[2025 Latest] A thorough explanation of Apple Music's pricing plans! A summary of prices and payment methods

Apple Music is a subscription-based music streaming service provided by Apple. If you want to enjoy over 100 million songs, you'll need to sign up for a subscription plan. Apple Music currently offers three monthly subscription plans, but many people are unsure which plan to choose and how to sign up.

In this article, we'll explain in detail the prices and features of each Apple Music plan, as well as how to pay for your subscription. We'll also show you how to download Apple Music songs for free and enjoy them without any restrictions. If you're interested, please read on.

About Apple Music's pricing plans

To use Apple Music, you need to subscribe to a paid plan. Apple Music offers three pricing plans: the basic "Individual Plan," the "Family Plan" for families, and the "Student Plan" for students.

Comparison of Apple Music pricing plans

Each plan has different service content and prices, so please refer to the explanation below to choose the Apple Music plan that's right for you.

"Individual Plan" with annual fee option (1,080 yen per month / 10,800 yen per year)

The Individual plan is the basic Apple Music plan, and you can enjoy Apple Music by paying 1,080 yen per month or 10,800 yen per year. If you choose to pay annually, you will save two months (2,160 yen) compared to the monthly plan.

If you subscribe to the individual plan, you can listen to over 100 million songs distributed by Apple Music without ads and enjoy Apple's own distribution programs. In addition, music download and offline playback functions are also available, so you can listen to your favorite music without worrying about data usage even when you are not connected to Wi-Fi.

For single users who use Apple Music for long periods of time, the best option is to subscribe to the annual individual plan.

Family Plan (1,680 yen per month) that can be shared by the whole family

If you sign up for the Apple Music Family Plan, up to six people can use it simultaneously per plan for 1,680 yen per month.

The Apple Music Family Plan offers the same services as the Individual Plan, but if two family members use it, it costs 840 yen per person per month, which is significantly cheaper than the Individual Plan. If six people use it, it costs only 280 yen per person per month, which is the best value for money.

Although Family Sharing is required, playlists are created individually so music playback histories will not be mixed. Also, if you have children under the age of 13, parents can create an account and add them to the family to use Apple Music. In addition, you can set content viewing restrictions and app usage time limits, so you can use it safely even with children.

The Family Plan is the perfect plan for sharing Apple Music with your family.

Student discount plan (580 yen per month)

To subscribe to the Apple Music Student plan, you must be enrolled in a degree-granting institution (associate's, bachelor's, or doctoral degree program) or an equivalent post-secondary program. You must also provide annual proof of enrollment. The student discount is available for up to 48 months.

Although signing up for the student plan requires some effort, the monthly fee is only ¥580. Additionally, if you sign up for the Apple Music student plan, you can get a free Apple TV+ subscription. It's appealing to be able to watch Apple originals simply by opening the Apple TV app.

If you're a student who wants to use both Apple Music and Apple TV+ at the same time, the Apple Music Student Plan is the perfect option.

How do I pay for Apple Music?

Apple Music accepts multiple payment methods, including credit cards, carrier billing, debit cards, prepaid cards, Apple gift cards, and PayPay. Below we'll explain each payment method in detail.

Credit card

You can pay your Apple Music monthly fee with credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, and Diners Club.

Credit card payments are a system in which the fees for each service are deducted in one lump sum on the monthly settlement date. This is the most recommended payment method, as you don't have to worry about forgetting to pay and you can receive cash back or points depending on the amount you pay.

Carrier billing

Carrier billing is a service that allows you to pay for your Apple Music subscription together with your monthly data charges. Carriers such as docomo, au, Softbank, and Y!mobile support this service.

With this service, you pay for your smartphone data and Apple Music subscription in one lump sum, making it easy to manage your payments and convenient because you don't need to enter your card number. Anyone with a mobile device can use this service, even minors.

However, in many cases, there is a usage limit set, so be sure to be aware of the limit when using carrier payment for other services as well.

Debit cards and prepaid cards

The supported brands for debit card and prepaid card payments are the same as those for credit card payments.

With a debit card, the amount used is immediately deducted from your account, allowing you to keep track of your usage charges in real time and making it easier to manage your spending.

Prepaid cards can only be used up to the amount pre-charged. You can also pay for your Apple Music subscription with prepaid cards such as LINE Pay cards and au WALLET.

Unlike credit cards, debit cards and prepaid cards cannot be used beyond their balance, which helps prevent overspending. They are also suitable for those who are strict about budgeting.

Apple Gift Card

You can use an Apple Gift Card to pay for Apple Music at convenience stores like 7-Eleven and FamilyMart, or at electronics retailers. There are two types of cards: cards with a fixed amount set in advance and variable amounts that you can set yourself.

To pay for Apple Music, simply enter the code from the gift card you purchased. Apple gift cards can only be purchased with cash, so it is especially recommended for those who do not have a credit card or are worried about card payments.

