Bad news for Apple Music users. For the first time since autumn 2022, the Cupertino tech giant has decided to increase Apple Music subscription prices worldwide. From now on, individual listeners, families and students will have to take a higher monthly bill into account.
According to one official statement Apple’s price increase is the direct result of the continuously increasing costs for music licensing. The company emphasizes that this step is necessary to continue to compensate artists and rights holders fairly, while guaranteeing the quality of service. The new rates take effect immediately for new subscribers; existing subscribers will pay the new price at their next renewal.
The new rates at a glance
Apple Music is becoming more expensive in several regions, with Apple explicitly pointing to higher licensing costs as a reason for the price increase. In addition to Apple Music, certain Apple One bundles are also becoming more expensive in several markets, although exactly which bundles are adjusted varies per region. Previously, during a similar price round, we saw that the individual and family bundle of Apple One, among other things, increased by 2 to 3 euros per month.
Apple Music price increase
- Student subscription: from €5.99 to €6.99 per month (+€1.00)
- Individual subscription: from €10.99 to €11.99 per month (+€1.00)
- Family subscription (up to 6 people): from € 16.99 to €19.99 per month (+ €3.00)
- Individual annual subscription: from €109 to €119 per year (+ €10.00)
Apple One is the same for now
Many Apple users today opt for the all-in-one bundle Apple One, which combines Apple Music with iCloud+, Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. Although Apple has not yet announced a direct price increase for Apple One in Europe in this specific announcement, previous experience tells us that an increase in the price of an individual component can often be an indication of a future price correction of the bundles.
If you’re currently using Apple One, your current rate will remain unchanged for now, but you should be on the lookout for future announcements. In the United States and other regions, Apple has already increased the price of some Apple One bundles.
- Individual: $19.95 (unchanged)
- Family: $27.95 (was $25.95)
- Premium (not available in the Netherlands): $39.95 (was $37.95)
Apple Music vs. Spotify: Who is cheaper now?
Remarkably, despite this increase, Apple Music still remains competitively priced for many subscription types compared to its biggest rival: Spotify. Spotify previously also increased its rates in various markets to increase profitability.
For comparison: an individual Spotify Premium subscription now costs €12.99 per month in the Netherlands, which is one euro more expensive than the new Apple Music rate. The difference is even greater for families: the Spotify Family subscription costs €21.99 per month, while Apple Music Family now costs €19.99. This means that Apple retains a small price advantage on paper.