Apple Music Family costs $16.99 per month for up to six people
Apple Music Family is a shared subscription that lets up to six household members listen to Apple Music on their own devices for one monthly price. Each person gets their own account, library, and recommendations — they don't share a queue or see what others are playing unless they choose to. The plan costs $16.99 per month in the United States, though the price varies by country and may change over time.
One person sets up the Family Sharing group and acts as the organizer. That person can add up to five other family members, who can be invited via email or added manually. Family members need their own Apple ID to join, and they can be removed or added at any time. If someone leaves the group, they lose access to the shared subscription immediately.
The Family plan is cheaper per person than buying six individual subscriptions, which cost $10.99 each. Six individual plans would total $65.94 per month, while the Family plan is $16.99 — a savings of about $49 per month if you actually use all six slots. The break-even point is around two people, so a household with three or more listeners usually saves money with the Family plan.
Key Takeaways
- Apple Music Family costs $16.99 per month for up to six people, with each person getting their own account and music library.
- One family member manages the group and can add or remove others at any time, though removed members lose access immediately.
- Family members need their own Apple ID and must be part of the same Family Sharing group to join the plan.
- The Family plan saves money compared to individual subscriptions once you have three or more household members listening regularly.
- Each person's music, playlists, and listening history stay private unless they choose to share them with other family members.
How to set up Apple Music Family and add members
To create an Apple Music Family group, open Settings on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac and go to your name at the top. Tap Family Sharing, then tap Set Up Your Family Group (or Create a Family if you don't have one yet). You'll choose a family organizer — this is usually the person paying for the subscription — and then add family members one at a time.
You can add someone by sending them an invitation through their email address, or if they're nearby, you can add them in person by having them sign in with their Apple ID on your device. Once they accept the invitation, they're part of the Family Sharing group and automatically get access to the Apple Music Family subscription. The whole process takes a few minutes.
If you already have a Family Sharing group set up for other reasons (like sharing an iCloud storage plan or managing Screen Time), Apple Music Family is added to that same group automatically once you subscribe. You don't need to create a separate family — it uses the one you already have.
What each family member can do with Apple Music
Each person in the Family plan gets full access to Apple Music's entire catalog of millions of songs, playlists, and radio stations. They can download music to listen offline, create their own playlists, and use Siri to play songs by voice. Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos is included if their device supports it.
The app learns each person's taste separately, so recommendations are personalized to them alone. If one family member listens to heavy metal and another listens to jazz, each gets their own For You section with different suggestions. Listening history, saved songs, and playlists are kept private by default — other family members can't see what you're playing unless you share a playlist with them directly.
Family members can also use Apple Music on up to 10 devices each, though only one device per person can play music at the same time. If two people try to play music simultaneously on different devices, both streams work fine. If the same person tries to play on two devices at once, the second device will interrupt the first.
Differences between Family, Individual, and Student plans
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Number of People | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $10.99 | 1 person | Single listeners or people who want their own separate account |
| Family | $16.99 | Up to 6 people | Households with multiple listeners who want separate accounts |
| Student | $5.99 | 1 person | Full-time college or university students |
| Apple One (Individual) | $16.95 | 1 person | People who want Apple Music plus iCloud storage, Apple TV+, and other services |
| Apple One (Family) | $24.95 | Up to 6 people | Families who want Apple Music, iCloud storage, Apple TV+, and other services bundled |
The Student plan is the cheapest option if you're enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university. You'll need to verify your student status through a third-party service when you sign up. Student plans are individual only — you can't add family members — and the discount expires when you graduate or leave school.
Apple One bundles Apple Music with other Apple services like iCloud storage, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and Apple News+. The Family version of Apple One costs $24.95 per month and includes all these services for up to six people. If you already subscribe to multiple Apple services separately, Apple One Family might be cheaper than paying for them individually.
How to cancel or change your Apple Music Family plan
To cancel Apple Music Family, go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name, then Subscriptions. Find Apple Music and tap it, then choose Cancel Subscription. You'll see options to cancel immediately or at the end of your current billing cycle. If you cancel immediately, you lose access right away. If you cancel at the end of the cycle, you keep access until the next billing date.
If you want to downgrade from Family to Individual, you can change your plan through the same Subscriptions menu. Choose Individual and confirm the change. The organizer of the Family group is the only person who can make changes to the subscription plan — other family members can't downgrade or cancel on their own.
If a family member wants to leave the group but you want to keep your subscription, the organizer can remove them from Family Sharing. That person loses access to Apple Music immediately, but they can start their own Individual subscription if they want to keep listening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can family members listen to Apple Music at the same time?
Yes. Each person in the Family plan can play music on their own device simultaneously. The only limit is that one person can't play on two different devices at the same time — if they try, the second device interrupts the first.
Do I need to live with family members to add them to the plan?
Apple's terms say family members should live in the same household, but the company doesn't verify this. You can add anyone to your Family Sharing group, though doing so against the terms of service could result in your account being restricted.
What happens to my music if I'm removed from the Family plan?
Your playlists and library stay on your device, but you lose access to Apple Music's catalog. Any songs you downloaded to your device remain playable, but you can't stream new music or add new songs to your library unless you start your own subscription.
Can I use Apple Music Family with a free trial?
Apple sometimes offers free trials for new subscribers, but these are typically for Individual plans only. Check the Apple Music website to see if a Family plan trial is currently available in your country.
Is Apple Music Family included with Apple One?
Yes. Apple One Family includes Apple Music Family as part of the bundle for $24.95 per month. You get Apple Music, iCloud storage, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and Apple News+ all in one subscription for up to six people.