Key takeaways
- Apple Music went from $10.99 to $11.99 a month in July 2026; Family rose to $19.99 and Student to $6.99.
- Spotify Premium is still pricier at $12.99, but it has a free tier and Apple Music does not.
- Apple Music has an official Android app on Google Play, so switching phones does not force you to leave.
- Most major services now offer lossless audio, including Spotify Premium since September 2025.
Why are people looking for an Apple Music alternative?
Mostly price. On July 17, 2026 Apple raised Apple Music Individual from $10.99 to $11.99 a month, Family from $16.99 to $19.99 and Student from $5.99 to $6.99. Apple One bundles went up too. Others leave because they switched to Android or Windows, or because Apple Music has no free tier: only a few radio stations are free.
To be fair to Apple: even after the hike, Apple Music is a dollar cheaper than Spotify, includes lossless and Spatial Audio and Apple Music Classical at no extra cost, and offers over 100 million songs with no ads. If price is your only complaint, most rivals cost the same or more.
How much do Apple Music alternatives cost?
| Service | Individual | Family | Student | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Music | $11.99 | $19.99 | $6.99 | Radio only |
| Spotify Premium | $12.99 | $21.99 | $6.99 | ✓ With ads |
| YouTube Music Premium | $11.99 | $18.99 | Not verified | ✓ With ads, no background play |
| Amazon Music Unlimited | $11.99 with Prime, $12.99 without | $21.99 | Not verified | Not covered here |
| Tidal | $11.99 | $19.99 | $6.99 | ✗ |
| Qobuz Studio | $12.99 ($10.83/mo yearly) | $21.90 | $4.99 | ✗ |
| Boulevard | Free to listen | Free | Free | ✓ No account needed |
- Spotify Premium12.99$
- Qobuz Studio12.99$
- Amazon Music Unlimited (no Prime)12.99$
- Apple Music11.99$
- YouTube Music Premium11.99$
- Tidal11.99$
- Boulevard0$
Source: Apple, Spotify, Qobuz pricing pages; TechCrunch, Cord Cutters News, ecoustics (Oct 2026). Amazon Music Unlimited is $11.99 for Prime members.
The 6 best Apple Music alternatives
Spotify
Spotify has over 100 million tracks, the best personalized playlists, a real free tier (with pick-and-play since September 2025), lossless audio on Premium since September 2025, and apps for phones, Mac, Windows and Linux. It costs a dollar more than Apple Music.
- Price
- Free with ads, or Premium $12.99/mo (Oct 2026)
- Best for
- Most people: best discovery, a free tier and every platform
Pros
- Best discovery and playlists
- Free tier with ads
- Lossless on Premium, apps everywhere
Cons
- $12.99 is more than Apple Music
- Price rose again in 2026
- Ads on the free tier can be heavy
YouTube Music
YouTube Music has official albums plus everything else on YouTube: covers, live sets, remixes. Premium matches Apple Music at $11.99 and is included in YouTube Premium at $15.99. On mobile, the free tier will not play in the background, which makes it a desktop-first free option.
- Price
- Free with ads, or Premium $11.99/mo (Oct 2026)
- Best for
- Remixes, live versions and a free tier on desktop
Pros
- Catalog nobody else has (remixes, live, covers)
- Same price as Apple Music
- Included with YouTube Premium
Cons
- Free tier has no background play on mobile
- No official desktop app
- Library mixes videos and songs
Qobuz
Qobuz streams up to 24-bit/192 kHz and says it offers over 100 million tracks, with official apps for Mac and Windows. The yearly plan undercuts Apple Music. Discovery is weaker than Spotify's, and there is no free tier.
- Price
- Studio $12.99/mo or $10.83/mo billed yearly (Oct 2026)
- Best for
- Audiophiles who want hi-res audio and desktop apps
Pros
- Up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- Yearly plan cheaper than Apple Music
- Native Mac and Windows apps
Cons
- No free tier
- Weaker recommendations
- Smaller community
Tidal
Tidal merged into a single plan in 2024 and raised it from $10.99 to $11.99 in August 2026, the same as Apple Music. It is a clean, audio-first alternative, but it has no free tier and fewer extras.
- Price
- $11.99/mo since August 2026 (Oct 2026)
- Best for
- Listeners who want a single high-quality plan
Pros
- One simple plan
- Strong audio focus
- Same price as Apple Music
Cons
- No free tier
- Price went up in 2026
- Fewer social and discovery features
Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon raised Music Unlimited in early 2026 to $11.99 for Prime members and $12.99 for everyone else, with Family at $21.99. It makes sense if you live in Amazon's ecosystem; otherwise Spotify gives more for the same money.
- Price
- $11.99/mo with Prime, $12.99 without (Oct 2026)
- Best for
- Prime households built around Alexa and Echo speakers
Pros
- Cheaper for Prime members than Spotify
- Fits Alexa and Echo households
- Simple if you already pay for Prime
Cons
- No better value than Apple Music
- Weaker discovery
- Two price hikes in two years
BoulevardOur app
Boulevard is a different kind of alternative: a streaming app where every song is made with AI and performed by an original AI artist, reviewed by people before release. It is free in any browser and on Android, with Run, Gym and Focus modes, synced lyrics and comments pinned to the second. It is not a replacement for your full library.
