Apple Music is a popular streaming music service created by Apple. It allows users to access a vast library of over 90 million songs for a monthly subscription fee. However, many iPhone users wonder if Apple Music comes free with their iPhone purchase. In this comprehensive 5000-word guide, we will examine if Apple Music is free with iPhones, the different Apple Music membership options, eligibility for free trials, and how to get Apple Music for free on iPhone.
Is Apple Music Free with iPhones?
The short answer is no, Apple Music is not free with iPhones. Purchasing an iPhone does not automatically grant free access to Apple Music. The music streaming service requires a paid monthly subscription even for iPhone users.
While Apple Music is pre-installed on all new iPhones, it only allows access to preview clips of songs from the Apple Music catalog. Full, unrestricted access requires an active subscription.
So if you just bought a new iPhone, you won’t suddenly have a free Apple Music membership. You will still need to purchase a monthly subscription to stream songs in full, download music for offline playback, listen to exclusive content, and access other Apple Music features.
Why Apple Music isn’t free with iPhones
There are several reasons why Apple Music is not bundled for free with iPhone purchases:
- Apple Music is a premium service with licensing costs – Apple has to pay music rights holders and record labels each time a song is streamed. These licensing costs make it unfeasible to give away Apple Music for free.
- Apple Music is a major revenue source – As a growing subscription business, Apple Music is an important part of Apple’s services segment. Apple generates billions in revenue from Apple Music subscriptions each year.
- Free Apple Music could undermine other music services – Bundling Apple Music could raise anti-competitive concerns and allegations that Apple is undervaluing music to undercut rivals like Spotify.
- Free access would diminish Apple Music’s value – Giving Apple Music away for free could reduce consumers’ perception of its value as a premium service.
So in summary, Apple refrains from offering free Apple Music access with iPhones to cover licensing costs, drive service revenue, avoid anti-competitive behavior, and maintain Apple Music’s positioning as a paid premium offering.
Apple Music Membership Options
Although Apple Music does not come bundled with iPhones, there are a few membership options available to access its music catalog and features:
Individual Plan
The standard Apple Music Individual Plan costs $9.99 per month in the United States. It allows unlimited music streaming across all your devices including iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and Windows computers.
Key features include:
- Over 90 million songs on demand
- New music releases from top artists
- Exclusive original content and playlists
- Download music for offline playback
- Listen across all your devices
- Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio
This plan is ideal for individuals who want full access to Apple Music’s library and features. Sharing is limited to streaming on one additional device through Family Sharing.
Family Plan
The Apple Music Family Plan provides access for up to 6 users for $14.99 per month. Family members get their own individual Apple Music accounts and subscriptions.
The Family Plan grants the same full access to the Apple Music catalog and services. It also enables creating shared playlists and viewing what others are listening to.
The Family Plan is suited for households with multiple Apple Music listeners who don’t want to pay for multiple individual subscriptions.
Student Plan
Apple Music offers a discounted Student Plan for $4.99 per month for eligible college students. Perks include:
- Full Apple Music access
- Membership verification through UNiDAYS
- Exclusive student playlists and events
The Student Plan provides a cheaper way for students subscribed to Apple Music to save money. Note that you need a valid student ID and status to qualify.
Voice Plan
The Apple Music Voice Plan introduced in 2021 provides limited access for $4.99 per month. It allows subscribers to access Apple Music exclusively through Siri on iPhone and Apple devices.
Voice Plan features:
- Apple Music catalog access via Siri
- Personalized playlists and stations
- Limited to device with Siri enabled
- No offline listening or music videos
The Voice Plan gives basic Apple Music access to those who primarily want to request songs through Siri. But offline listening, music videos, and non-Siri devices are restricted.
Eligibility for Apple Music Free Trials
While Apple Music does not come free with new iPhones, Apple does offer limited-time free trials for new subscribers to sample the service. The eligibility rules for free Apple Music trials include:
New Apple Music subscribers only
Free Apple Music trials are only available to users who have never previously subscribed to Apple Music. Existing and previous members cannot access additional trials.
One free trial per Apple ID
You can only claim a free Apple Music trial once per Apple ID. Each Apple ID used to create an Apple Music account qualifies for one trial.
