Apple Legacy Contact vs. Erbnis
Legacy Contact is one of the few built-in estate features that actually exists — free, set up in minutes, worthwhile for anyone with an Apple Account. But it solves only part of a digital estate, and only for Apple services.
By The Erbnis editorsPublished 1 September 2026Updated 1 September 20266 min read
Key takeaways
- Legacy Contact is free, quick to set up, and worthwhile for every Apple Account.
- It releases iCloud photos, notes, mail, files, calendars and backups — with an access key and death certificate.
- Payment information, purchased media and iCloud Keychain are explicitly excluded.
- It only covers Apple services — Google, banks, social media and everything else remain unaddressed.
- Erbnis doesn't replace Legacy Contact; it covers the rest: every other account, plus wishes and documents.
We're comparing our own product here. All statements are to the best of our knowledge as of September 2026 — corrections to hallo@erbnis.com.
How Apple's Legacy Contact actually works
Since iOS 15.2, you can name one or more people as a Legacy Contact in your Apple Account. That person receives an access key from you — either digitally over iMessage straight from the settings, or as a printable code you hand over yourself. If you die, they can use that key together with an official death certificate to request access from Apple.
Setup takes a few minutes:
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top (Apple Account).
- Select Password & Security.
- Tap Legacy Contact and add a person — either on their own Apple device or via a printed code.
In the actual case, Apple doesn't continue your existing account — it creates a separate, standalone legacy account through which released data can be accessed, keeping your original account technically distinct.
What Legacy Contact releases — and what it doesn't
Access covers iCloud photos and videos, notes, mail, files stored in iCloud Drive, calendars, reminders, messages (if backed up to iCloud), and device backups stored in iCloud.
Explicitly not included:
- Payment information stored in your Apple Account.
- Content purchased or licensed through Apple Music, the App Store, or Apple Books — these licenses are non-transferable and expire with the account.
- Passwords, credentials, and card details stored in iCloud Keychain.
| Apple Legacy Contact | Erbnis | |
|---|---|---|
| Free & built into your Apple Account | Ja | Nein |
| iCloud photos, mail, notes, files | Ja | as documentation |
| Releases payment information | Nein | Ja |
| Transfers purchased media/licenses | Nein | Nein |
| iCloud Keychain / passwords | Nein | Ja |
| Covers non-Apple accounts (Google, banks, social media) | Nein | Ja |
| Store wishes & instructions | Nein | Ja |
| Staged release to multiple people | Nein | Ja |
| Jurisdiction-independent | Apple only | Ja |
We're comparing our own product here. All statements are to the best of our knowledge as of September 2026 — corrections to hallo@erbnis.com.
Where Apple's Legacy Contact is clearly the better choice
When it's specifically about your iCloud photos, notes, and files, Legacy Contact is the most direct route — free, officially supported by Apple, and without needing a third-party service. Anyone with an Apple Account should set it up regardless of anything else; it costs nothing and takes barely longer than reading this paragraph.
Where Erbnis closes the gap
Most people don't just have an Apple Account — they also have a Google account, online banking access, social media profiles, maybe cryptocurrency, and streaming subscriptions. Legacy Contact does nothing for any of that. Erbnis documents this whole landscape in one place, lets you define wishes that go beyond file access, and allows a staged, controlled release to multiple people instead of a single all-or-nothing handoff.