Apple Increases Apple Music and Apple One Subscription Prices Globally

For millions of subscribers, the cost of accessing Apple’s digital ecosystem climbed this week. Following a round of hardware price increases earlier in June, the tech giant confirmed that its streaming services are now subject to higher monthly fees. The adjustments, which took effect on July 17, affect users in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and several other global markets.

New Pricing Tiers for Apple Music

The core of the price adjustment centers on Apple Music, which had maintained its subscription rates for seven years prior to a 2022 increase. In the United States, the individual plan has risen by $1, moving from $10.99 to $11.99 per month. Other tiers saw steeper hikes: the family plan increased by $3, reaching $19.99, while the student plan rose by $1 to $6.99 per month, according to Music Business Worldwide.

“As a result of rising licensing costs, Apple Music is increasing its subscription price beginning today.”

Apple, official statement provided to 9to5Mac and other outlets

While the company has not detailed every international market, Foxbusiness reported that the increases are being applied globally. In the UK, the individual plan is now £11.99, up from £10.99, while European subscribers see a similar shift to €11.99.

Apple One Bundles and Strategic Adjustments

The price hikes extend to the Apple One bundle, which combines services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+. According to 9to5Mac, select tiers within the bundle saw price increases, though the individual tier remains at $19.95 per month. The Premier package, which includes 2 terabytes of storage and all six services, rose by $2 to a new monthly rate of $39.95.

These changes follow a broader trend of streaming inflation. Despite the increase, Apple Music’s individual tier remains $1 cheaper than Spotify’s $12.99 monthly premium plan.

Hardware Costs and International iCloud+ Hikes

The services increase follows a difficult June for Apple hardware pricing. The company previously raised prices on MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, citing surging memory chip costs.

Separately, MacRumors reported that Apple increased iCloud+ subscription prices in eight specific countries, including Nigeria, Türkiye, Japan, and the Philippines. These hikes, which range from 11 percent to 55 percent, appear to be tied to currency fluctuations and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against local currencies, such as the Japanese Yen and Turkish Lira.

Industry Pressure and Future Outlook

Major record labels have long argued that music streaming remains undervalued, comparing the cost of a monthly subscription to the price of a single CD in the past. Hollywoodreporter highlighted that industry stakeholders have been pushing for these hikes to offset inflation.

Existing subscribers will transition to the new pricing at their next billing cycle, following notifications from Apple.