What Apple Music Family gives you

Apple Music Family is a subscription plan that lets up to six people in your household stream music from Apple's catalog on their own devices. Each person gets their own account, their own music library, and their own recommendations — the service doesn't share your listening history with the other five members. You pay one monthly or annual fee instead of buying six individual subscriptions.

The plan includes everything in a standard Apple Music subscription: access to over 100 million songs, offline downloads, lossless audio, spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, and the ability to listen on any Apple device (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod) or on Android phones and tablets. Family members can also use Siri to play music by voice.

One person — the organizer — sets up the family group and pays the bill. The other five members receive an invitation and can accept it through their own Apple ID. They don't need to share payment information or passwords.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Music Family costs less per person than six individual subscriptions and gives each member a separate account with their own library and recommendations.
  • You need an Apple ID for each family member, and Apple uses your iCloud Family Sharing group to manage who is in the plan.
  • The organizer pays one monthly or annual bill; other members don't pay anything as long as they stay in the family group.
  • Parental controls let the organizer set content restrictions and spending limits for members under 18.
  • If someone leaves the family group, they lose access to Apple Music unless they buy their own subscription.

Current pricing and billing

As of early 2024, Apple Music Family costs $16.99 per month or $169 per year in the United States. Individual subscriptions cost $10.99 per month or $109 per year, so a family plan saves money if you have three or more people who want to listen. Pricing varies by country and may change; check Apple's website for your region.

The organizer's payment method is charged on the same day each month (or year, if you choose annual billing). Apple sends a receipt to the organizer's email address. If the payment fails, Apple will retry it a few times before suspending the subscription; all six members lose access until the bill is paid.

You can cancel the family plan at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period — if you cancel mid-month on a monthly plan, you keep access until the next billing date.

How to set up a family group

Apple Music Family uses iCloud Family Sharing, which is Apple's system for sharing purchases, subscriptions, and storage across up to six family members. If you already have a Family Sharing group set up (for example, to share an iCloud+ subscription or App Store purchases), Apple Music is automatically available to all members at no extra cost — you just need to make sure the organizer has an active Apple Music Family subscription.

If you don't have Family Sharing yet, the organizer sets it up on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac by going to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, then tapping "Create a Family" or "Add Family Member." You'll need the Apple ID and password for each person you want to add. Family members must be at least 13 years old to join on their own; younger children can be added as managed accounts.

Once the family group exists, the organizer goes to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions, selects Apple Music, and chooses the Family plan. The subscription is then shared with everyone in the group. Each member can start using Apple Music on their own devices immediately.

What each family member can do

Each of the six members has a completely separate Apple Music experience. Your playlists, downloads, and listening history are private — other family members cannot see what you listen to. If you search for a song, it appears in your library only. Recommendations are based on your own listening, not anyone else's.

Every member can use the same Wi-Fi network and listen at the same time without interfering with each other. You can each download up to 100,000 songs to your own devices. If one person is listening on a HomePod speaker, another person can start playing music on their iPhone at the same time.

Members can also use Siri on Apple devices to play music, create playlists, and control playback by voice. On Android phones, the Apple Music app works the same way as it does for individual subscribers.

Parental controls and spending limits

The organizer can set up Screen Time restrictions for any family member under 18. This includes limiting access to explicit content, restricting which apps can be used, and setting downtime periods when music cannot be played. To set this up, go to Settings > Screen Time on a shared device, or use the Family Sharing settings on the organizer's device.

The organizer can also set a spending limit for family members' App Store and iTunes purchases. This doesn't directly limit Apple Music listening, but it prevents younger members from accidentally buying music or upgrading their subscription without permission. Spending limits are managed through Family Sharing settings.

If a family member is 18 or older, the organizer cannot restrict their access to content or set spending limits — they have full control of their own account.

What happens if someone leaves the family

If a family member removes themselves from the Family Sharing group, or if the organizer removes them, they immediately lose access to Apple Music. Any music they downloaded to their devices remains on those devices, but they cannot play it through the Apple Music app unless they buy their own subscription.

The person who left can sign up for an individual Apple Music subscription at any time. They keep their Apple ID and their personal music library, but they start with a fresh subscription and are not charged retroactively for the time they spent in the family plan.

If the organizer leaves the family group, the subscription ends for everyone. A new organizer must be chosen, and that person needs to set up a new Apple Music Family subscription.

Combining Apple Music Family with other Apple services

If you have Apple One — Apple's bundle of subscriptions — you may already have Apple Music Family included. Apple One Premier includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, iCloud+ (2TB), and Fitness+, and it covers up to six family members. Apple One Individual and Apple One Premier Family plans also exist, each with different combinations of services.

If you subscribe to Apple Music Family separately, you can also buy iCloud+ storage, Apple TV+, or other services individually. Family members share the iCloud+ storage pool but have separate subscriptions to video and gaming services — for example, one person might have Apple TV+ while another does not.

Check Apple's website for current Apple One pricing and what is included in each tier, as these bundles change periodically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Apple Music Family if I don't have an iPhone?

Yes. Apple Music works on Android phones, tablets, and computers. You need an Apple ID to sign in, but you don't need to own any Apple hardware. The organizer can use any device to set up the family group and manage the subscription.

What if two people in my family want to listen at the same time?

You can both listen at the same time on different devices. Apple Music Family does not limit the number of simultaneous streams — all six members can play music at once if they want to. This is different from some other music services that restrict simultaneous playback.

Can I switch from individual Apple Music to Family, or vice versa?

Yes. If you have an individual subscription, you can cancel it and join a family group instead. If you're in a family group and want your own subscription, you can leave the family and buy an individual plan. Changes take effect at the end of your current billing period.

Do I need to give my payment information to other family members?

No. Only the organizer's payment method is used. Other family members do not see the bill or have access to the payment information. They simply receive an invitation to join the family group and accept it with their own Apple ID.

What if my family members live in different countries?

Family Sharing requires that all members use the same country setting in their Apple ID. If someone moves to a different country, they may need to update their Apple ID region, which can affect their access to the family subscription. Check Apple's support pages for your specific situation, as rules vary by region.