Apple Music is a subscription streaming service for albums, songs and playlists. It is available on Android and Windows as well as iPhone, and supports lossless audio and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. Here we look at prices, audio quality and what happens when a subscription ends.
Prices and availability in this article refer to Japan and were checked on October 24, 2026. The table uses official listed prices, excluding promotions. Before subscribing, check the amount charged through your chosen purchase channel, free-trial eligibility and the next renewal date.
Consider Your Equipment When Choosing Audio Quality
If lossless or Spatial Audio matters to you, check your devices and connections too. Hi-Res playback may require additional equipment.
Monthly Individual, Student and Family Prices
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Plan | Monthly Price | Main Intended Users |
|---|---|---|
Individual | ¥1,180 | One person |
Student | ¥680 | Verified students enrolled at eligible educational institutions |
Family | ¥1,980 | Up to 6 people including you, using Family Sharing |
On the family plan, everyone has their own library and recommendations. Apple Music Classical is also included in Individual, Student and Family plans. The table describes monthly subscriptions to Apple Music alone, separately from Apple One, which bundles multiple Apple services.
Sources: Official Apple Music prices and service information
The student plan is for students at eligible higher-education institutions, including universities, junior colleges, colleges of technology and vocational schools. Enrollment must be verified, and the plan is available for up to 48 months. If you lose eligibility or do not renew verification, among other circumstances, it switches to an Individual plan, so check the verification notices as well.
Sources: Student eligibility information for Japan / Student plan requirements
Can You Use It for Free? Distinguish a Trial from Ongoing Access
An ongoing subscription is required to keep listening to the Apple Music catalog. Free trials are available for new subscribers, but eligibility and duration vary by offer. At signup, also check the renewal price after the trial.
Subscribing to Apple Music differs from buying songs or albums from the iTunes Store. Distinguishing a monthly catalog subscription from purchasing particular releases makes it clearer what you are paying for.
Sources: Apple Music and music-purchase information
The Difference Between Lossless and Spatial Audio
Lossless compression preserves audio data without loss. Apple Music uses ALAC and supports Hi-Res Lossless up to 24-bit / 192 kHz. Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos offers an expanded sound experience on supported recordings and concerns a different aspect of listening from lossless. Not every track supports Spatial Audio.
Sources: Lossless specifications / Official Apple app features and requirements
Hi-Res recordings may require an external DAC or other equipment, depending on your playback device and connection. A Bluetooth connection does not necessarily reproduce lossless audio without changes. If quality matters, check not just the app settings but whether your device, headphones and connection meet the official requirements.
Sources: Lossless playback requirements by device
Available Beyond iPhone
Apple Music is also available on Android, Windows, Mac and web browsers. Owning an Apple product is not a prerequisite for subscribing. However, supported features and quality differ by environment. Try the process of searching, managing your library and listening offline on the device you normally use.
Sources: Supported devices and services
Downloads Are Not Purchases: What to Check Before Canceling
Music added or downloaded from Apple Music's catalog becomes unavailable when your subscription ends. Its treatment differs from music bought from the iTunes Store, so do not assume that a download remains usable after cancellation.
Sources: Subscription expiry and your library
For subscriptions billed by Apple, on an iPhone you can cancel by opening Settings, tapping your name, then Subscriptions. Cancellation is also available on the web and other devices. Check the conditions for free trials or third-party subscriptions, and confirm the end date displayed in the management screen.
Sources: Canceling a subscription
Using Lossless and Spatial Audio for Different Purposes
Lossless concerns how audio data is compressed; Spatial Audio lets you enjoy supported tracks with a three-dimensional sense of space. They are not higher and lower points on one scale. Because tracks and listening setups do not all support the same conditions, check the supported-format badges on the music and the capabilities of your equipment.
On iPhone and iPad, you can switch lossless on or off through Settings → Apps → Music → Audio Quality. Streaming and download quality can also be checked there. Hi-Res has additional requirements, such as an external digital-to-analog converter for playback above 48 kHz.
Changing settings alone does not replace already downloaded tracks with lossless versions. Apple advises deleting the downloads from your device, enabling lossless, then downloading the same tracks again. Higher resolution also uses more data and storage.
Sources: Apple lossless settings and equipment requirements / Official Spatial Audio information
How to Start Building Your Library
- Check Apple Music support on your everyday smartphone and computer. If using Android or Windows, start with the official apps and information.
- Find a few favorite albums and check whether your preferred editions are available. If you listen track by track, also try collecting the songs you play most often.
- Download the releases you want to hear outside while subscribed, preparing to use them without a connection. Check audio-quality settings and free device storage together.
- For family use, check each participant's Apple Account and Family Sharing settings. The plan does not assume everyone shares one set of login details.
Even within Apple Music, casual listening on a phone calls for different preparation from listening through wired audio equipment. Rather than immediately setting everything to maximum quality, try the full process of search, library use and downloads on your usual device to see whether it suits you.
Sources: Supported devices and family plans
Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Music
Do I Need an iPhone?
You can also use Android, Windows and the web. Supported features and audio requirements vary by device and playback method, however, so check compatibility with your usual equipment before subscribing.
Can I Keep Downloaded Songs as My Own Music Files?
The subscription catalog differs from music purchased through the iTunes Store. Do not treat tracks saved during an Apple Music subscription as purchased files you can keep listening to forever after it ends. This distinction is especially important when considering a switch.
Does a Family Plan Mix Everyone's Tastes?
Everyone can use their own library and recommendations on a family plan too. In a larger household, consider not just the monthly price but also everyone's devices and how easy the settings are to understand.
Sources: Music after the subscription ends / How family plans work
Points to Consider When Choosing Apple Music
Apple Music is a service to consider if you want to organize albums in a library or enjoy lossless and Spatial Audio on compatible equipment. Look beyond the maximum quality figures: check what your own equipment supports alongside the availability of releases you listen to often.
Compare Other Music Services
Our comparison of six major services covers prices, free tiers, audio quality and student plans using the same criteria. Compare them based on how many people will use the service, your everyday devices and the situations in which you listen.
