The Apple Music Index

Apple Music launched in the US in June 2015 at $9.99/month and held that price for seven years. In October 2022, Apple raised the Individual plan to $10.99 — a single, modest hike — and has held there through 2026.

Compared to Spotify, which has raised prices three times since 2023, Apple Music has been the more stable option. Both started at $9.99 in 2015; by 2026, Spotify is at $12.99 and Apple Music at $10.99. The gap reflects different strategies: Spotify has pushed repeated increases to fund content and margins, while Apple has used music as part of a broader ecosystem and has been slower to move list prices.

For subscribers, Apple Music also bundles lossless and spatial audio at no extra charge, which has helped it hold the "value" narrative even after the 2022 increase.