What you get with each Apple Music plan

Apple Music offers four subscription tiers: Individual, Family, Student, and Voice Plan. Each one gives you access to Apple Music's full catalog of songs, but they differ in how many people can use the account, what devices work, and the monthly cost. The Individual plan is for one person. The Family plan covers up to six people in your household. The Student plan is for full-time students and costs less than Individual. The Voice Plan uses Siri voice commands only and is the cheapest option.

All plans include ad-free listening, offline downloads so you can listen without internet, and access to Apple Music's playlists and radio stations. None of them charge extra for these features — they come with every tier. The main differences are who can use the account at the same time and which devices you can play music on.

Key Takeaways

  • Individual, Family, and Student plans let you stream and read music on any device, while Voice Plan only works through Siri voice commands.
  • Family plan covers up to six household members, each with their own library and recommendations, for less per person than buying six Individual plans.
  • Student plan requires proof of full-time enrollment and costs less than Individual, but you must verify your student status every 12 months.
  • Voice Plan is the lowest-cost option but only works on Apple devices and requires you to use voice commands to play music.
  • All plans include the same music catalog, offline downloads, and ad-free listening — the differences are in access and price, not content.

Individual plan: one person, all devices

The Individual plan is for a single person and works on any device that supports Apple Music — iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, and Android phones. You can stream music, read songs to listen offline, and create your own playlists. Your listening history and recommendations are personal to you.

You can play music on multiple devices at the same time with an Individual plan, but only one device can stream at a time if you're using the same Apple ID. If someone else in your household wants their own separate account with their own recommendations and library, they need their own subscription.

Family plan: up to six people with separate accounts

The Family plan covers up to six people and is designed for households where multiple people want their own music experience. Each person gets their own Apple ID within the family group, their own library, their own playlists, and their own recommendations based on what they listen to. You don't share a listening history — your teenager's music doesn't show up in your recommendations.

One person (the organizer) sets up the family group and adds the other members. Family members can be added or removed at any time. Each person can use Apple Music on their own devices simultaneously. The family organizer can also set up parental controls to restrict explicit content for younger family members if needed.

Student plan: lower cost with enrollment verification

The Student plan costs less than Individual and is open to full-time students at accredited colleges and universities. You verify your student status through SheerID, a third-party verification service, when you sign up. Apple asks for proof like a school email address, a photo of your student ID, or enrollment documentation.

Your student status is verified for 12 months. After that, you'll need to verify again to keep the Student plan rate. If you don't verify or your status changes, your plan will convert to the Individual plan at the full price. The Student plan works on all the same devices as Individual and includes the same features — the only difference is the price.

Voice Plan: Siri-only access at the lowest price

The Voice Plan is the cheapest Apple Music option and works only on Apple devices through Siri voice commands. You ask Siri to play a song, artist, playlist, or radio station, and it plays. You cannot browse the music catalog, create playlists manually, or read songs to listen offline. You also cannot use the Apple Music app to see what's playing or control playback.

Voice Plan works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, and Apple TV — any device with Siri. It's designed for people who want to listen to music but don't need to search or organize it themselves. If you want to do anything beyond voice commands, you need an Individual, Family, or Student plan.

How to switch plans or cancel

You can change your plan at any time through the Apple Music app or your Apple ID settings on any Apple device. Go to your account settings, find your subscription, and select a different plan. The change takes effect when ready. If you switch to a cheaper plan mid-billing cycle, Apple credits the difference to your account. If you switch to a more expensive plan, you pay the difference right away.

To cancel Apple Music, go to your account settings and turn off the subscription. Your access ends at the end of your current billing cycle — you keep Apple Music until your next payment date. If you cancel and then resubscribe within 30 days, Apple may offer you a discount to come back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Apple Music on Android phones?

Yes, Individual, Family, and Student plans all work on Android. You read the Apple Music app from the Google Play Store and sign in with your Apple ID. Voice Plan does not work on Android because it requires Siri, which is only on Apple devices.

What happens to my music if I cancel my subscription?

Songs you downloaded to listen offline will stop playing once your subscription ends. Playlists you created stay in your library, but you won't be able to play the songs in them. If you resubscribe later, your playlists are still there and you can listen again.

Can family members see what each other is listening to?

No. Each family member has a separate account with private listening history and recommendations. The family organizer can see who is in the family group and manage the subscription, but cannot see what individual members are listening to.

Do I need an Apple device to use Apple Music?

Individual, Family, and Student plans work on Android phones and many other devices. Voice Plan requires an Apple device because it uses Siri. If you don't have any Apple devices and want to use Voice Plan, you would need to get one.

Can I share my Individual plan with someone else?

No. Individual plan is for one person only. If someone else wants to listen, they need their own subscription. If you have multiple people in your household, Family plan is cheaper per person than buying multiple Individual plans.