branded Device | Apple-branded Device (iOS and iPadOS) | Device | iOS and iPadOS SLA §2(a)[3] |
| Authorized User | Authorized User (Apple Business) | User | Apple Business Terms Attachment 2[5] |
| Device Assignment, User Assignment, Content Code | Device Assignment, User Assignment, Content Code | Device, User, Code | Volume Content Service Addendum §8[5] |
| Authorized Developer, Authorized Test Unit, Registered Device | Authorized Developer, Authorized Test Unit, Registered Device | User, Device | DPLA §1[6] |
| Deployment Device | Deployment Device | Device | ADEP §1[7] |
| Annual Program fee | Membership year | Membership | DPLA §8, §11.1[6] |
| Compute hour | Xcode Cloud compute hour | Hour | Xcode Cloud overview[9] |
| Support Incident | Support Incident | Incident | Apple Business Terms Attachment 3[5] |
Counting / floors
Operating systems per device (effective 2025-07-11). Preinstalled macOS is licensed as one copy on a single Apple-branded computer at any one time.[2] iOS and iPadOS are licensed for use on a single Apple-branded Device.[3] Unless otherwise licensed, only one user may use macOS at a time, and it may not be made available over a network for use by several computers at once.[2] Catalog proof: macOS single-copy licence per Apple-branded computer, iOS and iPadOS licensed to a single Apple-branded Device, macOS only on Apple-branded hardware; one user at a time.
Organizations: one individual, or one shared Mac. When a commercial enterprise or educational institution obtains macOS or an Apple app from the Mac App Store, it may run one copy either for a single individual on every Mac it owns or controls, or for several individuals on one shared Mac.[2][11] The Apple Media Services Usage Rules apply the same model to App Store apps on every Apple platform, and add that each device used by several people needs a separate licence.[4] Catalog proof: macOS Mac App Store licence for organizations: one individual or one shared Mac, App Store apps for Enterprises: one individual or one shared device per licence, Final Cut Pro and iWork for organizations: one individual or one shared Mac.
Volume licences override the copy count. If macOS or an Apple app was obtained under a volume or maintenance licence program with Apple, that licence determines how many copies may run. All other SLA terms still apply.[2][11] For apps bought through Apple Business, Device Assignment requires a separate purchase for each unique device.[5] See Apple Business and volume content licensing.
Transfer. macOS obtained preinstalled or from the Mac App Store may be transferred once, permanently, and only together with the Apple hardware.[2] Apps under the Standard EULA are non-transferable and must be removed from a device before it is sold.[4] An organization keeps ownership of App Store apps it bought in volume, and may revoke them and reassign them to another user or device.[5]
Contract terms and audit rights
The consumer SLAs contain no audit clause. They terminate automatically, without notice, if the licensee fails to comply, and the licensee must then stop using and destroy all copies.[2] The Apple Media Services Terms and the Apple Creator Studio Terms both reserve Apple’s right to take steps it considers necessary to “enforce and/or verify compliance”.[4][12] Apple’s most explicit audit right is in the Volume Content Service Addendum. Organizations must keep complete and accurate records of how they use volume content. If Apple finds an ineligible purchase, it may disable the Managed Apple Account and charge the difference between the price paid and the price charged to the general public.[5] Catalog proof: Volume Content audit: records required, shortfall charged at public price. For the general practice, see software license audit.
Virtualization & partitioning
macOS guests (effective 2025-07-11). On each Apple-branded computer that already runs macOS, the licensee may run up to two additional copies or instances of macOS in virtual machines. They may be used only for software development, testing during development, macOS Server, or personal non-commercial use.[2] These virtualized copies may not be used for service bureau, time-sharing, terminal-sharing or relay services, and iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and tvOS may not be virtualized on a Mac.[2] macOS may never run on non-Apple hardware, which rules out virtualization hosts from other manufacturers.[2] Catalog proof: macOS virtualization: up to two additional instances per Apple-branded computer, Virtualized macOS not for service bureau or time-sharing, No virtualization of iOS, iPadOS, watchOS or tvOS on a Mac.
Remote desktop. Only one device at a time may remotely control the graphical desktop session of a Mac. A reasonable number of devices may watch the session without controlling it.[2] See macOS licensing and virtualization and partitioning.
Cloud / BYOL
Apple publishes no bring-your-own-licence program for hyperscaler clouds. What it does publish is a leasing right in the macOS SLA. A validly licensed copy of macOS may be leased, together with its Apple hardware, for Permitted Developer Services such as continuous integration, building and automated testing.[2] Each lease must last at least 24 consecutive hours, and during that time the lessee must have sole and exclusive use of the software and hardware. The lessor must also notify Apple in advance.[2] Catalog proof: macOS lease minimum 24 consecutive hours with exclusive use, macOS lessor must notify Apple and enforce lessee compliance. Xcode Cloud is Apple’s own hosted continuous integration service. It is metered in compute hours, and the Apple Developer Program includes 25 compute hours a month.[6][9] Xcode itself may be used only on an Apple-branded product running macOS.[10]
Programs
- Apple Business. Apple’s device and account management service for organizations, at business.apple.com, which succeeds Apple Business Manager. Its Managed Services may be used only for the organization’s internal business and IT purposes, and personally owned devices cannot be supervised.[5]
- Volume Content Service. Bulk purchase of App Store apps and Apple Books content for distribution to Authorized Users, by Content Code, User Assignment or Device Assignment. All sales are final and the service is limited to the organization’s country of domicile.[5]
- Apple Developer Program. An annual membership. It allows distribution through the App Store, Custom App Distribution, TestFlight and Ad Hoc distribution to Registered Devices.[6][8]
- Apple Developer Enterprise Program. For proprietary apps that are used only internally and distributed to employees. It requires 100 or more employees and verification by Apple.[7][15]
- Xcode Cloud. Hosted continuous integration and delivery, sold in compute hours.[9]
- macOS leasing for Permitted Developer Services. The Section 3 hosting permission in the macOS SLA.[2]
- Apple Creator Studio. A subscription bundle of Apple’s creative apps, including Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro and Pixelmator Pro.[12][13] See Apple pro apps and Creator Studio licensing.
- AppleCare OS Support and AppleCare for Enterprise. Technical support plans sold in allowances of Support Incidents. For example, the Select plan includes 10 incidents a year and the Preferred plan 50.[14] Their terms are in Attachment 3 of the Apple Business Terms.[5] Catalog proof: AppleCare support plans are sold in Support Incident allowances.
Out of scope
This article does not cover Apple hardware warranties, AppleCare+ device repair coverage, iCloud storage, or consumer media services such as Apple Music. It also omits FileMaker and the SLAs for older products such as macOS Server, Final Cut Studio and Logic Studio, which remain listed on the SLA index.[1] Country-specific versions of the Apple Business Terms, and the European Union alternative distribution terms in the DPLA, are not analysed. The catalog cites the United States versions.