Apple Music Family Plan pricing and what's included

Apple Music Family Plan costs $19.99 per month in the United States. The plan covers up to six people in one household, each with their own account, music library, and recommendations. Everyone gets access to Apple Music's full catalog — over 100 million songs — plus ad-free listening, offline downloads, and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos on supported devices.

Each family member's account is separate, so your listening history doesn't mix with anyone else's, and you can set parental controls on accounts for children under 13. The plan renews automatically each month unless you cancel it.

If you live alone or want music for just yourself, Apple Music also offers a single-person plan at $10.99 per month. A student plan costs $5.99 per month if you're enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university in the US. These prices have remained the same since Apple last changed them in October 2022.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Music Family Plan costs $19.99 per month and covers up to six people, each with their own separate account and music library.
  • You can set up parental controls on child accounts to restrict explicit content and manage screen time.
  • The family organizer (the person who pays) controls the subscription and can remove members at any time.
  • If you have an Apple One bundle, the Family Plan is included along with iCloud storage, Apple TV+, and other services at a lower combined price.

Who can join and how to set it up

To create a Family Plan, you need an Apple ID and a valid payment method. The person who sets up the plan becomes the family organizer and is the one billed each month. You can invite up to five other people to join by sending them an invitation through the Family Sharing feature in Settings on an Apple device, or by sharing a link with them.

Family members don't need to live at the same address, despite what the name suggests — Apple doesn't verify location. However, the terms of service state that the plan is intended for people in the same household. If someone leaves the family group, they lose access to the shared subscription when ready, though their personal music library and playlists remain on their device.

Each person needs their own Apple ID to join. If someone doesn't have one, they can create it for free on Apple's website or through any Apple device. Once they're added to the family group, they can start listening right away on any device where they sign in with their Apple ID.

How Apple Music Family Plan compares to other services

Spotify Family costs $16.99 per month for up to six people and works similarly — each person gets their own account and recommendations. YouTube Music Family is $14.99 per month for up to six people. Amazon Music Unlimited Family is $16.99 per month for up to six people if you're an Amazon Prime member, or $19.98 per month if you're not.

The main difference between these services isn't the price but what devices they work on and what else you get. Apple Music integrates tightly with Apple devices and Siri voice control. Spotify works on more device types and has better playlist curation. YouTube Music includes YouTube Premium ad-free viewing for all family members. Amazon Music includes Prime Video and Prime shipping if you're already a Prime member.

If you already use other Apple services like iCloud, Apple TV+, or Apple News+, the Apple One bundle might save you money. The Family tier of Apple One costs $19.95 per month and includes Apple Music Family Plan, 200 GB of shared iCloud storage, Apple TV+, Apple News+, and Apple Arcade — a better value than paying for each service separately.

What happens if you cancel or change plans

If the family organizer cancels the subscription, all six family members lose access at the end of the current billing cycle. The organizer can remove individual members at any time without canceling the whole plan, and that person loses access when ready.

If you want to downgrade from Family Plan to a single-person plan, you can do that through your Apple ID settings. The change takes effect on your next billing date. Any family members you've invited will be removed from the plan, though they'll have until the end of the current billing cycle to read their music for offline listening.

If you switch to a different music service, you can export your Apple Music playlists and library using third-party tools like Soundiiz or TuneMyMusic, though Apple doesn't offer an official export feature. Your personal music library stays on your devices even after you cancel, but you won't be able to stream songs you don't own once your subscription ends.

Parental controls and restrictions for family members

The family organizer can set up parental controls on any account for a child under 13. These controls let you restrict explicit content, set screen time limits, and control what purchases are allowed. To set this up, go to Settings, tap Family, select the child's account, and turn on restrictions.

With restrictions on, the child can still listen to all music on Apple Music, but explicit albums and songs are hidden from search and recommendations. You can also require approval for any purchase or subscription change, which means the child can't add a paid service without your permission.

Teenagers 13 and older can have their own unrestricted account within the family group. They can manage their own music library and recommendations, but you can still see their purchases and set screen time limits if you choose to.

Billing and payment options

Apple Music Family Plan charges to the payment method linked to the family organizer's Apple ID. This is usually a credit card, debit card, or Apple Gift Card balance. The charge happens on the same date each month — typically the day you signed up or the day your previous billing cycle ended.

You can change your payment method at any time through your Apple ID settings. If a payment fails, Apple will try again a few days later. If it fails twice, your subscription pauses until you update your payment information.

If you're billed through a carrier like Verizon or T-Mobile instead of directly to Apple, the charge will appear on your phone bill instead. You can switch between carrier billing and direct billing through your Apple ID settings, though the process takes a few days to complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Apple Music Family Plan with people who don't live with me?

Technically yes — Apple doesn't verify location. However, the terms of service state the plan is for household members only. Apple can remove accounts if it detects unusual activity or signs of account sharing outside a household.

What happens to my music if someone is removed from the family group?

Their personal playlists and library stay on their devices, but they lose the ability to stream songs they don't own. They can still listen to music they've downloaded for offline use. If they want to keep streaming, they'd need their own individual subscription.

Can I switch between Family Plan and a single plan without losing my music?

Yes. Your personal music library and playlists stay on your device regardless of which plan you have. If you downgrade to a single plan, you keep everything you've saved, but other family members lose access to the shared subscription.

Does Apple Music Family Plan work on Android phones?

Yes. Apple Music works on Android through the Apple Music app, available on Google Play. Family members can use Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, or any other device that supports the app. The subscription works the same way across all device types.

Is there a free trial for Apple Music Family Plan?

Apple sometimes offers a free trial period — typically one month — when you first sign up. The length varies depending on promotions running at the time. You'll be charged the full $19.99 per month when the trial ends unless you cancel before the trial period is over.