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How to Get Top Apple Music Deals and Free Trials for New and Returning Subscribers
As of late 2026, the most significant Apple Music deals include 6 months free through Verizon (US) or EE (UK) carrier plans. New device owners (iPhone, AirPods, Beats) qualify for a 3-month trial , while Best Buy and Shazam frequently offer 2-3 months for both new and returning subscribers. Students remain the highest-value group, paying just $6.99/month with Apple TV+ included at no extra cost.
Current Apple Music Pricing and Standard Subscription Plans
Navigating the cost of streaming services is essential for budget-conscious listeners. As of 2026, Apple Music maintains a competitive pricing structure that reflects its massive library of over 100 million songs and advanced features like Spatial Audio and Lossless streaming. Following the global price adjustments in late 2023, the standard rates have stabilized, though they remain subject to regional currency fluctuations.
The Individual Plan is priced at $11.99 per month (£10.99 in the UK). This plan provides full access to the catalog, ad-free listening, and the ability to download music for offline playback. For households, the Family Plan at $19.99 per month (£16.99) stands out as a top choice, allowing up to six people to maintain separate libraries and personalized recommendations under a single billing account.
For those just starting, the standard trial offered directly through Apple Music is typically one month. While this is a solid entry point, it is often the least generous offer available when compared to third-party partnerships. It is important to note that these prices include high-fidelity audio options that some competitors charge extra for, making the baseline cost a strong value proposition for audiophiles.
How to Get 3 to 6 Months of Apple Music for Free
The most lucrative deals often come bundled with hardware or service providers. If you have recently purchased a new Apple device, you are likely eligible for a significant trial period. This offer applies to new owners of an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or eligible audio products like AirPods (2nd Gen and later), HomePod, or Beats headphones.
New device owners must redeem their 3-month trial within 90 days of first setting up their new hardware. If you miss this window, the offer typically expires and cannot be reclaimed through official channels.
Beyond hardware, carrier bundles offer the longest-duration trials currently available. In the United States, Verizon provides Apple Music as a "perk" on its Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Welcome plans. For $10/month, users can add the Apple Music perk, which is a significant saving compared to the $11.99 standalone price. Furthermore, certain legacy Unlimited plans still include 6 months of the service for free as an introductory promotion. According to Verizon's official support data , these perks can be managed directly through the My Verizon app.
In the UK, EE offers a similar 6-month "Inclusive Extra" for customers on Full Works or All Rounder plans. This allows users to swap their monthly benefit for Apple Music, effectively making the service free for the duration of their contract. Other retailers like Best Buy frequently offer 3-month digital codes, which are particularly notable because they often apply to both new and returning subscribers, unlike Apple's direct hardware offers.
| Provider | Duration | Eligibility | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple (New Device) | 3 Months | New Subscribers | Global |
| Verizon | 6 Months / Perk | Select Unlimited Plans | USA |
| EE | 6 Months | Full Works Plans | UK |
| Best Buy | 3 Months | New & Returning | USA |
| Shazam | 2-3 Months | New & Returning | Global |
The Secret to Getting Apple Music Deals as a Returning Subscriber
A common misconception is that free trials are strictly reserved for those who have never used the service. While Apple’s direct 3-month device offer is indeed limited to new accounts, third-party partners like Best Buy, Shazam, and Currys (UK) operate under different promotional rules. These partners frequently offer "returning subscriber" deals that provide 2 to 3 months of access even if you have paid for a subscription in the past.
The key to unlocking these offers is understanding the "Cooldown Period." Community insights and user reports suggest that Apple’s system often resets eligibility for third-party promotional codes after a period of inactivity—typically between 6 to 12 months. If your subscription has been lapsed for a year, there is a high probability that a Best Buy digital code will successfully add several free months to your account without charge.
To check your eligibility without risk, you can attempt to redeem a code from a partner site. The system will prompt you with a confirmation screen showing the trial duration and the date your paid subscription will begin. If the screen shows "1 Month" or asks for immediate payment, you are not currently eligible for that specific promotion. However, Shazam is widely regarded as one of the most lenient platforms for returning users, often granting 2 months free to accounts that have been inactive for as little as 90 days.
How to Stack Apple Music Offers for Maximum Savings
For users who want to minimize their subscription costs over the long term, "deal stacking" is a highly effective strategy. This involves transitioning between different promotional offers in a specific sequence to maximize the total number of free months. While you cannot use two trials simultaneously, you can use them consecutively if you manage your account status correctly.
Start with the 3-month trial included with a new iPhone or AirPods purchase. This is the longest "official" trial and should be your baseline.
Set a reminder to cancel your subscription 2 days before the trial expires. On iOS, you can usually cancel immediately and still enjoy the service until the end of the billing cycle, but check the specific terms of your trial first.
Allow your account to remain inactive. During this time, use free tiers of other services or listen to your purchased library. This "inactivity" is what triggers eligibility for returning subscriber offers.
After 3-6 months of inactivity, visit Best Buy or the Shazam website to claim a returning subscriber code. This can often net you another 2-3 months for free.
One critical warning: Apple One trials can conflict with individual Apple Music deals. If you are currently using a free trial of the Apple One bundle, you generally cannot stack an individual Apple Music promotional code on top of it. It is usually better to exhaust all individual music trials before moving to an Apple One trial, as the latter is often restricted to "first-time bundle users" only.
