Apple Music does not have a permanent free tier, but you can use it free for one to three months through trial offers

Apple Music stopped offering a free ad-supported plan in 2015. Right now, the only way to use Apple Music without paying is through a trial period — usually one month free for new subscribers, though Apple sometimes runs promotions offering three months free. After the trial ends, your account converts to a paid subscription unless you cancel before the trial expires.

The trial is a real, full version of Apple Music. You get access to the entire catalog (over 100 million songs), offline downloads, lossless audio, spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, and all the same features as a paying subscriber. The only difference is the price: zero dollars during the trial, then $10.99 per month after (or $99 per year if you pay annually).

Whether you can claim a trial depends on whether you have claimed one before. Apple tracks this by your Apple ID. If you have never subscribed to Apple Music and never used a trial, you are may be able to access. If you cancelled a subscription more than 30 days ago, you may be may be able to access for another trial — but Apple's rules on this vary and are not published.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Music trials last one month for most new subscribers, though promotional offers sometimes extend this to three months.
  • After the trial ends, you must cancel before the due date or your payment method will be charged $10.99 per month.
  • You can cancel a trial at any time through Settings on iPhone, the Apple Music app on Mac or Android, or your Apple ID account online — cancellation takes effect when ready and you keep access through the end of the trial period.
  • If you have already used an Apple Music trial on your Apple ID, you cannot claim another one unless Apple runs a special promotion or you wait a significant period after cancelling.
  • Family plans, student plans, and bundled subscriptions (like Apple One) offer different pricing but do not include a free tier.

Where to start a free trial

You can begin an Apple Music trial directly from the Apple Music app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Android phone. Open the app, tap or click the offer banner if one appears, and follow the prompts to start the trial. Apple will ask you to confirm your payment method, but you will not be charged during the trial period.

You can also start a trial through your Apple ID account at iCloud.com or through the Settings app on your device. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions > Apple Music. On Mac, open System Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions. These routes show you the same trial offer and let you see your trial end date once it starts.

If you are a new iPhone, iPad, or Mac owner, Apple sometimes includes a trial offer in the setup process. During device setup, you may see an option to start Apple Music free. This counts as your trial, so if you skip it during setup, you can still claim it later through the app.

How to cancel before you are charged

Set a reminder for two or three days before your trial ends. Apple will charge your payment method on the exact end date if you do not cancel first. Cancellation is when ready — you will not lose access during the trial, but your subscription ends when the trial period does.

On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name, select Subscriptions, find Apple Music, and tap Cancel Subscription. On Mac, go to System Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions, find Apple Music, and click the remove or cancel button. On Android, open the Apple Music app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings > Subscriptions, find Apple Music, and tap Cancel Subscription.

Online, sign in to your Apple ID account at appleid.apple.com, click Subscriptions, find Apple Music, and click Edit. Then select Cancel Subscription. You will see a confirmation screen showing your trial end date. After you confirm cancellation, you will receive an email from Apple confirming the cancellation.

If you forget to cancel and are charged, you can request a refund within 15 days by going to your Apple ID account, finding the charge under Purchase History, and clicking Report a Problem. Apple will ask why you want a refund. Selecting "I did not mean to purchase this" or "I no longer want this subscription" usually results in approval for a first refund.

Promotional trials and special offers

Apple runs seasonal promotions offering three months free instead of one month. These appear in the Apple Music app as banner notifications and are usually tied to back-to-school season (July through September) or holiday shopping (October through December). You must be a new subscriber to claim a promotional trial — if you have ever had an Apple Music subscription before, you are not may be able to access.

Some carriers and retailers also bundle Apple Music trials with phone purchases or account activations. If you buy a new iPhone from a carrier like Verizon or T-Mobile, you may receive a promotional code for a free trial. Check your purchase confirmation email or ask the retailer whether a trial is included.

Student plans through Apple Music do not include a free trial, but they do cost $5.99 per month (half the regular price) if you are enrolled in a four-year college or university. You will need to verify your student status through SheerID, a third-party verification service. This is a paid plan, not free, but it is the cheapest ongoing option if you are a student.

What happens if you have already used a trial

Once you have claimed a trial on your Apple ID, you cannot claim another one when ready. Apple's system prevents the same Apple ID from starting multiple trials in a short period. The exact waiting period is not published, but reports suggest it ranges from 30 days to several months after you cancel.

If you are part of a family sharing group, each family member has their own Apple ID and can claim their own trial. If you have a spouse, child, or parent with a separate Apple ID on your family plan, they can start their own one-month trial independently. This does not give you a second trial, but it does mean multiple people in your household can use free trials at different times.

If you cancelled your subscription and want to know whether you are may be able to access for another trial, the only way to find out is to open the Apple Music app and see whether the trial offer appears. If it does not, you are not currently may be able to access. You can contact Apple Support through the Apple Support app or at support.apple.com, but they cannot override the system or manually grant a trial.

Alternatives if you cannot use a free trial

If you have already used your trial and do not want to pay for Apple Music, other music services offer free tiers or lower-cost options. Spotify offers a free ad-supported plan with unlimited skips on desktop and limited skips on mobile. YouTube Music offers a free ad-supported tier. Amazon Music offers a free tier with ads and limited skips if you are an Amazon Prime member.

Apple One bundles Apple Music with other Apple services (iCloud storage, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and Fitness+) at a discounted rate compared to paying for each separately. The bundle starts at $16.95 per month for the basic tier, which includes Apple Music. This is not free, but it may be worth it if you use multiple Apple services.

If you own an Apple device and want to listen to music you already own, the Music app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac lets you upload up to 100,000 of your own songs through iCloud Music Library. This is free if you have an Apple ID, though it requires iCloud storage space. You cannot stream songs you do not own this way, but it works for personal music collections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a free trial if I have a family plan?

No. If anyone on your family sharing group has an active Apple Music subscription, other members cannot start a trial. The family plan itself is a paid subscription. Each family member can use the shared subscription, but the primary account holder must pay for it.

What if my trial offer does not appear in the app?

You may have already claimed a trial on this Apple ID, or you may not be may be able to access for other reasons (such as having a current or recent paid subscription). Try signing out of the Apple Music app and signing back in. If the offer still does not appear after 24 hours, you have likely already used your trial.

Can I extend my trial after it ends?

No. Once your trial period ends, you must either pay for a subscription or cancel. Apple does not extend trials. If you are charged after your trial ends, you can request a refund within 15 days through your Apple ID account.

Do I need a credit card to start a free trial?

Yes. Apple requires a valid payment method on file to start a trial, even though you will not be charged during the trial period. You can use a credit card, debit card, or payment method linked to your Apple ID.

What if I cancel my trial but want to resubscribe later?

You can resubscribe at any time by opening the Apple Music app and selecting Subscribe. You will be charged when ready at the regular rate ($10.99 per month). You will not receive another free trial unless Apple runs a special promotion or a significant amount of time has passed since your last trial.