Apple Music Family costs $16.99 per month for up to six people

Apple Music Family is a shared subscription that lets up to six people in your household listen to the same service under one payment. Each person gets their own account, their own music library, and their own recommendations — they just share the monthly bill. At $16.99 per month, it costs about $2.83 per person if all six slots are filled, compared to $10.99 per month for a single person subscription.

The family organizer (the person who sets up the account and pays) controls the subscription and can add or remove members. Family members need an Apple ID to join, and they can use Apple Music on any device — iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, or Android phone. Everyone streams at the same time without affecting anyone else's listening.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Music Family is $16.99 per month for up to six people, with each person getting a separate account and library.
  • The family organizer sets up the plan and manages who has access, and can remove members at any time.
  • Family members can use Apple Music on iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, HomePods, and Android devices simultaneously.
  • If you already pay for Apple One (the bundle that includes Apple Music, iCloud, Apple TV+, and other services), the family plan is included at no extra cost.

How to set up and manage a family plan

To start an Apple Music Family plan, open the Music app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac and go to Settings (or Preferences on Mac). Tap or click your profile picture, then select "Manage Family Sharing." If you have not set up Family Sharing yet, you will create it here — you become the organizer and add family members by their Apple IDs or by sending them an invitation link.

Once members join, they can start listening when ready. The organizer can remove someone at any time by going back to Family Sharing settings and selecting their name. When you remove someone, they lose access to the shared library but keep any music they have downloaded to their own device. If a family member leaves on their own, they can switch to an individual plan or stop paying altogether.

What's included in the family plan

Everyone on the family plan gets the full Apple Music catalog — over 100 million songs, lossless audio, spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, and access to live sessions and exclusive content. There are no ads, and you can read music to listen offline. Each person's recommendations, playlists, and listening history stay separate, so your teenager's heavy metal phase does not show up in your personalized suggestions.

The plan also includes access to Apple Music Classical, a separate app designed for classical music with better search and organization. Family members can create shared playlists together, though each person's personal library remains private. Parental controls let the organizer restrict explicit content for younger family members.

Apple One bundle includes Apple Music Family

If you subscribe to Apple One, the family tier automatically includes Apple Music Family at no extra cost. Apple One Family is $19.95 per month and adds Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, 200 GB of iCloud storage, and Apple News+ to the music service. For most families, this bundle costs less than buying Apple Music Family and Apple TV+ separately.

You can check which Apple One tier you have in Settings under your name, then Subscriptions. If you are on the individual plan and want to upgrade to family, you can change your subscription in the same place — Apple will prorate the cost if you are mid-billing cycle.

Individual plan and student pricing

If you live alone or want your own subscription, Apple Music Individual is $10.99 per month. Students get a discount at $5.99 per month through Apple Music Student, which requires verification through Sheer ID. The student plan includes Apple Music but not the other Apple One services.

Apple also offers a three-month free trial for new subscribers to any plan. If you have already used a trial, you cannot start another one on the same Apple ID, but a different family member on the family plan can use their own trial period.

How family plan costs compare to other music services

Spotify Family costs $16.99 per month for up to six people, the same price as Apple Music Family. YouTube Music Family is also $16.99 per month. Amazon Music Unlimited Family is $18.99 per month but includes ad-free listening on Amazon Music and access to Amazon's music videos. If you already use other Apple services, the Apple One bundle often costs less than buying subscriptions separately.

The choice between services usually comes down to which devices your family uses most and whether you want the bundle. If everyone has iPhones and Macs, Apple Music integrates more smoothly. If your family uses Android phones or prefers Spotify's interface, that may be the better fit regardless of price.

Canceling or switching plans

You can cancel Apple Music Family anytime through Settings on your device or through your Apple ID account online. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle — you keep access until then. If you want to downgrade to an individual plan instead of canceling entirely, you can do that in the same Subscriptions menu.

If a family member wants to leave the plan but keep listening to music, they can switch to an individual subscription on their own Apple ID. They will lose access to the shared family library but can start a new personal library. Any music they downloaded to their device stays on that device even after they leave the plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can family members in different countries use the same family plan?

No. Apple Music Family requires all members to be in the same country. If someone moves or travels for an extended period, you may need to remove them and add them back in their new country, which can take a few days to process.

What happens if someone on the family plan cancels their Apple ID?

If a family member deletes their Apple ID, they are automatically removed from the family plan. The organizer can then invite someone else to take that slot. Any music they downloaded stays on their device, but they lose access to new music and streaming.

Can I use Apple Music Family if I have a different payment method than other family members?

Yes. Only the organizer's payment method is charged. Family members do not need their own payment method — the organizer pays for everyone. You can change the organizer later if needed, and the new organizer's payment method will be used going forward.

Does Apple Music Family include music videos?

Apple Music includes music videos, but availability varies by region and artist. Some videos are exclusive to Apple Music, while others may be restricted. You can browse videos in the Music app under the "Videos" section.

What if someone on my family plan is using Apple Music on a device I do not recognize?

You can see which devices are signed into your Apple ID account through Settings, but you cannot see individual family members' device activity. If you suspect unauthorized use, you can remove the person from the family plan or change your Apple ID password, which will sign them out of all devices.