vs
Apple Music vs YouTube Music pricing
YouTube Music is cheaper to start: $5.99 per month, verified students against $6.99 per month, verified students for Apple Music. Apple Music has changed its listed prices 4 times since 2015. YouTube Music has changed its listed prices 3 times since 2018.
Apple Music vs YouTube Music at a glance
Current list prices as last read from each pricing page.
Apple Music
- Starts at
- $6.99 per month, verified studentsStudent, USD per month
- Top listed plan
- $19.99 per month, up to 6 peopleFamily
- Priced by
- Flat per account
- Free plan
- Not recorded
- Price history
- since 2015
- Price changes
- 4
YouTube Music
- Starts at
- $5.99 per month, verified studentsStudent, USD per month
- Top listed plan
- $18.99 per month, up to 6 peopleFamily
- Priced by
- Flat per account
- Free plan
- Not recorded
- Price history
- since 2018
- Price changes
- 3
Exhibit 1
Apple Music vs YouTube Music price history
Both histories on one chart. The default line is each product's cheapest paid plan.
Show the data as a table
| Observed | Apple Music Student | YouTube Music Student |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2018 | $4.99 | |
| Jan 1, 2021 | $4.99 | |
| Mar 1, 2021 | $4.99 | |
| Jun 20, 2022 | $4.99 | |
| Jun 23, 2022 | $5.99 | |
| Jan 1, 2026 | $5.49 | |
| Jul 16, 2026 | $5.99 | |
| Jul 22, 2026 | $6.99 | |
| Oct 24, 2026 | $5.99 | |
| Nov 2, 2026 | $6.99 |
Plans side by side
Every plan currently listed, with the price it started at where we have it.
Apple MusicUSD per month
| Plan | Price | Listed since |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $11.99was $9.99 in 2015 | Jul 2015 |
| Family | $19.99was $14.99 in 2015 | Jul 2015 |
| Student | $6.99was $4.99 in 2018 | Sep 2018 |
YouTube MusicUSD per month
| Plan | Price | Listed since |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $11.99was $9.99 in 2018 | Jun 2018 |
| Family | $18.99was $14.99 in 2018 | Jun 2018 |
| Student | $5.99was $4.99 in 2021 | Jan 2021 |
What changed, and when
Every dated price move we have on record for either product, newest first.
- Oct 2026YouTube Music raised the Individual, Family and Student prices. Individual went from $10.99 to $11.99 (+9%). Family went from $16.99 to $18.99 (+12%). Student went from $5.49 to $5.99 (+9%).
- Jul 2026Apple Music raised the Individual, Family and Student prices. Individual went from $10.99 to $11.99 (+9%). Family went from $16.99 to $19.99 (+18%). Student went from $5.99 to $6.99 (+17%).
- Jan 2026YouTube Music raised the Individual, Family and Student prices. Individual went from $9.99 to $10.99 (+10%). Family went from $14.99 to $16.99 (+13%). Student went from $4.99 to $5.49 (+10%).
- Mar 2024Apple Music dropped the Voice plan. Voice no longer listed, was $4.99.
- Oct 2022Apple Music raised the Individual and Family prices. Individual went from $9.99 to $10.99 (+10%). Family went from $14.99 to $16.99 (+13%).
- Jun 2022Apple Music raised the Student price. Student went from $4.99 to $5.99 (+20%).
- Mar 2022Apple Music added the Voice plan. Voice listed at $4.99.
- Jan 2021YouTube Music added the Student plan. Student listed at $4.99.
- Sep 2018Apple Music added the Student plan. Student listed at $4.99.
Apple Music vs YouTube Music pricing questions
- Is Apple Music or YouTube Music cheaper?
- YouTube Music starts lower at $5.99 per month, verified students, Apple Music at $6.99 per month, verified students. Prices are as shown on each pricing page when it was last read.
- Has Apple Music or YouTube Music raised prices?
- Apple Music: Individual has been listed since Jul 2015, starting at $9.99. It went up to $10.99 by Oct 2022 (+10%), and finally went up to $11.99 by Jul 2026 (+9%). Family has been listed since Jul 2015, starting at $14.99. It went up to $16.99 by Oct 2022 (+13%), and finally went up to $19.99 by Jul 2026 (+18%). Student appeared by Sep 2018 at $4.99. It went up to $5.99 by Jun 2022 (+20%), and finally went up to $6.99 by Jul 2026 (+17%). Voice appeared by Mar 2022 at $4.99. It was no longer listed by Mar 2024. YouTube Music: Individual has been listed since Jun 2018, starting at $9.99. It went up to $10.99 by Jan 2026 (+10%), and finally went up to $11.99 by Oct 2026 (+9%). Family has been listed since Jun 2018, starting at $14.99. It went up to $16.99 by Jan 2026 (+13%), and finally went up to $18.99 by Oct 2026 (+12%). Student appeared by Jan 2021 at $4.99. It went up to $5.49 by Jan 2026 (+10%), and finally went up to $5.99 by Oct 2026 (+9%).
- How are Apple Music and YouTube Music priced?
- Apple Music: flat per account, USD per month. YouTube Music: flat per account, USD per month.