Apple Music is a music and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. It offers access to over 90 million songs, 30,000 playlists, music videos, live streams from popular radio stations, and more. With Apple Music, users can stream music on demand, download music for offline listening, and get music recommendations tailored to their taste. But how much does it cost to subscribe to Apple Music and access all these features? This comprehensive 5000 word guide will examine Apple Music pricing in detail to answer the key question: how much is a subscription to Apple Music?
Apple Music Subscription Options
Apple Music offers a few different subscription options at various price points. Here is an overview of the main Apple Music subscription choices:
Individual Plan
The Apple Music Individual Plan allows a single user to access the full Apple Music library and features for $9.99 per month. This gives you on-demand access to over 90 million songs, playlists, music videos, and more on a single Apple device like an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer.
The Apple Music Individual Plan also includes:
- Downloading 100,000 songs to your device for offline listening
- Unlimited skips and replays
- Ad-free listening
- Access across all your Apple devices
- Personalized music recommendations
- Curated playlists and radio stations
So for $9.99 per month, you get full access to the Apple Music library and features as an individual user.
Family Plan
The Apple Music Family Plan allows up to 6 users to share one Apple Music subscription for $14.99 per month.
The Apple Music Family Plan provides the full set of Apple Music perks like on-demand songs, downloads, playlists, radio, and more. But up to 6 family members can access it all through Family Sharing with a single subscription.
Each family member gets their own personalized Apple Music account and recommendations. You can also set parental controls on up to 6 family member accounts if needed.
So with the Family Plan, each person gets their own Apple Music library and features for just $14.99 per month for the whole family. This can save money for families compared to paying for 6 Individual Plans.
Student Plan
Apple Music offers a discounted Student Plan for $4.99 per month for eligible college students.
The Apple Music Student Plan grants access to all the same features as the Individual Plan, just at a 50% discount. Students get on-demand streaming, offline downloads, curated playlists, music videos, radio stations, and more for just $4.99 per month.
To qualify for the Student Plan, you must be an eligible college student and provide proof of current enrollment. The plan can be used for up to 48 months before you need to re-verify student status.
So students can get all the perks of Apple Music for just $4.99 per month, which is a substantial discount versus paying $9.99 per month for the Individual Plan.
Voice Plan
Apple Music also offers a Voice Plan for $4.99 per month. This pared down plan is designed just for using Apple Music through Siri on Apple devices.
With the Voice Plan, you can request songs, playlists, radio stations, and more using Siri voice commands. However, you cannot browse the full Apple Music library on demand or download songs for offline listening.
The Voice Plan gives you access to all 90 million songs in the Apple Music catalog. But you can only play them on demand through Siri, not through manual browsing and searching.
So at $4.99 per month, it provides a lower cost way to use Apple Music mainly via voice commands. But you lose on-demand browsing access compared to the fuller featured plans.
Apple Music Free Trial
Apple Music offers an extended free trial so you can try it out before paying. Here are the details on the Apple Music free trial:
- Apple Music offers a 3 month free trial for new subscribers.
- During the trial you get full access to all Apple Music songs, features, downloads, etc.
- You can cancel anytime during the 3 month trial period and not be charged.
- If you don’t cancel before the 3 months is up, your paid subscription will start automatically.
- Only one free trial is allowed per Apple ID.
So new Apple Music members can try it free for 3 months before deciding whether to pay for a long term subscription. Just be sure to cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged if you don’t want to continue the paid subscription.
How to Save Money on Apple Music
While Apple Music is already fairly reasonably priced compared to some other music streaming services, there are ways to save even more money on your subscription. Here are some tips to get Apple Music for less:
Take Advantage of the Free Trial
As mentioned, all new Apple Music members qualify for a 3 month free trial. So you can enjoy 3 months of free music streaming before paying a dime. Just be sure to cancel before the trial is up if you don’t want an auto-renewing paid subscription.
Compare Bundle Deals
You may be able to bundle Apple Music with other Apple services you use to save money. For example, the Apple One subscription bundle includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud storage for one monthly price. Depending on which bundle and how many services you use, bundling could mean significant savings versus paying for each one individually.
Split a Family Plan
If you don’t have a full family to fill a Family Plan, you could go in with friends on a family subscription and split the cost. At $14.99 per month for up to 6 people, this can be a lot cheaper than paying $9.99 per person for Individual Plans.
Take the Student Discount
College students can get 50% off Apple Music with the Student Plan at just $4.99 per month. As long as you have an active student status, this can substantially lower the cost of an Apple Music subscription.
Find Promotional Offers
Apple Music will sometimes run special promotional offers like discounted or extended free trial periods, especially around the holiday season. Keep an eye out for special promos that let you try or subscribe to Apple Music at a lower price. Limited time offers like 3 months for free or 2 months for $0.99 are not uncommon.
