What Apple Music costs and what you get at each price tier
Apple Music offers four subscription tiers: Individual, Student, Family, and Voice Plan. The Individual plan costs $10.99 per month and gives one person access to Apple Music's full catalog on one device at a time. The Student plan is $5.99 per month and includes the same music access plus Apple TV+ at no extra cost, but requires proof of student status through a verification service. The Family plan costs $16.99 per month and covers up to six people, each with their own account and listening history. The Voice Plan is $4.99 per month and lets you control Apple Music through Siri voice commands only — you cannot browse or tap to play songs yourself.
All plans include lossless audio (CD-quality sound) and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos at no extra charge. None of the plans have ads. You can download songs to listen offline on any plan. The main difference between tiers is how many people can use the account at once and what control methods are available to you.
Key Takeaways
- Individual and Student plans cost $10.99 and $5.99 per month respectively and work on one account, while Family covers six people for $16.99 per month.
- The Voice Plan at $4.99 per month lets you play music only through Siri commands, not by tapping or browsing the app.
- Student plans require verification through a third-party service and include Apple TV+ at no extra cost.
- All plans include lossless audio, spatial audio, offline downloads, and no advertisements.
- Family plan members each get their own account, so their listening history and recommendations stay separate.
Individual Plan: Single-person access at standard price
The Individual plan is the standard Apple Music subscription at $10.99 per month. It gives you full access to the entire Apple Music catalog — over 100 million songs — on your own account. You can stream on one device at a time, download songs for offline listening, create playlists, and see personalized recommendations based on what you listen to.
This plan works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, and Android devices. You can use Siri to control playback on Apple devices. If you want to listen on multiple devices at the same time, you would need the Family plan instead, since the Individual plan stops playback on other devices when you start playing on a new one.
Student Plan: Half price with Apple TV+ included
The Student plan costs $5.99 per month and includes both Apple Music and Apple TV+ (normally $9.99 per month on its own). You get the same music features as the Individual plan — full catalog access, offline downloads, personalized recommendations — but at half the price, as long as you remain a student.
To sign up, you must verify your student status through SheerID, a third-party verification service. You will need to provide proof such as a current school email address, a student ID number, or enrollment documentation. Verification is free and usually takes a few minutes. Your Student plan status is checked periodically, and if you are no longer a student, your plan will convert to the Individual plan at the full $10.99 monthly rate.
Family Plan: Up to six people with separate accounts
The Family plan costs $16.99 per month and covers up to six family members. Each person gets their own Apple Music account with their own login, listening history, and personalized recommendations. Family members do not see what each other is listening to unless they choose to share it. You can set up parental controls to restrict explicit content for younger family members.
The person who pays for the Family plan is the organizer and can add or remove family members at any time. Family members can be added through Family Sharing on Apple devices, or you can send them an invitation link. Each person can stream on one device at a time, but since there are six separate accounts, multiple family members can listen simultaneously without interrupting each other.
Voice Plan: Siri-only control at the lowest price
The Voice Plan costs $4.99 per month and is designed for people who want to play music through voice commands only. You control everything by talking to Siri — you can ask it to play a song, artist, playlist, or radio station, and Siri will start playing. You cannot browse the app, tap songs, or use the visual interface to pick what plays.
This plan works on Apple devices that have Siri, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, and Apple TV. It is useful if you primarily listen in your car, at home through a HomePod, or while doing other things where voice control is more convenient than using your hands. If you ever want to browse and tap to play songs, you would need to upgrade to the Individual, Student, or Family plan.
How to switch between plans or cancel
You can change your subscription tier at any time through the Apple Music app or your Apple ID settings. On iPhone or iPad, open the Apple Music app, tap your profile picture, select "View Apple ID," then go to Subscriptions and choose Apple Music. You will see your current plan and options to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel. Changes take effect immediately, and Apple prorates any price difference if you switch mid-billing cycle.
If you cancel your subscription, you lose access to Apple Music immediately, but any songs you downloaded for offline listening remain on your device until you delete them. If you resubscribe later, your playlists and library are restored. There is no penalty for canceling, and you can restart whenever you want.
Free trial and bundled options
Apple often offers a free trial of Apple Music, usually for one to three months, depending on whether you own an Apple device. The trial period varies by promotion and by country. After the trial ends, your subscription converts to a paid plan unless you cancel before the trial expires.
If you subscribe to Apple One (a bundle of Apple services), you can get Apple Music as part of a larger package. Apple One comes in three tiers: Individual, Family, and Premier. The Family tier of Apple One includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ storage for $19.95 per month, which is cheaper than buying Apple Music and Apple TV+ separately. The Premier tier adds Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+ for $34.95 per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Apple Music on Android phones?
Yes. Apple Music works on Android devices through the Apple Music app, which you can download from the Google Play Store. You get the same features as on Apple devices — full catalog access, offline downloads, and personalized recommendations. The main limitation is that you cannot use Siri to control playback on Android, since Siri is Apple-only.
What happens to my music if I cancel my subscription?
Songs you streamed but did not download are no longer playable. Songs you downloaded for offline listening stay on your device and remain playable even after you cancel, but you cannot download new songs or update existing downloads. Your playlists and library information are saved, so if you resubscribe later, everything comes back.
Can two people use the same Apple Music account at the same time?
No. Individual, Student, and Voice plans allow only one device to stream at a time. If you start playing on a second device, playback stops on the first. The Family plan is designed for multiple people to listen simultaneously, since each person has their own account.
Is lossless audio available on all devices?
Lossless audio is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, but not on HomePod or Apple Watch. Spatial audio with Dolby Atmos works on most Apple devices, though some older models may not support it. Check Apple's support page for your specific device to confirm what audio features it supports.
Do I need to pay extra for offline downloads?
No. Offline downloads are included with all Apple Music plans at no extra cost. You can download up to 100,000 songs per account. Downloaded songs expire after 30 days if your subscription lapses, but they remain playable as long as your subscription is active.