Apple Music costs $10.99/month for an Individual plan in 2026. The Family plan covering up to six people runs $16.99/month via Family Sharing. New subscribers get the first month free on Individual, Family, and Student plans. Here is a complete breakdown of every plan, what is included, and how Apple Music compares to Spotify.
Apple Music Plan Prices (2026)
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Free Trial | People | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $10.99 | 1 month free | 1 | Solo listeners |
| Family | $16.99 | 1 month free | Up to 6 | Households via Family Sharing |
| Student | $5.99 | 1 month free | 1 | Verified students |
| Apple One | See apple.com | 1 month free | Varies by tier | Multi-Apple-service users |
Prices verified July 2026 from Apple’s pricing page. Apple adjusts pricing periodically – verify current prices at apple.com before subscribing.
What Is Included in Each Plan
Individual – $10.99/month
- Over 100 million songs, ad-free and available to download for offline listening
- Spatial Audio and lossless audio quality
- Exclusive artist access and curated playlists
- Free access to the Apple Music Classical app
- Works on iOS, Android, Windows, Sonos, smart TVs, and more
- First month free for new subscribers
Family – $16.99/month
- Access to everything in the Individual Plan
- Share with up to 5 additional people (up to 6 total) via Family Sharing
- Each person gets their own library, recommendations, and playlists
- First month free for new subscribers
Student – $5.99/month
- Special pricing for verified students
- Access to everything in the Individual Plan
- Comes with access to Apple TV at no extra cost
- First month free for new subscribers
Apple One (Bundle)
Apple One bundles Apple Music with up to five other Apple services – Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and iCloud+ – for a single monthly price. It is available in Individual, Family, and Premier tiers. Check apple.com for current pricing, as bundle prices are not included here.
Annual Cost at Each Tier
| Plan | Monthly | Annual Cost | Per-Person Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $10.99 | $131.88 | $131.88 |
| Family (6 people) | $16.99 | $203.88 | $33.98 each |
| Student | $5.99 | $71.88 | $71.88 |
The Family plan’s $33.98 per-person annual cost is the lowest of any standard plan – significantly cheaper than paying for six Individual plans at $791.28/year combined.
Key Features: What Sets Apple Music Apart
Lossless and Spatial Audio
Apple Music includes lossless audio (ALAC up to 24-bit/192kHz) and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio at no extra cost on all paid plans. This is a meaningful differentiator – Spotify does not currently offer lossless audio on any plan.
Apple Music Classical
Individual, Family, and Student plans include free access to the Apple Music Classical app, a separate app with specialized features for classical music listeners including detailed composer metadata and high-resolution audio for classical recordings.
Apple TV Included for Students
The Student plan ($5.99/month) includes access to Apple TV+ at no extra cost – adding significant value for students who already subscribe to Apple TV+ or would like to.
Device Compatibility
Apple Music works on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Android, Windows, web browsers, Sonos speakers, Amazon Echo, and smart TVs – not limited to Apple devices despite the name.
How to Get Apple Music Cheaper
1. Student plan ($5.99/month): Verified students save 45% off the Individual price. Also includes Apple TV+ at no extra cost.
2. Family plan: If you can share with 3 or more household members via Family Sharing, the $16.99 plan beats individual pricing. At 6 people, it’s $33.98/person per year versus $131.88 for Individual.
3. First-month free trial: New subscribers get the first month free on Individual, Family, and Student plans. If you have not previously subscribed, this applies automatically.
4. Apple One bundle: If you already pay for Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, or iCloud+, the Apple One bundle may cost less than paying for each service separately. Compare your current Apple spending against Apple One pricing at apple.com.
5. Device bundles: New Apple device purchases sometimes include several months of Apple Music free. Check current offers when buying a new iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Apple Music vs. Competitors: Price Comparison
| Plan | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music | Amazon Music Unlimited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $10.99 | $12.99 | $11.99 | $10.99 (Prime) / $11.99 (non-Prime) |
| Family | $16.99 | $21.99 | $18.99 | $17.99 (Prime) |
| Student | $5.99 | $6.99 | $5.99 | Not available |
| Annual (individual) | N/A | N/A | $119.99 | $104.99 (Prime) |
| Free tier | No | Yes (with ads) | Yes (with ads) | Prime Music (limited) |
Apple Music and Spotify prices verified July 2026. YouTube Music prices verified July 2026. Amazon Music Unlimited standard price is $10.99/month for Prime members; $11.99/month without Prime. Total charge shown at checkout may be higher depending on state sales tax. Verify current pricing at each service’s website.
| Feature | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music | Amazon Music Unlimited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lossless audio | Yes (included) | No | No | Yes (HD/Ultra HD) |
| Spatial Audio | Yes (included) | No | No | Yes (360 Audio) |
| Podcast support | Limited | Yes (extensive) | No | No |
| Social/sharing feed | No | Yes (with friends) | No | No |
| Audiobooks | No | 15 hrs/month (premium plans) | No | No |
| AI playlist generation | Yes (Apple Intelligence) | Yes (AI DJ, Daylist) | Yes | Yes (AI Radio) |
| Free tier with ads | No | Yes | Yes | Prime Music (limited catalog) |
| Offline downloads | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Music videos | No | No | Yes | No |
| Alexa integration | Good | Good | Good | Native (Amazon Echo) |
Apple Music leads on audio quality with lossless and Spatial Audio at no extra cost. YouTube Music matches Apple Music’s student price ($5.99/month) and adds access to music videos and unofficial/cover recordings. Spotify’s main advantages are its free ad-supported tier, podcast catalog, and social features.
Canceling Apple Music
Cancel anytime through your Apple ID account settings at appleid.apple.com or through the Settings app on iPhone and iPad. There is no cancellation fee. Your access continues through the end of the current billing period. Subscriptions managed through the App Store on Android can be canceled through Google Play.
See also: Spotify Cost 2026 | Monthly Budget Guide
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