---
title: "Apple Music raises prices globally: new rates take effect"
description: "Apple Music has raised subscription prices globally for the first time since 2022 due to rising licensing costs. Rates have already been updated in the US, Europe, and the UK: individual subscriptions have increased by a dollar/euro/pound. 🎵💸"
date: 2026-07-18T13:35:07.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/apple-music-raises-prices-globally-due-to-rising-licensing-costs
tags: [apple-music, spotify, streaming, subscription-prices, digital-music]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Apple Music raises prices globally: new rates take effect

![Apple Music logo on a dark background with gradient side edges, symbolizing the price increase for subscription](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/18/apple-music-povyshila-tseny-iz-za-rosta-litsenzionnykh-raskhodov/apple-music-povyshila-tseny-iz-za-rosta-litsenzionnykh-raskhodov-1.webp)

The streaming music service Apple Music has announced a global increase in subscription costs. This is the first change to the pricing structure since 2022. The updated prices are already in effect in the US, UK, and European countries, and will take effect in other markets in the near future.

### New rates in different regions

In the US, where the changes took effect on July 17, the cost of an individual subscription rose from $10.99 to $11.99 per month. The family plan increased from $16.99 to $19.99, and the student plan from $5.99 to $6.99. A similar trend is observed in other regions: in the UK, the individual subscription now costs £11.99 (previously £10.99), and in Europe, the price has risen from €10.99 to €11.99.

The company explained the increase as "rising licensing costs". In a statement, Apple Music noted that the price increase is necessary to cover the increased costs of music usage rights.

### How this will affect users

New subscribers will immediately start paying at the updated rates. Existing customers will be moved to the new rates in the next billing cycle after receiving official notification from Apple.

It is worth noting that the previous price increase occurred four years ago. In 2022, the cost of a subscription in the US rose from $9.99 to $10.99. At that time, the company also cited increased licensing costs and promised that artists and songwriters would receive more compensation for streaming their tracks. That same year, Apple raised prices for Apple TV+ and the Apple One bundle.

### Competition and the streaming market

In the segment of music services, there is a general trend towards price increases. Competitor service Spotify raised the cost of a family subscription in the US to $21.99 in February, and the student plan to $6.99. Despite the price increase, the individual subscription for Apple Music in the US remains $1 cheaper than its main competitor.

Major record labels regularly insist on raising subscription fees, arguing that current rates are not keeping up with inflation and appear low compared to video platforms like Netflix. At the end of 2025, the global music subscription market had 921.6 million users, with Spotify remaining the industry leader.