PayPay

By linking your Apple ID to your PayPay account, you can pay for Apple Music with your PayPay balance. You can do this by registering a bank account or credit card to your PayPay account, or by topping up your balance with cash at a Seven Bank or Lawson Bank ATM.

The advantage of this method is that you can earn points by paying with PayPay, which can be used to your advantage. What's more, you may be able to earn additional points by taking advantage of PayPay's campaigns.

A secret trick to download Apple Music songs and enjoy them even after canceling your subscription

If you subscribe to Apple Music's paid plan, you can use features such as streaming, music downloads, and offline playback. However, Apple Music songs are DRM-protected and can only be played within the app. After canceling your subscription, you will no longer be able to listen to the distributed songs, nor will you be able to play the downloaded songs. If you want to enjoy the downloaded songs even after your Apple Music plan ends, you can use the DRM-removing MP3 conversion software "StreamByte for Music" is recommended.

With "StreamByte for Music"Remove DRM from Apple MusicYou can also convert songs to MP3, AAC, FLAC, and other popular formats before downloading them. Downloaded Apple Music songs maintain their original sound quality and can be transferred to other music players and devices for enjoyment. Regardless of whether you have a paid plan, locally saved songs can be played.Unlimited offline playback of Apple Music songsIt also has a built-in Apple Music web browser, a batch download function, and the ability to edit and retain ID3 tag information, allowing for efficient music download and management. StreamByte for Music offers a free trial version, so please download and use it.

Steps to download and save Apple Music songs with StreamByte for Music

step 1Launch "StreamByte for Music", log in, and select Apple Music on the main screen.

Step 2Log in to Apple Music with your Apple ID and search for the song, album, or playlist you want to download.

Step 3Once you find your favorite Apple Music songs, click the "Add" button to add them to the conversion list.

Step 4On the conversion screen, you can adjust the output format, bitrate, sampling rate, etc. You can also freely specify the directory to save the song to at the bottom left.

Step 5Once the settings are complete, click "Convert All" at the bottom right to start downloading the music. You can check the download progress on the conversion screen. Downloaded songs can be viewed in the "Converted" tab.

"StreamByte for MusicWith ", you can easilyDownload Apple Music songs to your computerYes, you can. Downloaded songs are DRM-free, so you can play them anytime, anywhere, even after canceling your Apple Music subscription. Furthermore, these songs have no device restrictions and can be transferred and played on any device. If you want to permanently save and enjoy high-quality Apple Music, we recommend downloading and trying out "StreamByte for Music" for free.

Frequently asked questions about Apple Music pricing plans

What happens to my downloaded songs after I cancel my Apple Music subscription?

If you cancel your Apple Music subscription, not only will you no longer be able to play music via streaming, but you will also no longer be able to play downloaded songs. This is because Apple Music's DRM protection encrypts songs and they can only be played within the Apple Music app. If you want to continue enjoying music after canceling your subscription, please refer to the "StreamByte for Music"Convert Apple Music songs to MP3 formatThen you can play it unlimitedly.

Can I cancel Apple Music during the free trial period?

The Apple Music free trial period is usually one month, after which you will be automatically charged, but you can cancel your Apple Music subscription at any time during the trial period.

However, please note that if you cancel during the trial period, your Apple Music subscription will be immediately suspended. To use it again, you will need to subscribe to a paid plan with the same Apple ID.

What if I want to change my Apple Music payment method?

For iPhone, you can remove or add a payment method by going to "Settings" > "Apple ID" > "Payment & Shipping" > "Add Payment Method."

To change your Apple Music payment method on Android, select your profile icon in the Google Play Store app, then go to "Payment & Subscriptions" > "Payment Methods" > "Add a payment method to your Google Account."

On a Mac, you can update your payment method by opening the Apple Store, going to Account Settings, Manage Payment Methods, and then Edit.

On a Windows computer, you can open the Apple Music app, click your name at the bottom of the sidebar, select "View My Account," click "Manage Payment Methods," then edit your payment method.

summary

This article provides a detailed explanation of Apple Music's three pricing plans and payment methods. If you plan to use Apple Music for a long time, the annual individual plan is suitable. If you plan to share with family, the family plan is a good value. If you are a student, the Apple Music student plan offers great value. Choose the pricing plan that best suits your needs. If you cancel your Apple Music paid plan, you will no longer be able to use features such as music playback, downloads, and library syncing, and you will no longer be able to play songs you have already downloaded.

Specialized music download software "StreamByte for MusicYou can avoid these pricing restrictions by using this software to download and permanently save Apple Music songs. This software removes DRM protection from Apple Music and converts songs to common formats such as MP3, AAC, and FLAC for download. Downloaded songs can be freely transferred, played, and edited, and you can enjoy them unlimitedly even after canceling your Apple Music subscription. In addition, this software alsoMy Apple Music library won't syncIt's a useful tool that can sometimes be a solution.