What you pay upfront and what you get

Apple Music's yearly subscription costs a flat amount paid once per year, rather than a monthly charge. You pay the full year's cost upfront, then your subscription renews automatically on the same date each year. This is different from paying month-to-month, where you're charged smaller amounts every 30 days.

With either plan — yearly or monthly — you get the same access: the full Apple Music catalog (over 100 million songs), offline listening, lossless audio, spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, and the ability to listen on up to six devices at once through Family Sharing. The yearly plan straightforward bundles those 12 months into one payment.

The yearly price varies depending on whether you choose an individual plan, a student plan, or a family plan. Each tier has its own annual cost. You can see the current pricing on Apple's website or in the Apple Music app itself before you commit.

Key Takeaways

  • A yearly subscription charges you once per year instead of monthly, and the annual cost is lower per month than paying month-to-month.
  • Your subscription renews automatically on the same date each year, and you can cancel anytime before the renewal date to stop future charges.
  • You get full access to the same features and catalog whether you pay yearly or monthly — the only difference is the payment schedule.
  • If you have an Apple One bundle (which combines Apple Music with iCloud storage, Apple TV+, and other services), the yearly option may offer different pricing than the standalone subscription.

How to start a yearly subscription

Open the Apple Music app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. Tap or click the "Listen Now" tab, then look for a banner or prompt about subscription options. Select the yearly plan from the choices shown. You'll be asked to confirm your Apple ID and payment method — the charge will go to whichever card or payment method is set as default in your Apple ID account settings.

If you're already an Apple Music subscriber on a monthly plan and want to switch to yearly, go to Settings (or Preferences on Mac), find your account, and look for subscription management. You should see an option to change your plan. Apple will prorate the change — meaning if you've already paid for part of the current month, that amount will be credited toward your yearly subscription.

You can also start a yearly subscription through the App Store app. Open it, tap your profile icon, then select "Subscriptions." From there you can view available plans and choose yearly.

When your renewal date arrives and what happens next

Your subscription renews automatically on the same date each year. For example, if you start on March 15, your next charge will be March 15 of the following year. Apple sends you an email confirmation a few days before the renewal date so you know when to expect the charge.

The payment is taken from your Apple ID's default payment method. If that card is expired or has insufficient funds, Apple will try other payment methods on file. If all payment methods fail, your subscription pauses until you update your payment information — you won't lose your account or playlists, but you won't be able to stream music until the payment goes through.

If you want to stop the subscription before the renewal date, you can cancel anytime through your account settings. Once you cancel, you'll keep access to Apple Music through the end of your paid period, then it will stop. You won't be charged again unless you manually restart the subscription.

Comparing yearly to month-to-month cost

The yearly plan costs less per month than the monthly plan when you do the math. For example, if the monthly plan costs $11 per month, the yearly plan might cost $119 per year — which works out to about $9.92 per month. You save money by committing to the full year upfront, but you also have to pay that larger amount all at once.

The exact savings depend on which tier you choose (individual, student, or family) and your region. Student plans are discounted year-round, whether you pay monthly or yearly. Family plans let up to six people share one subscription, which can be cheaper per person than individual subscriptions.

If you're unsure whether you'll use Apple Music for a full year, the monthly plan gives you more flexibility to cancel without losing money. The yearly plan makes sense if you know you'll listen regularly and want to lock in a lower per-month rate.

Family sharing and group plans

Apple Music's family plan lets up to six people share one subscription. You can pay yearly or monthly for the family plan, and each family member gets their own account, playlists, and listening history — Apple Music keeps everyone's preferences separate even though you're on the same subscription.

To set up family sharing, the person paying for the subscription goes to their Apple ID settings and creates or joins a Family Sharing group. They then invite the other five people by email or phone number. Once someone accepts the invitation, they're added to the family plan and can start using Apple Music when ready.

If you're part of a family plan, you can't also have your own individual subscription — you'll use the family plan instead. If you leave the family group, your access to Apple Music stops unless you start a new individual subscription.

Canceling your yearly subscription

You can cancel your yearly subscription anytime through your account settings. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, select "Subscriptions," find Apple Music, and tap "Cancel Subscription." On Mac, open System Preferences, click your Apple ID, select "Subscriptions," and cancel from there. You can also cancel through the App Store app or on iCloud.com.

When you cancel, you keep access to Apple Music through the end of your paid year. You won't be charged again, and your subscription will end on the date it was originally set to renew. If you change your mind before that date, you can restart your subscription at any time, though you'll be charged the full yearly amount again.

If you cancel within a few days of starting your subscription, Apple may offer you a refund depending on your region and circumstances. Contact Apple Support to ask about a refund if you've just signed up and want to cancel when ready.

Switching between yearly and monthly plans

You can change from yearly to monthly (or vice versa) anytime by going to your subscription settings and selecting a different plan. If you switch from yearly to monthly mid-year, Apple will credit the unused portion of your yearly payment toward your new monthly plan. If you switch from monthly to yearly, you'll pay the full yearly amount, and any remaining monthly balance will be credited.

The change takes effect when ready — you won't have a gap in your service. Your new renewal date will be set based on the plan you switched to. For example, if you switch from yearly to monthly on June 1, your first monthly charge will be June 1, and you'll be charged monthly from then on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I cancel my yearly subscription early?

Apple's refund policy varies by region and how long you've had the subscription. If you cancel within a few days of starting, you may be able to get a refund. For cancellations after that, you typically won't receive a refund, but you'll keep access through the end of your paid year. Contact Apple Support with your specific situation to ask about options.

What happens to my playlists and library if my subscription ends?

Your playlists and library remain in your account, but you won't be able to stream music once your subscription ends. If you restart your subscription later, your playlists and listening history will still be there. Downloaded songs will also remain on your device, though you won't be able to play them without an active subscription.

Can I use my yearly subscription on multiple devices at the same time?

Yes. Your subscription lets you listen on up to six devices at once. You can stream on your iPhone, Mac, Apple TV, and other Apple devices simultaneously as long as they're all signed in to the same Apple ID. This is different from the family plan, which gives each of six people their own account.

Does the yearly subscription include Apple One?

Apple One is a separate bundle that combines Apple Music with iCloud storage, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and other services. You can choose to pay for Apple Music alone on a yearly basis, or you can add it as part of an Apple One bundle. The bundle pricing is different from the standalone subscription, and you can pay yearly or monthly for the bundle as well.

What if my payment method fails when my subscription renews?

Apple will try other payment methods on file. If all of them fail, your subscription pauses and you'll get an email asking you to update your payment information. You'll keep your account and playlists, but you won't be able to stream until the payment goes through. Update your payment method in your Apple ID settings to resume service.