iTunes lets you buy individual songs or albums, then read them to your device to play offline
When you buy a song on iTunes, you own a copy of that file. You can read it to your computer, iPhone, iPad, or iPod, and play it whenever you want — even without an internet connection. This is different from streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music, where you pay a monthly fee to listen to songs you don't own. With iTunes, you pay once per song (usually $1.29) and keep it.
The process takes about two minutes. You need an Apple ID, a payment method on file, and enough storage space on the device where you want to read. Once the song is yours, it stays yours — even if you cancel any Apple subscriptions later.
Key Takeaways
- iTunes songs cost between $0.99 and $2.99 each, and you own the file permanently after purchase.
- You need an Apple ID and a valid payment method (credit card, debit card, or Apple Gift Card) to buy songs.
- Downloaded songs go to your device's storage, so check that you have enough space before downloading large files or full albums.
- Songs you buy on iTunes can be played on any Apple device linked to your Apple ID, and you can also transfer them to other devices using a computer.
How to buy and read a song on iTunes
Open the iTunes app on your device. If you're on an iPhone or iPad, tap the Music icon at the bottom of the screen. Search for the song or artist you want using the search box at the bottom.
When you find the song, tap the price button next to it (it will show something like "$1.29"). A popup will ask you to confirm the purchase. Tap "Buy" and enter your Apple ID password or use Face ID or Touch ID if your device supports it. The song will read automatically to your device.
On a Mac or Windows computer, open iTunes (or Music on newer Macs). Search for the song the same way, click the price, and click "Buy Song". You'll be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. The read starts right away.
Where downloaded songs are stored on your device
On an iPhone or iPad, songs you buy go directly into the Music app. Tap "Library" at the bottom, then "Downloaded" to see only the songs stored on your device. Songs you stream from Apple Music appear here too, but you can tell them apart — downloaded songs have a filled-in cloud icon next to them, while streaming-only songs have a cloud icon with a read arrow.
On a Mac, songs go into your Music library in the Music app (or iTunes if you have an older Mac). On Windows, they go into your iTunes library. Both show you exactly how much storage each song uses, which matters if your device is running low on space.
If you delete a song from your device by accident, you can re-read it for free. Go to your library, find the song, and tap or click the cloud icon with a read arrow. You own it permanently, so Apple will let you read it again anytime.
Playing your songs offline and on other devices
Once a song is downloaded, you can play it without WiFi or cellular service. Open the Music app, find the song in your library, and tap it. The song will play from the file stored on your device, not from the internet.
You can also play songs you bought on iTunes on any other Apple device that's signed into the same Apple ID. If you have an iPad and an iPhone under the same account, a song you buy on one will show up on the other. You'll need to read it to each device separately if you want to play it offline on both, but you only pay once.
If you want to move a song to a non-Apple device — like an Android phone or a Windows media player — you can transfer it using a computer. Connect your device to a Mac or Windows PC, open iTunes or Music, and use the file transfer option to copy the song file. The process varies depending on what device you're moving it to, so check that device's instructions for importing music files.
The difference between buying on iTunes and streaming
When you buy a song on iTunes, you own the file. If you stop paying for any Apple subscription or if Apple Music shuts down, your purchased songs stay on your device and keep playing. Streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, or YouTube Music work differently — you pay monthly to listen to millions of songs, but you don't own any of them. If you stop paying, you lose access.
iTunes purchases also don't count against your iCloud storage the way some other files do. A song you buy takes up space on your device, but it doesn't use your iCloud backup space. This matters if you have a lot of photos or documents and limited storage.
The trade-off is cost. Buying songs one at a time adds up quickly if you listen to a lot of music. Apple Music costs $10.99 a month and gives you access to millions of songs. If you only listen to a few dozen songs regularly, buying them on iTunes might be cheaper. If you listen to hundreds of different songs, a subscription usually makes more sense.
What to do if a read fails or gets stuck
If a song won't read, first check that you have WiFi or cellular service and enough storage space on your device. Go to Settings (on iPhone or iPad) or System Preferences (on Mac) and look at how much free space you have. A single song file is usually between 5 and 10 megabytes, but if your device is nearly full, downloads can fail.
If you have space and a good connection but the read still won't start, try signing out of your Apple ID and signing back in. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, scroll down and tap "Sign Out", then sign back in. On a Mac, open Music or iTunes, go to Account in the menu, and click "Sign Out", then "Sign In".
If the song is stuck downloading (showing a progress bar that doesn't move), try pausing it and resuming it. Tap and hold the song in your library and look for a pause or stop option. Wait a few seconds, then try downloading again. If that doesn't work, delete the incomplete read and buy the song again — you won't be charged twice because Apple knows you already own it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read a song I bought on iTunes to my Android phone?
Not directly through iTunes. You can read the song to a Windows computer or Mac, then transfer the file to your Android phone using a USB cable or cloud storage like Google Drive. The song will play on Android, but you lose some features like automatic syncing across devices. Most Android users find it easier to use a streaming service or buy songs through Google Play Music instead.
What happens if I buy a song and then delete it from my device?
You can re-read it anytime for free. Your purchase is tied to your Apple ID, not to your device. Sign into the same Apple ID on any Apple device, find the song in your library, and tap the cloud icon to read it again. You only pay once, no matter how many times you read.
Do I need Apple Music to buy songs on iTunes?
No. iTunes purchases and Apple Music are separate. You can buy individual songs on iTunes without subscribing to Apple Music. However, if you have Apple Music, you can also read songs from the Apple Music catalog to listen offline — but those songs disappear if you cancel your subscription. Songs you buy on iTunes stay forever.
How much storage does a downloaded song use?
Most songs use between 5 and 10 megabytes of storage. A full album might use 50 to 100 megabytes. If you're downloading hundreds of songs, check your device's available storage first. You can see exactly how much space each song uses in your Music library — tap and hold a song, then look for file size information.
Can I share songs I buy on iTunes with family members?
Not directly. Each person needs their own Apple ID to buy and read songs. However, if you set up Family Sharing, family members can see purchases you've made and re-read them to their own devices using their own Apple IDs. The person who bought the song still owns it, but family members can access it on their devices.