If you are looking for a music streaming service, Apple Music is a top choice. With a vast collection of over 100 million songs, all in high-quality lossless audio at no additional cost, Apple Music has been a strong contender in the music streaming market for a long time.
Here are the prices for each Apple Music plan:
- $10.99 per month for an Individual plan
- $5.99 per month for a Student plan
- $16.99 per month for a Family plan
While you can start with a free trial of Apple Music, continued use of the service will eventually lead to paid subscriptions. However, Verizon unlimited plan customers can get Apple Music for free – more on this later.
Now, let’s delve into the details of each Apple Music plan.
Apple Music plans
Before we discuss the different pricing tiers for Apple Music, it’s important to note that each subscription plan provides access to the same ad-free content, offline listening, Apple Music 1 live and on-demand radio shows, and exclusive releases.
Apple Music offers streaming access to:
The main difference between the plans lies in the Family membership, which allows you to create up to six individual accounts in a single subscription billed as a flat fee per month – no matter how many people you add.
Apple Music Individual — $10.99/month
Apple Music does not offer a free plan. The most basic way to get started is with an Individual subscription that costs $11 per month. Apple also gives you the option to pay for a year’s worth of service upfront for a discounted price of $109. However, this option is not always visible until you sign up for the monthly plan.
Apple Music Student Subscription — $5.99/month
Similar to Spotify, Apple Music offers a 50% discount for students at a monthly rate of $6 with a valid student email address from a supported educational institution. This offer is currently available only for college students.
Apple Music Family Subscription — $16.99/month
If you want to enroll up to six people in your household in an Apple Music plan, the Family plan is available at $17 per month. This results in substantial savings depending on the number of family members subscribed.
Apple One
Apple offers an Apple One plan that combines multiple services into discounted payment plans. Individual and Family plans are available, bundling services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+. The prices of these plans were recently increased.
Apple Music with Verizon
Verizon Unlimited customers are eligible for a free Apple Music subscription. The 5G Get More Unlimited plan includes Apple Music for free as long as the plan is active. Additionally, subscribers can get a six-month Individual membership for free by signing up for an eligible plan. After six months, a monthly fee will be applicable.
Apple Music with discounted Apple Gift Cards
You can use discounted Apple Gift Cards to pay for Apple Music subscriptions, providing a method to save on subscription costs. Special store deals and promotions may include offers with free Apple Music subscriptions.
Apple Music free deals for new buyers
New Apple Music subscribers can explore deals that offer free months when signing up or purchasing specific products. Retailers and Apple itself offer promotions that provide free subscriptions with certain purchases.
How Apple Music compares to the competition
Spotify stands out with its larger global reach and number of premium subscribers compared to Apple Music. However, both services cater to different music preferences and offer unique content to their fans.
Music and podcast selection
Spotify excels in music-discovery tools, while Apple Music boasts a broader catalog. Both services provide exclusive content and human-curated radio stations, but with different focuses on music and podcast selection.
Free version
Spotify is the only competitor with a free version, while Apple Music no longer offers its previous $5 per month option. Other music services like Amazon Music Free, Deezer, and YouTube Music also provide free, ad-based options.
Sound quality
Apple Music leads in sound quality compared to Spotify, offering high-res lossless audio and Dolby Atmos Music. Several competitors such as Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited, Qobuz, and Deezer also provide hi-res lossless audio at varying levels of quality and formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the cheapest way to get Apple Music?
The cheapest way to get Apple Music is through free trial offers, Verizon’s inclusive subscriptions, or bundled promotions with new songkalike Apple hardware purchases.
Is Apple Music really free for 6 months?
Yes, you can get 6 months of Apple Music for free with qualifying purchases of new Apple products. They allow you to stream Apple Music across all your devices during the free period.
Is there a way to get Apple Music free forever?
Apple Music does not offer a permanent free service, but Verizon’s 5G Get More Unlimited plan subscribers receive a free Apple Music subscription as long as they remain on the plan.
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