- Price
- Free to listen (Oct 2026)
- Best for
- Listeners curious about new music from original AI artists, for free
Pros
- Free, no account needed to listen
- All-original artists you will not hear elsewhere
- Run, Gym and Focus modes built in
Cons
- Hundreds of songs, not your full library
- No offline downloads
- No iPhone app yet: use Safari and add it to your Home Screen
Is there a free Apple Music alternative?
Yes. Spotify Free has ads but, since September 2025, lets you pick and play specific songs. YouTube Music's free tier works well in a desktop browser but not in the background on a phone. Boulevard is free to listen with no account. Apple Music itself has no free on-demand tier, so even a short break from paying means switching apps. More options in our ad-free music app guide.
What is the best Apple Music alternative for Android?
First, you may not need one: Apple Music has an official Android app on Google Play, so your library comes with you. If you want to switch anyway, Spotify and YouTube Music feel most at home on Android. Boulevard is on Google Play too, as "Boulevard: ai music". On Android, Boulevard runs as a full app with lock-screen and headphone controls, and Boulevard Connect keeps the same song going when you move from your phone to your laptop.
What should you check before you cancel Apple Music?
Leave Apple Music without losing anything
Try the alternative's free tier first
Spotify Free, YouTube Music and Boulevard all let you listen before you pay. Give the new app a week of real listening.
Rebuild or transfer your playlists
Playlists do not move by themselves. Recreate your top ones, or use a playlist transfer tool you trust, before the subscription ends.
Know what disappears
Songs downloaded from Apple Music stop playing when your subscription ends. Music you bought from the iTunes Store stays yours.
Check your family plan
If you pay for Family at $19.99, everyone on it loses access when you cancel, so agree on the new service together.
Should you switch from Apple Music to Spotify?
Switch if discovery matters to you, if you want a free fallback, or if friends share Spotify playlists. Stay if you live on iPhone, Apple Watch and HomePod, care about Spatial Audio, or want the cheaper plan. Our Spotify alternatives page covers the reverse question, and Spotify's 2026 price increase explains why neither is getting cheaper.
Popular on Boulevard right now
Pretty For WhoLo Hush
Last SummerDarcy
Front DoorJagger
One More Hour, BabyInez Haughton
Loudest man in the roomVictor Black
Count It Up AgainAsher Vale
Original AI artists. Tap a song to play it in your browser.
We make Boulevard, so weigh our pick accordingly. Scores reflect our own testing of features and prices as of the date above.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Apple Music in 2026?
As of October 2026, Apple Music costs $11.99 a month for Individual, $19.99 for Family and $6.99 for Student in the US, after a price increase on July 17, 2026. Apple One bundles start at $21.95 a month. New subscribers get the first month free.
Is Spotify cheaper than Apple Music?
No. Spotify Premium Individual is $12.99 a month in the US, a dollar more than Apple Music's $11.99. Spotify does have a free tier with ads, which Apple Music does not, and Student plans cost $6.99 on both.
Is there a free alternative to Apple Music?
Yes: Spotify Free with ads, YouTube Music's free tier (best on desktop, since mobile has no background play), and Boulevard, which is free to listen in any browser and on Android with no account needed. Apple Music only offers a few free radio stations.
Can I use Apple Music on Android?
Yes. Apple Music has an official Android app on Google Play, plus a Windows app in the Microsoft Store and a web player at music.apple.com. You do not need to switch services just because you switched phones.
Which music service has the best sound quality?
Qobuz streams up to 24-bit/192 kHz, and Apple Music includes lossless and Spatial Audio at no extra cost. Spotify added lossless up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz to Premium in September 2025. Over Bluetooth headphones the differences shrink, because Bluetooth compresses the audio.
Is YouTube Music better than Apple Music?
For remixes, live versions and a free tier, yes. For a clean library, lossless audio and Apple device integration, Apple Music wins. Both cost $11.99 a month in the US as of October 2026, and YouTube Music Premium is included in YouTube Premium.
Sources
- Apple MusicApple, 2026-10-31
- Apple Music raises pricesMacRumors, 2026-07-17
- Apple OneApple, 2026-10-31
- Spotify Premium plansSpotify, 2026-10-31
- Spotify company infoSpotify Newsroom, 2026-10-31
- Lossless listening arrives on Spotify PremiumSpotify Newsroom, 2025-09-10
- Free experience updatesSpotify Newsroom, 2025-09-15
- YouTube Premium and YouTube Music subscription price increaseTechCrunch, 2026-04-10
- Background play in YouTube MusicYouTube Music Help, 2026-10-31
- Amazon is raising the price of Amazon MusicCord Cutters News, 2026-02-04
- Tidal price increase 2026ecoustics, 2026-07-16
- Qobuz Studio offerQobuz, 2026-10-31
