Apple Music has become a dominant force in the digital music streaming landscape, offering millions of songs, curated radio stations, and exclusive content. If you’re considering diving into Apple Music, a key question likely pops up: How Much Is Apple Music going to cost you? Understanding the pricing structure is essential, especially if you’re looking to share the musical experience with your family.
This guide breaks down the costs associated with Apple Music and explores how Family Sharing can be a game-changer for households looking to enjoy tunes without breaking the bank. We’ll delve into the different subscription plans, focusing on how Family Sharing can significantly reduce the individual cost and make Apple Music an even more attractive option for families.
Understanding Apple Music Subscription Plans
Apple Music offers several subscription tiers designed to cater to different needs and budgets. As of late 2023, the primary plans typically include:
- Individual Plan: This is the standard plan for a single user, granting full access to the Apple Music library and features on all your devices.
- Family Plan: Designed for families living under one roof, this plan allows up to six family members to enjoy Apple Music with their own individual accounts. This leverages Apple’s Family Sharing feature.
- Student Plan: A discounted plan for eligible college and university students, offering the same benefits as the individual plan at a reduced price.
- Apple One Bundles: Apple Music is also included as part of Apple One subscription bundles, which combine several Apple services like Apple TV+, iCloud+, and Apple Arcade for a single monthly price.
While specific prices can vary slightly by region and currency, it’s crucial to check the official Apple Music website or the Music app on your Apple device for the most up-to-date pricing in your area. Keep an eye out for potential free trial periods that Apple often offers to new subscribers, allowing you to test the service before committing to a paid plan.
The Power of Family Sharing for Apple Music
For families or households with multiple music lovers, the Family Plan through Family Sharing is where significant cost savings come into play. Instead of each family member needing an individual subscription, a single Family Plan unlocks Apple Music for up to six people.
Think about it: if a family of four each subscribed individually, the cost would be considerably higher than a single Family Plan. Family Sharing not only reduces the overall expense but also simplifies subscription management, as the organizer manages and pays for just one subscription for the entire group.
How to Share Apple Music with Family Sharing on Your Mac
If you’ve subscribed to Apple Music or Apple One with a family subscription, sharing it with your family members is straightforward, especially if you’re using a Mac. Here’s how to ensure everyone in your family group can access Apple Music:
Once you have a family subscription, your family members automatically gain access to Apple Music when they open the Music app on their devices after your subscription begins. They don’t need any special invitation or setup process.
Important Considerations for Family Sharing:
- Apple Account Requirement: Each family member needs their own Apple ID to participate in Family Sharing.
- Family Group Setup: You must be part of a Family Sharing group, either as the organizer or an invited member.
- Family Subscription is Key: To share Apple Music, the family group organizer needs to have a family subscription to Apple Music or Apple One, not an individual plan.
Family members also gain the added benefit of being able to download each other’s iTunes Store purchases (if they choose to share them) to their own devices, further maximizing the value of the family setup. Remember that Apple Music and Apple One availability can vary by country or region, so it’s always best to check Apple’s official support article on “Availability of Apple Media Services” to confirm access in your location.
Upgrading to a Family Subscription
If you currently have an individual Apple Music subscription and want to upgrade to a Family Plan to share with your family, the process is simple:
- Open the Music app on your Mac.
- In the menu bar, click Account and then select Upgrade to Family.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the upgrade process.
If you join a family group that already has a family subscription to Apple Music or Apple One, your individual subscription will not renew. Instead, you’ll seamlessly transition to using the group’s subscription. Conversely, if you have a family subscription and join a group without one, your family subscription will be used by the group.
Adding Family Members to Your Sharing Group
To add more members to your Family Sharing group so they can enjoy Apple Music:
- Open the Music app on your Mac.
- Click Account in the menu bar and select Add Family Members.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to invite new members to your family group.
For more detailed guidance on adding family members, refer to Apple’s support article: “Add family members to a Family Sharing group”.
Managing Family Sharing Purchases
Family Sharing also allows you to manage purchase sharing settings. To access these settings:
- Go to the Music app on your Mac.
- Click Account and select Manage Family.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to adjust sharing and parental control settings.
Refer to Apple’s support document “Manage sharing and parental settings in Family Sharing” for comprehensive information.
Viewing and Downloading Family Purchases
To see and download music purchased by other family members:
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Open the Music app on your Mac.
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Click Account and select Family Purchases.
Note: If you see “Purchased” or “Upgrade to Family” instead of “Family Purchases”, Family Sharing is not yet set up correctly for you. In this case, revisit the “Upgrade to a family subscription” section.
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Click the name near the top-left corner (next to “Purchased”) and choose a family member to view their purchases.
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To download an item, click the download icon.
To view only your downloaded music, go to “Songs” in the sidebar and then choose View > Only Downloaded Music.
Important Note on Region Compatibility: For purchase sharing to function correctly, all family members must be in the same country or region as determined by their Apple ID billing address. Changing regions can lead to loss of access to shared purchases. Consult Apple’s article “Change your Apple Account country or region” for more details.
Hiding Your iTunes Store Purchases
If you prefer to keep certain iTunes Store purchases private from other family members, you have the option to hide them:
- Navigate to Account > Family Purchases in the Music app on your Mac.
- If you don’t see “Family Purchases,” ensure Family Sharing is properly configured.
- Click the name at the top-left and choose your name to view your own purchases.
- Select a content type on the right (e.g., Music).
- Hover over the item you wish to hide, click the delete (hide) button, and confirm by clicking Hide.
To unhide purchases, go to Account > Account Settings, sign in, and click “Manage” next to “Hidden Purchases.”
Ending Family Sharing of Apple Music:
To stop sharing Apple Music with your family group, you can:
- Cancel your Apple Music subscription entirely.
- Leave the Family Sharing group.
- (If you are the organizer) Stop using Family Sharing altogether.
Refer to Apple Support articles “What is Family Sharing?” and the Family Sharing website for more general information about Family Sharing.
For privacy details related to Apple Music, go to Help > About Apple Music & Privacy within the Music app.
See also:
- Restrict access to items in Music on Mac
- Apple Support article: Hide and unhide music, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and books
Is Apple Music Worth the Cost?
Ultimately, the value of an Apple Music subscription, and specifically how much Apple Music is, depends on your individual listening habits and whether you can leverage Family Sharing. For individuals who are deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem and consume music frequently, the Individual plan offers excellent value. However, for families, the Family Plan is undeniably the most cost-effective way to access a vast music library for everyone in the household. By sharing the cost among multiple users, the per-person price of Apple Music becomes incredibly competitive compared to individual subscriptions, making it a smart and budget-friendly entertainment choice for families. Always check the latest pricing and consider any free trial offers to make an informed decision about whether Apple Music fits your needs and budget.
