Apple Music Raises Prices to $11.99 as Family Plan Jumps Nearly 18%

Are times really that tough in Cupertino?

Apple Music has raised its U.S. prices for the first time since 2022, pushing the Individual plan to $11.99 per month, Student to $6.99, and Family to $19.99. Apple blames higher licensing costs, but subscribers are not receiving a new audio tier, a larger catalog, or some magical feature that finally makes Siri understand the name of a jazz record.

The Family plan increase is the real eyebrow-raiser. A $3 jump works out to nearly 18 percent, which is enough that I briefly considered texting David Solomon to let him know Qobuz is now the better deal for families willing to pay annually. He probably has people for that, but the point stands.

Apple says rising music licensing costs are responsible. That may be true, but the company has not explained how much those costs have increased, how the additional revenue will be divided, or whether artists and songwriters will see a meaningful increase.

What Are Subscribers Getting for the Increase?

Nothing newly announced.

Apple Music still includes more than 100 million songs, lossless audio, Hi-res Lossless up to 24-bit/192kHz, Dolby Atmos, offline downloads, and Apple Music Classical. That remains a strong package, and Apple deserves credit for not hiding better sound behind another premium tier.

Recent additions such as Playlist Playground, improved discovery tools, and Apple Music Classical updates were already arriving before the increase. Apple has not positioned any of them as a new benefit tied to the higher monthly fee.

Subscribers are paying more for the same service. Apple is hardly alone in doing that, but families may reasonably wonder why their plan increased three times as much as the Individual tier.

Is Apple Music Now Expensive?

Not really. It is simply less of a bargain.

TIDAL now charges the same $11.99 Individual, $19.99 Family, and $6.99 Student prices. It includes lossless and Hi Res FLAC, Dolby Atmos, and TIDAL Connect, which remains a major advantage for listeners using network streamers, integrated amplifiers, and powered loudspeakers.

Spotify is more expensive at $12.99 for Individual and $21.99 for Family, while Student also costs $6.99. Spotify counters with stronger social features, wider hardware support through Spotify Connect, audiobooks on eligible plans, and one of the best recommendation systems in streaming.

Qobuz costs $12.99 monthly for Solo and $21.90 for Family, but annual subscriptions reduce the effective rates to $10.83 and $17.99 per month. Students pay $4.99, making Qobuz the least expensive student option in this group.

Apple Music remains competitive. It costs less than Spotify, matches TIDAL, and still includes one of the strongest audio packages in the category. What has disappeared is the argument that Apple Music Family is the obvious value leader.

Does Apple Music Offer More Than the Competition?

That depends on how deeply you live inside Apple’s ecosystem.

Apple Music makes the most sense for households already using iPhones, Macs, Apple Watches, Apple TV 4K, HomePods, and CarPlay. Apple Music Classical is a genuine differentiator, while the ability to combine local files and streaming inside one library remains useful for listeners who still own music rather than merely renting access to it.

TIDAL offers better direct integration with a wide range of hi-fi components. Spotify remains stronger for discovery, playlist sharing, and social listening. Qobuz combines excellent sound quality with detailed editorial content, extensive album credits, and Qobuz Connect, while its annual plans can undercut Apple Music.

Apple’s higher published resolution is not automatically decisive, either. Lossless above 48kHz generally requires wired playback and an external DAC, while most Bluetooth headphones do not receive lossless Apple Music audio at all. Apple TV 4K remains limited to lossless playback up to 24-bit/48kHz.

The service is still excellent. The increase does not make it sound any better.

Apple One Also Costs More

Apple has also raised Apple One Family from $25.95 to $27.95 and Apple One Premier from $37.95 to $39.95. Apple One Individual remains $19.95.

For households already paying for Apple TV, iCloud+, and Apple Arcade, the Family bundle may now look more attractive than Apple Music on its own. Apple Music Family increased by $3, while Apple One Family rose by only $2, which is almost certainly not an accident.

The bundle only represents a saving when people actually use the included services. Paying less for several apps nobody opens is still paying for several apps nobody opens.

How Apple Music Now Compares

Current U.S. monthly music service subscription pricing as of July 22, 2026:

Qobuz annual pricing reduces the effective monthly cost to $10.83 for Solo and $17.99 for Family.

Third party billing through app stores, wireless carriers, or other providers may result in different prices, so subscribers should check who is actually charging the account before becoming angry at the wrong multinational corporation.

The Bottom Line

Apple Music remains one of the strongest streaming services available, particularly for Apple users who value lossless audio, Dolby Atmos, Apple Music Classical, and tight integration across their devices. At $11.99, the Individual plan is still competitive and remains $1 less than Spotify.

The Family increase is harder to defend. Apple has raised the price by nearly 18 percent without adding a major new feature, and its explanation stops at rising licensing costs without clarifying how much more money will reach artists, songwriters, or rights holders.

Subscribers are not being charged far more than the competition. They are simply being asked to pay more because Apple believes they are unlikely to leave.

Considering how many families have spent years building libraries, playlists, and shared accounts inside the ecosystem, Apple is probably correct. That does not make the extra $36 per year feel any less irritating.

Where to get Apple Music: apple.com/apple-music/

Related Reading:

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• Spotify Raises Prices Again — Is It Still Worth It?
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