Millions of people stream songs on their phones every single day without buying a single album. An Apple Music subscription is what makes that possible on any Apple device and now on Android and Windows too. This guide covers plans, real prices, sign-up steps, and how to manage everything later. You will find one clear table, no filler, and answers you can use right away. By the end, you’ll know which plan fits your budget and how to switch or cancel it without any guesswork. 

Apple Music subscription Plans run from $6.99 to $19.99 a month. Individual costs $11.99, Student costs $6.99, and Family, which covers up to six people, costs $19.99. Every tier gets the same 100-million-song catalog, offline downloads, and lossless audio. Apple last raised these prices in July 2026. 

What Is Apple Music? 

Apple Music is a streaming service with over 100 million songs, live radio, and music videos. An Apple Music subscription includes offline downloads, lossless audio, and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on every plan. You get one app across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Android and now Windows. There is no free version. You need a paid plan or an active trial to listen past the preview clips. 

Lossless audio means you hear the song the way the studio mixed it, with no quality lost to compression. Spatial Audio adds depth, so instruments sound like they surround you instead of sitting flat in two channels. Both features come standard now. You don’t pay extra for them, and you don’t need special headphones to notice the difference on most tracks. 

Apple Music Subscription Cost: Every Plan Compared 

Apple raised its prices in July 2026 for the first time since 2022. Here is what each Apple Music subscription plan costs in the United States today. 

Prices are current as of September 2026 and may change without notice. Always check Apple’s official pricing page before you buy. Pricing also varies by country. Someone in the UK or the EU may see a different number at checkout. 

Apple Music Base Plan Subscription (Individual Plan) 

The Apple Music base plan subscription is the Individual tier at $11.99 a month. It covers one Apple ID on as many personal devices as you own. This plan makes sense if you live alone or don’t want to split a bill with anyone. A yearly billing can reduce your annual expenses. Apple sometimes offers a discount when paying once a year. 

Think of the base plan as the starting point. It carries the full song catalog, offline downloads, and lossless sound, the same as the pricier Family option. The only real difference between tiers is how many people can log in under one bill. 

Student and Family Plans 

The Student plan cuts the Apple Music subscription cost almost in half. It also includes Apple TV+ at no extra charge. You’ll need a valid school email address to qualify, and Apple checks this through a verification service during sign-up. 

The Family plan lets up to six people share one payment while keeping separate libraries, playlists, and recommendations. Each family member gets a private account inside the shared plan. Split six ways, that comes to just over $3 per person each month. That beats most Individual plans today. 

How to Get an Apple Music Subscription: Step by Step 

Signing up takes about two minutes on any device. Follow these steps closely. 

• Open the Music app: It comes built into iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Android and Windows users can download Apple Music from the Google Play Store or Microsoft Store. 

• Sign in with your Apple ID: Create a free Apple ID first if you don’t already have one. 

• Tap “Try It Free” or “Join Now”: New users usually get a one-month free trial before any charge hits your card. 

• Choose your plan: Based on your budget and household, pick student, Individual or family plan. 

• Add or confirm a payment method: By following different payment methods, you can use a card, PayPal, or your carrier billing in some regions. 

• Review and confirm: Your Apple Music subscription activates right away and billing starts once the trial ends. 

• Start listening: Download songs for offline play, or stream live over Wi-Fi or mobile data. 

Some new iPhone, AirPods, or Beats purchases include a few free months of Apple Music. Check your device box or the Music app for that offer before you pay full price. 

If you’re switching from another music app, look for the “Transfer Playlists” tool inside Apple Music. It scans your old library and rebuilds most playlists in a few minutes, so you won’t start from zero. 

Apple Music vs Other Streaming Subscriptions 

Most people already juggle more than one media bill each month. A Netflix subscription starts around $8 with ads and climbs toward $25 for the ad-free, top-tier plan. A Hulu subscription runs close to $10 with ads or about $19 without them. A Disney Plus subscription begins near $10 a month. An Apple TV Plus subscription costs roughly $13 a month for original shows and films. A Roku subscription works differently. Roku devices are free to use, and you only pay for the channels you add through them. Against that lineup, an Apple Music subscription at $11.99 sits in the middle. It bundles music, not video. 

If you already pay for two or three video services, adding music on top can strain your budget fast. Apple One can help here. It folds Apple Music into a package with iCloud storage, Apple Arcade, and Apple TV+ for one price. That bundle is worth checking before you add Apple Music on its own. 

Apple Music Manage Subscription: Change, Pause, or Cancel 

You can adjust or stop your plan any time from your device settings. Here is where to look. 

• On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings, tap your name, then tap Subscriptions, and select Apple Music. 

• On Mac: Open the Music app, click your name, then choose Account Settings, and find Subscriptions. 

• On Android or the web: Sign in at account.apple.com, open Media & Purchases and then manage your plan there. 

• To switch plans: Choose “Change Plan” and pick Student, Individual, or Family instead. 

• To cancel: Select “Cancel Subscription.” You keep access until the current billing period ends. 

This Apple Music manage subscription menu also shows your next billing date and payment method. Update your card here before an old one expires to avoid a lapse in service. 

Downgrading from Family to Individual removes access for everyone else once the period ends. Warn the other members first. If you’re the Family organizer, you can remove a single member instead. Just open Family Sharing in Settings. 

Is an Apple Music Subscription Worth It? 

For most listeners, yes. You get a large catalog, lossless sound, and no ads on any tier. The Apple Music subscription cost looks fair next to rival music services charging similar or higher rates for the same features. If you already own several Apple devices, the Family plan often beats paying for separate accounts on other apps. 

A few things to weigh before you commit: 

• You own an iPhone, iPad, or Mac and want deep integration with Siri and CarPlay. 

• You share a household and want one bill instead of six separate ones. 

• You mainly use Android and rely on hardware or a speaker built for another ecosystem. 

• You already pay for a rival music app and your playlists took years to build there. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: Does Apple Music offer a free trial? 

A: Yes. New subscribers get one month free before billing begins. Some device bundles extend this to several months. 

Q: Can I share my Apple Music subscription with family? 

A: Yes. The family plan supports up to six people under the same bill, and each person has their own separate account. 

Q: What happens if I cancel mid-cycle? 

A: You will have full access until your existing paid period is over. No partial refunds will be given after that. 

Q: Is there a cheaper Apple Music plan for students? 

A: Yes. The Student plan is priced at $6.99 per month and includes Apple TV + at no additional cost. 

Q: Does an Apple Music subscription include music videos? 

A: Yes. All plans include music videos, select playlists and live radio stations. 

Q: Can I use Apple Music on Android or Windows? 

A: Yes. Apple music is an app for android through Google play. It also has a native app for windows.