Is Apple planning to start charging users for FaceTime?

While Apple’s FaceTime feature on iPhones, Macs, and tablets allows users to make voice and video calls with ease conveniently, some social media users recently posted a claim message stating that the giant company plans to charge FaceTime users.

However, Fact Crescendo fact-finding found that the claim posted on Facebook was misleading.

Let’s look at the claim in detail.

Social Media Claim

On June 17, 2024, a Facebook page posted a message in English claiming that Apple has plans to start charging for FaceTime users. Such remarks were repeated several times, with mixed reactions and expressions from Facebook users who are very active.

Below is a snippet from the Facebook page above that reads, “Apple plans to start charging for FaceTime users”.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

The exact same statement above was also found and shared by other Facebook users.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

Fact Check

Fact Crescendo reviewed and verified this claim by seeking the latest information on the initial charge for Apple FaceTime users, which led us to find out the following facts:

As of the date of this article, there has been no official announcement from Apple. First and foremost, it’s important that Apple has not yet released any official statements that it will start charging for FaceTime.

Apple Newsroom | Archived Link

Apple has not announced any plans to introduce and start charging for its FaceTime users. FaceTime is still a free feature integrated into Apple’s ecosystem, designed to provide users with an unlimited communication experience.

What is Apple’s FaceTime feature?

Apple’s FaceTime is a proprietary video and audio calling service that allows users to make voice and video calls between Apple devices over the internet. It was first introduced in 2010 and has since become a popular communication tool among Apple users. Key features of FaceTime include:

1. Video Calls: Users can make high-quality video calls to other Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, and iPod Touch) using FaceTime. It supports both front and rear cameras, allowing for face-to-face conversations.
2. Audio Calls: In addition to video calls, FaceTime also supports audio-only calls. This feature is useful for users who prefer not to use video or when network conditions may not support video calls.
3. Group FaceTime: Introduced in later updates, Group FaceTime allows up to 32 participants to join a video or audio call simultaneously. Participants can be added to a call at any time, and the interface dynamically adjusts to highlight the current speaker.
4. Integration: FaceTime is integrated into Apple's ecosystem, meaning users can initiate calls directly from contacts, Messages, or other apps that support FaceTime calling.
5. End-to-End Encryption: FaceTime calls are encrypted end-to-end, ensuring that only the participants can access the contents of the communication.
6. Accessibility Features: FaceTime includes accessibility features such as VoiceOver compatibility, which aids users with visual impairments.

Apple FaceTime | Archived Link

The above claim was also verified by PolitiFact (Archived Link) on June 16th, 2024 and by the USA Today (Archived Link) on June 20, 2024. A viral claim stating that Apple plans to start charging for FaceTime users is misleading and there is no clear evidence at all.

The Fact Crescendo team also requested further confirmation from Apple via email, but as of the date of publication of this article, there has been no response yet. Fact Crescendo will update further after Apple details this.

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Conclusion

Fact Crescendo found that the above-mentioned claims were misleading. As of today, there were no plans announced by Apple to start charging users for FaceTime. FaceTime has historically been free for users with Apple devices to make audio and video calls over the internet.