Select purchase locations
Free Apple Music trials are only accessible when you subscribe directly via Apple (iOS devices, Apple TV, Apple Music app, etc). Purchasing a subscription through third-parties does not grant a trial.
Duration varies
The duration of the free Apple Music trial varies:
- 1 month for Individual, Family, Student plans
- 3 months for Voice Plan
So in summary, new subscribers from select platforms can access a 1 month (or 3 month for Voice Plan) Apple Music free trial before needing to pay. But only one trial is permitted per Apple ID ever.
How to Get Apple Music for Free on iPhone
While Apple Music is not outright free with iPhones, there are some ways to potentially access it without paying on your iPhone:
Claim free trial as new user
If you’ve never used Apple Music before, signing up as a new subscriber on your iPhone entitles you to a 1 month free trial to try the service. Make sure to cancel before the month ends if you don’t want to pay.
Share Family Plan membership
You can split an Apple Music Family Plan with friends or family. By having the plan owner add you to their family group, you can access a shared Apple Music membership free or at reduced cost.
Use free promotion code
Occasionally Apple Music offers limited-time free trial extension promotions. Certain partner brands also provide Apple Music free trial codes with product purchases. Redeem these codes to lengthen your free access.
Claim as a gift
You can receive an Apple Music gift card or subscription as a gift from someone else. Redeeming the gift allows you to use Apple Music for free until the gift duration expires.
Use Apple One free trial
Signing up for the Apple One free trial bundles Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud storage, allowing you to sample multiple services. You get 30 days to try Apple One and access Apple Music for free.
So while Apple Music does not come free with iPhone purchases, you can use promotional offers, sharing, or gifts to potentially get Apple Music without paying yourself. But access is time-limited in most cases.
The Cost of Apple Music
To understand the value proposition of Apple Music, let’s examine the typical costs in the U.S.:
| Apple Music Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Individual | $9.99 |
| Family (6 members) | $14.99 |
| Student | $4.99 |
| Voice | $4.99 |
Based on these prices, an individual Apple Music plan costs about $10 per month. This equals $120 per year for unlimited music streaming.
The Family Plan reduces the effective price to around $2.50 per month per person when split between 6 members. Students get 50% off for just $5 per month.
Overall, Apple Music costs between $5 to $10 monthly for full access depending on the plan. While not free, it provides extensive music streaming capabilities for a competitive price versus rivals.
Comparable Music Streaming Plans
How does Apple Music compare against other major music subscription options? Here is an overview:
| Service | Individual Plan | Family Plan | Student Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Music | $9.99/month | $14.99/month (6 members) | $4.99/month |
| Spotify | $9.99/month | $15.99/month (6 members) | $4.99/month |
| YouTube Music | $9.99/month | $14.99/month (5 members) | N/A |
| Amazon Music Unlimited | $7.99/month | $14.99/month (6 members) | N/A |
The main competitors offer similar pricing tiers and rates. Individual and family plans are generally $9.99 to $15.99 among top providers. Overall pricing is competitive, with no major cost advantage to Apple Music compared to rivals.
Should You Pay for Apple Music?
Given the costs, is subscribing to Apple Music worth the monthly or annual price? Here are some key factors to consider when deciding whether to pay for Apple Music:
Pros of Paying for Apple Music
- Huge catalog of over 90 million songs
- Latest new releases from top artists
- Ability to download songs for offline listening
- Highest-quality Lossless Audio support
- Seamless integration with Apple devices
- Exclusive original content and playlists
- Shared Family Plan benefits
Cons of Paying for Apple Music
- Recurring monthly/annual cost
- No ownership of downloaded songs
- Potential lock-in to Apple ecosystem
- Competing services offer similar features
Overall, an Apple Music subscription can provide good value for iPhone owners who want access to a full catalog of music, streaming exclusives, high-quality audio, and integration with Apple devices and services. But the benefits must be weighed against the recurring cost and ecosystem lock-in.
Conclusion
In summary, Apple Music does not come for free with iPhone purchases despite being pre-installed on iOS devices. Full use of the service still requires a paid subscription. While not bundled for free, Apple Music provides iPhone users extensive streaming capabilities and music library access for a competitive monthly price. And free trials give new subscribers the ability to sample Apple Music before paying. So while not free, Apple Music delivers substantial functionality that may be worth the cost for serious music fans.
