Apple Music is Apple’s music streaming service that grants access to over 100 million songs, playlists, music videos, radio stations, and more. An Apple Music subscription typically costs $10.99 per month for an individual plan or $16.99 per month for a family plan that supports up to six users. However, there are several legitimate ways to access Apple Music for free or at a discounted rate.
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Try Apple Music Free Trials
One Month Free Trial
Apple offers a one month free trial for new Apple Music subscribers. Simply download the Apple Music app and sign up to access the full catalog of music for 30 days without being charged. Just remember to cancel before the month ends if you don’t want to be billed.
Six Months Free with Purchase
New subscribers can get six months of Apple Music for free when purchasing eligible AirPods, Beats, or HomePod devices. You have 90 days after first pairing your device to take advantage of the offer. Current owners also qualify if they upgrade to the latest iOS.
Student Discounts
College students can subscribe to Apple Music at a discounted rate of $5.99 per month for up to 4 years. Verifying student status through Unidays also scores students free access to Apple TV+.
Best Buy Promotion
Best Buy runs frequent promotions that offer Apple Music subscriptions for free for 3-4 months with the purchase of a Best Buy membership program. Both new and returning Apple Music subscribers can take advantage of these periodic deals.
Carrier Bundles
Some cell phone carriers like Verizon offer bundles that include a free Apple Music subscription. Check with your carrier to see if they currently offer any Apple Music promotions.
Use Gift Card Credits
Consider purchasing discounted Apple gift cards from various retailers and using the credit to pay for an Apple Music subscription. The key is finding gift cards on sale to maximize your savings potential.
Apple Music’s family plan allows up to six people to share a subscription for $16.99 per month. Splitting the cost with five other people reduces the monthly cost per person to just $2.83.
Use the Free Web Player
The Apple Music web player available at music.apple.com provides free access to Apple Music radio stations. You won’t have full catalog on-demand playback access, but the web player is free to use without a paid subscription.
Stream Exclusive Content
Apple Music provides some video content like concerts and interviews that you can stream for free without an Apple Music subscription. Options are limited compared to paying subscribers, but there is some free content.
Use Siri
You can use Siri on your Apple devices to play songs, artists, and playlists on Apple Music without a paid subscription. Simply voice command Siri to stream the content you request for free.
Explore Classical Catalog
Apple provides free streaming access to its extensive classical music catalog. Visit music.apple.com/us/browse/classical to freely browse and play classical tracks without paying the standard Apple Music subscription cost.
Redeem Shazam Codes
The song identifying app Shazam offers free two-month Apple Music vouchers that allow temporary access to stream Apple’s full music catalog. Once the code expires, you can redeem a new one.
Listen to Radio
The live and custom radio stations on Apple Music including Hits, Chill, Country, and more provide free unlimited streaming without needing a paid subscription. You won’t have full on-demand catalog access but the radio stations themselves are free.
So in summary, while normally an Apple Music subscription costs $10-17 per month, there are quite a few legitimate ways to stream content from Apple Music temporarily for free, like trials and promotions, or permanently free options like the radio stations and classical music catalog. Students also get especially nice discounts. Evaluate all your options to enjoy Apple Music benefits without having to pay a cent.