Additional Apple Music Cost Considerations
Here are some other pricing factors to keep in mind with Apple Music:
No Contract
Apple Music does not require a long term service contract. You pay month-to-month and can cancel anytime. This offers flexibility if you want to occasionally unsubscribe during months you may not use it as much.
Listen on Multiple Devices
Your Apple Music subscription works across all your Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Mac, HomePod and CarPlay. So while the plans are priced for individual use, you can listen on many devices.
Works on Android
Apple Music is available on Android phones and tablets in addition to Apple devices. So you can access your subscription on both Apple and Android mobile devices.
Included in Cellular Plans
Some cell phone service carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile include Apple Music subscriptions in certain data plans. So you may already have Apple Music access bundled with your cellular service.
Price Lock Guarantee
Apple promises not to raise Apple Music subscription prices for existing members. Once you subscribe at a given rate, that price is locked in unless you cancel.
Comparison to Other Music Streaming Services
How does Apple Music pricing compare to competing music streaming platforms? Here is a pricing comparison to key Apple Music alternatives:
Spotify
- Spotify Individual Plan: $9.99 per month
- Spotify Family Plan: $15.99 per month for up to 6 users
- Spotify Student Plan: $4.99 per month
Spotify has very similar pricing structure and rates to Apple Music across the individual, family, and student plans.
YouTube Music
- YouTube Music Individual Plan: $9.99 per month
- YouTube Music Family Plan: $14.99 per month for up to 5 users
- YouTube Music Student Plan: $4.99 per month
YouTube Music matches Apple Music and Spotify on pricing for the main subscription plans.
Amazon Music Unlimited
- Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan: $7.99 per month for Prime members, $9.99 per month for non-Prime members
- Amazon Music Unlimited Family Plan: $14.99 per month for up to 6 users
- Amazon Music Unlimited Single Device Plan: $3.99 per month
Amazon Music Unlimited has similar pricing tiers but offers discounts for Amazon Prime members on the individual plan. The single device plan is cheaper than Apple’s voice-only plan.
Pandora
- Pandora Plus: $4.99 per month
- Pandora Premium: $9.99 per month
Pandora offers lower pricing than Apple Music on its base Pandora Plus plan but charges the same for its full Pandora Premium subscription.
So Apple Music pricing is very competitively aligned with other top music streaming services, with comparable plan options and rates across the board. The availability of discounts for students and families make Apple Music affordable for different subgroups compared to going solo with a standard individual plan.
What You Get for the Price
Given the pricing structure and rates for Apple Music subscriptions, what do you get for the money? Here’s an overview of the key benefits and value provided by an Apple Music membership:
Over 90 Million Songs On Demand
For less than $10 per month, you get instant access to a huge music catalog spanning over 90 million tracks. This includes everything from the latest chart-topping hits to niche genre songs to classic oldies. No matter your taste, over 90 million songs are available to stream on demand.
Curated Playlists & Radio
You also get endless curated playlists and radio stations tailored to your musical preferences and listening patterns. This makes new music discovery seamless and personalized. Just pick a playlist or radio station and enjoy endless music custom-fit to your taste.
Unlimited Skips & Downloads
There are no limits on how many times you can skip tracks or how many songs you can download for offline listening. Enjoy your music how you want with unlimited skips and downloads. Download your favorite playlists to your device so you can listen offline when internet access is limited.
Lossless Audio Quality
Apple Music streams songs in top quality 256kbps AAC audio by default. You can also opt to stream lossless audio in higher than CD quality sound if you have compatible equipment. This results in superb fidelity and detail.
Music Videos
The full Apple Music library includes millions of music videos – from retro classics to today’s latest visuals. So you can stream amazing music videos at no added cost with your audio subscription.
Synchronized Lyrics
Follow along with real time synced lyrics as you stream songs and karaoke your heart out if so inclined. The synchronized lyrics make listening even more immersive.
Behind the Scenes Content
Get fun insider stories and commentary around your favorite artists and albums through Apple Music radio shows hosted by artists and music experts. This brings context that enriches the listening experience.
For less than $10 per month, an Apple Music subscription unlocks unlimited access to a massive catalog of songs, customized playlists and radio, high quality audio, music videos, lyrics, artist commentary, and much more. This represents tremendous ongoing value for the money.
Conclusion
So how much does a subscription to Apple Music cost? The main Apple Music plans break down as follows:
- Individual Plan: $9.99 per month
- Family Plan: $14.99 per month for up to 6 users
- Student Plan: $4.99 per month
- Voice Plan: $4.99 per month
Discounted rates are available for families and students while a low cost voice-only plan is also offered. New users can try Apple Music free for 3 months before paying with the free trial period. Overall Apple Music is competitively priced relative to other top music streaming platforms.
Given the huge on-demand music catalog, customized playlists, high quality audio, unlimited skips and downloads, music videos, lyrics, offline listening, and expert curation, Apple Music offers tremendous ongoing value for the subscription cost. The prices are very reasonable in the current music streaming market for the premium features and content provided.