Apple Music may soon offer a lower-cost subscription tier. Code strings discovered in the latest Android beta hint at a plan to attract budget-conscious listeners. The service currently has no free tier, and its chief has publicly opposed the idea of free music streaming.
Beta code reveals restrictions
The strings appear in the Apple Music Android beta and mention "Can't skip any more tracks" and "Premium access required." These phrases are similar to the restrictions found in Spotify's free tier, which limits skips and includes ads. The discovery was made by a leaker on X and reported by 9to5Mac.
Apple Music currently offers three paid plans in the US: Student at $5.99 per month, Individual at $10.99, and Family at $16.99. A lower-cost tier would be priced below the Student plan, possibly around $4.99 or less. The exact price and features remain unconfirmed.
Current pricing and competition
Apple Music has over 100 million users, while Spotify leads with more than 700 million. A cheaper tier could help Apple narrow the gap without introducing a fully free service. Oliver Schusser, Apple Music's chief, has called free tiers a "terrible idea" and said the company is proud to avoid them.
The rumored tier is not yet confirmed by Apple. The evidence comes solely from beta code, which may not reflect final plans. Apple has not commented on the discovery.
For now, Apple Music remains a paid-only service with no ad-supported option. If the lower-cost tier launches, it would provide users a new entry point while maintaining the premium experience. This move would represent a strategic shift, but one that falls short of a free tier.
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