Is Apple Music Free? (Cost, Features + More)

Apple Music is an online music streaming service developed by Apple Inc. It is available in over 100 countries and offers millions of songs, albums, and playlists. It’s known for its exclusive albums, live radio stations, and diverse library of music. But is Apple Music free? If yes, how much is it? That’s what we’re going to find out in this blog post. So, stay tuned for all the info!
Is Apple Music Free?
The short answer is no. Apple Music is not free. It is a subscription-based streaming service that requires you to pay for a monthly membership plan. However, you can still get a 1-month free trial on the Apple Music app before signing up for a plan. That is just enough time to get a taste of the service and decide if it is worth your money.
If you don’t want to commit to a subscription plan, you can still access the limited features of Apple Music for free. You can sync your iPhone with a PC and play your downloaded iTunes Store purchases. Plus, Apple Music radio is available at no cost! However, you won’t have access to the full library of songs, albums, and other features.
How Can I Get Apple Music for Free?
If you are hesitating about signing up for a free trial, you can still access Apple Music for free. This is possible through other companies. That said, numerous companies offer discounts and promotions on Apple Music subscriptions. Those are usually retail stores, mobile carriers, and other service providers. Some even offer free annual memberships when you purchase their products or services.
So, there’s a chance that your phone carrier, for instance, is offering you a discounted or completely free subscription plan. All you need to do is check with them to find out what is available.
Is Apple Music Free on iPhones?
If you’re a novice to Apple Music, there’s good news! You can often receive an incredible six-month trial of Apple Music if your audio device is eligible. But first, do not forget to pair the audio device with your iPad or iPhone in order to qualify for this free offer.
How Much Is Apple Music?
Once you’ve decided to take the plunge, there are four Apple Music subscription plans to choose from.
The Apple Music Voice is the cheapest plan and is priced at $4.99 per month. With the Voice Plan, you can use Siri to ask for songs and albums from the vast library of Apple Music, bypassing the traditional methods of accessing content through the app. This is ideal for those who are on a tight budget.
The Student plan is the next step up and is priced at $5.99 per month. It basically offers the same features as the Individual plan but is discounted for students enrolled in an eligible educational institution. It is priced at $5.99 per month, which is 50% off the regular rate for an individual subscription plan.
The Individual and Family plans are the next level up, priced at $10.99 and $16.99 per month, respectively. They both provide access to the full library of music and other features such as ad-free music, downloading music, and more.
The only difference is that the Family plan is intended for up to six family members, while the Individual plan is meant for just one user. So, if you have a family of music lovers, the Family plan is the way to go.
How Long Can You Use Apple Music for Free?
When you sign up for a free trial subscription, you can use all the features and have access to the full library of content for one month. After that, you’ll need to decide if you’d like to continue with a paid subscription or not.
Your account is automatically switched to a free version when the trial is over. This is still limited, but it does allow you to access some features for no cost. This rule applies to all subscription plans as well. So, if you don’t pay your subscription fees each month, your subscription is automatically cancelled.
Apple Music vs. iTunes
Many people confuse Apple Music with iTunes. It is important to note that they are two completely different services.
Apple Music is a subscription-based streaming platform that allows you to access millions of songs, albums, and playlists.
On the other hand, iTunes is a digital music store or library where you can purchase songs and albums from the library of available content, be it music or movies. Once you purchase the content, you need Apple Music to play it.
These services work together to provide an optimal user experience. Apple Music is integrated into iTunes, so you can access your content library without leaving the app or having to switch between services.
Is Apple Music Better Than Spotify?
The debate is ongoing and is complicated by the fact that they are two completely different services. We have covered this very question in our other blog post called Spotify vs Apple Music. But in a nutshell, it really depends on your preferences and priorities.
Both services offer great features and have large libraries of music to choose from. The difference is that Apple Music is exclusive to Apple devices, while Spotify is available on multiple platforms and devices. So, if you prefer the convenience of having access to your music library everywhere, Spotify is the way to go.
In terms of sound quality, Apple Music is generally considered to be the better option due to its high-quality audio. So if you’re an audio enthusiast, Apple Music is likely your best bet.
However, you have to pay for a subscription to use Apple Music, while Spotify allows users to access the main features for free. With Spotify, you can create custom playlists and listen to music without a paid membership. The main downside of Spotify is that the free version is ad-supported. So if you’re interested in streaming music without spending any money, Spotify is the way to go.
So, at the end of the day, it is up to you to decide which is better for your needs.
Is Apple Music Cheaper Than Spotify?
Spotify offers a significantly cheaper membership than Apple Music.
The Individual plan on Spotify starts at $4.99 per month, while Apple is priced at $10.99 per month. That is a difference of nearly $6 per month.
The Family plan is also cheaper on Spotify, at $7.99 per month, compared to Apple’s $16.99 per month.
So, if you are looking for an affordable music streaming service, Spotify is the way to go.
Should I Switch to Apple Music from Spotify?
Well, whether you should switch is ultimately up to you. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as everyone has different needs when it comes to streaming music.
Apple Music is probably the best option if you’re looking for premium sound quality. But if you want to save money, then you should stick with Spotify.
Is Apple Music Free With Amazon Prime?
Apple Music services are not free with Amazon Prime. This is because Amazon already has a music streaming service of its own called Amazon Music, which is included in the Prime subscription. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that Amazon is going to offer Apple Music as part of its Prime package since Apple Music is its direct competitor.
So if you have an Amazon Prime membership and want to access Apple Music, you will need to pay for a separate subscription.
Is Apple Music Free with Verizon?
Yes! Verizon is offering a special promotion where customers who sign up for their unlimited plans get six months of free Apple Music access. After that, customers have the option to keep their subscription or cancel it without being charged.
The only requirement is that you have to be on at least the 5G plan in order to take advantage of the offer. So, if you’re with Verizon and want to access Apple Music, be sure to take advantage of this promotion.
Is Apple Music Free for Students?
Unfortunately, Apple Music is not free for students. However, Apple is offering eligible students a 50% discount on subscription fees. So, with a valid student ID, you can get Apple Music for just $5.99 per month.
Conclusion
To sum up, is Apple Music free? While technically, there is a free trial plan available, Apple Music is not free on a long-term basis. However, there is some relief in the form of subscription discounts and promos. So, if you want to access Apple Music, be sure to do your research for the best deals available.
Hopefully, this blog post was helpful in providing you with a better understanding of Apple Music services. Thanks for reading!