Why the Apple Music Student Plan Is a Leading Value Deal
The Apple Music Student Plan is widely considered one of the strongest value propositions in the streaming industry. At $6.99 per month, it offers nearly a 50% discount over the individual plan. However, the real "hidden" perk is the inclusion of Apple TV+ at no additional cost. Given that Apple TV+ normally costs $9.99 per month, students are essentially receiving nearly $22 worth of services for under $7.
Image source: AudFree
To qualify, you must be a student enrolled in a degree-granting university or college. Verification is handled through UNiDAYS or SheerID , which requires either a student email address (.edu) or a scan of a current student ID. This discount is not permanent; Apple limits the student rate to a maximum of 48 months (4 years). Once you reach this limit, or if you can no longer verify your enrollment, the account will automatically transition to the standard Individual Plan rate.
It is also important to note that the free Apple TV+ access bundled with the student plan is for the subscriber only. Unlike a standard Apple TV+ subscription, this specific perk cannot be shared with other members of a Family Sharing group. If you need to share TV+ with your family, you would need a separate standalone subscription or an Apple One Family plan.
Is the Apple One Bundle a Strong Financial Choice?
For users deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, the Apple One bundle offers a streamlined way to save. The bundle combines Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ storage into a single monthly payment. The Individual Apple One plan costs $21.95 per month, which saves users about $9 per month compared to purchasing each service separately.
The Family Apple One plan, priced at $25.95 per month, provides even higher ROI. It includes 200GB of iCloud storage and allows up to six family members to share all the included services. For a household where at least two people use Apple Music and the family needs extra cloud storage for photos, the bundle pays for itself almost immediately. According to Apple's service breakdown , the savings can exceed $11 per month for the Family tier and even more for the Premier tier, which adds News+ and Fitness+.
Regional Differences Between US and UK Apple Music Offers
While the core service remains the same, the promotional landscape varies significantly by region. In the US, the market is dominated by carrier perks from Verizon and digital codes from Best Buy. US users also benefit from frequent "Target Circle" rewards that occasionally offer 2-4 months of Apple Music for free to members.
In the UK, the landscape is shaped by different retail partners. iD Mobile often provides 2 months free to its customers, while Currys offers up to 3 months free through its "Currys Perks" loyalty program. Interestingly, at current exchange rates, the UK price of £10.99 is technically slightly more affordable than the US price of $11.99, though this fluctuates with the global economy. UK students also use the UNiDAYS platform for verification, similar to their US counterparts, with a monthly rate of £5.99.
Troubleshooting Common Apple Music Subscription and Technical Issues
Migrating to a new service or redeeming a trial can sometimes lead to technical hurdles. One specific issue reported by the community involves the Sonos API bug . Users migrating their libraries from services like Tidal or Spotify sometimes encounter a "We’ve run into a problem" error when trying to browse their Apple Music library on Sonos speakers. This is often an API handshake issue; the recommended fix is to re-authorize the service within the Sonos app or contact Apple support to ensure your account is correctly provisioned for third-party hardware.
Another common concern is Library Disappearance . If you cancel your subscription and let it lapse for more than 30 to 90 days, Apple may purge your saved library and playlists from their servers. Unlike Spotify, which keeps your library intact on a free ad-supported tier, Apple Music is a paid-only service. If you plan to take a break from the service to wait for a "returning subscriber" deal, it is highly recommended to use a third-party tool to export your playlist data as a backup.
Power-User Tips to Get More Value from Your Subscription
To truly get the most out of your Apple Music deal, you should optimize your settings for your specific listening habits. Lossless Audio is a standout feature, but it comes with a trade-off: data usage. A 3-minute song in High-Res Lossless can consume upwards of 145MB, compared to just 6MB for a standard high-quality AAC file. If you are on a limited data plan, ensure that Lossless is only enabled for Wi-Fi streaming.
For those with limited iPhone storage, the "Optimise Storage" setting is a lifesaver. Found in Settings > Music, this feature allows the OS to automatically delete downloaded songs that you haven't played in a long time whenever your phone runs low on space. This ensures you always have room for new photos or apps without having to manually manage your music library. Additionally, you can use any song from the 100-million-track catalog as a custom alarm sound in the iOS Clock app, a small but delightful utility that adds personal value to the monthly subscription cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line on Saving Money with Apple Music
Securing a deal on Apple Music is primarily about timing and knowing where to look beyond the official Apple website. Whether you are a new user or looking to return to the service, these strategies can significantly reduce your costs.
- Prioritize carrier offers: Verizon and EE provide the longest trials (6 months) which offer the most significant savings.
- Watch the 90-day clock: Always redeem your new device trial within three months of activation to avoid losing the perk.
- Leverage student status: The $6.99 rate with free Apple TV+ is arguably the strongest deal in the streaming market.
- Use the "Cooldown" strategy: If you are a returning user, wait 6-12 months to become eligible for Best Buy or Shazam codes again.
- Audit your bundle: If you use iCloud and Apple Music, the Apple One bundle often provides better value than individual subscriptions.
- Manage your data: Use "Optimise Storage" and be mindful of Lossless data usage to avoid hidden costs like data overages.
Check the Shazam website today to see if your account qualifies for a returning subscriber trial before paying full price for your next month of music.
