Apple Music is a subscription-based music streaming platform. And unlike Spotify and Amazon Music, it does not offer a permanent free ad-supported tier.
However, if you’re wondering how to get Apple Music for free, there are several legitimate ways to go about it without breaking the rules.
In this guide, we’ve shared the most effective ways to get Apple Music for free via short-term trials, promotions, and more. Keep reading!
Before choosing a method, decide why you want Apple Music for free—trying it out, saving money short-term, or avoiding recurring subscriptions altogether. Each goal leads to a different solution.
Part 1: Can You Actually Get Apple Music for Free?
Yes—but only temporarily.
Apple Music plans start at $10.99 / £10.99 per month, and Apple does not provide a permanently free version.
However, you can legally access Apple Music for free in three main scenarios:
- Official trials or limited-time promotions
- Bundled offers from carriers or retailers
- Shared or alternative listening solutions
Each option has its own limits, conditions, and ideal use cases—which we break down below.
Part 2: Legit Ways to Get Apple Music for Free (Top 6 Methods)
In this section, we break down the six most reliable ways to get Apple Music for free, how long each option lasts, who qualifies, and what steps are involved.
Method 1. Official Apple Music Free Trial
Duration: 1–3 months
Conditions: New users only
Apple’s official free trial is the most straightforward way to access Apple Music without paying.
New users may receive:
- 1 month standard trial
- Up to 3 months with eligible Apple devices (iPhone, AirPods, Beats, HomePod mini, Mac)
During the trial, you get full access:
- Ad-free streaming
- Offline downloads
- Personalized recommendations
How it works:
Ensure you’ve set up your Apple ID account on your device before proceeding with the steps below.
Step 1: Open the “Apple Music” app on your Apple device and click on the “Try it free” button.
Step 2: Select a “Subscription plan.” Don’t worry, Apple won’t charge you until the end of the free-trial period.
Step 3: Enter your “Apple ID and Password” when prompted.
Step 4: Select a payment method and enter the billing information to complete the process.
Tip: Cancel auto-renewal immediately after activating the trial. You’ll still keep access until the trial ends, but won’t risk unexpected charges.
Method 2. Shazam Integration Trial
Duration: Up to 2 months
Conditions: New users; Shazam required
Since acquiring Shazam, Apple has offered free Apple Music trials through Shazam promotions.
How it works:
Step 1: Install the “Shazam” app on your device.
Step 2: Click this link to access the Shazam offer.
Step 3: Scan the code on the screen using your phone’s QR scanner or camera.
Step 4: Finally, follow the prompt to redeem the offer and start enjoying Apple Music for free.
If you’ve used Apple Music before, this offer may not work—but it’s still worth checking if your Apple ID hasn’t redeemed a Shazam trial.
Method 3. Free Trials via Retail Promotions
Duration: 1–4 months
Eligibility: Region-specific; purchase or account required
Retail promotions are another reliable way to get Apple Music for free. These offers are often bundled with electronics, gaming consoles, or Apple-related purchases. And they’re commonly available through retailers like Best Buy, Target, and PlayStation.
PlayStation
PS5 owners who’ve never subscribed to Apple Music can get 3 months free (redeemable until March 18, 2026).
Step 1: Navigate to the “Multimedia” tab on your PlayStation and select “Apple Music” under “All apps.”
Step 2: Scan the QR code and follow the prompt to sign up for Apple Music.
Step 3: Follow the instructions to activate the three-month free access to Apple Music.
Best Buy
- New users: 4 months free
- Returning users: 3 months free
Best Buy offers new customers four months of free access to Apple Music, while existing customers get to enjoy three months free.
Step 1: Open Best Buy's Free Apple Music offer in your browser and click on “Add to Cart.”
Step 2: Select “Go to Cart” > “Checkout."
Step 3: Log in to your Best Buy account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one.
Step 4: Provide your payment information when prompted.
Step 5: Once you enter your payment information, you should receive an email with the "Redeem Now" button to get started.
Step 6: Follow the instructions to activate the free Apple Music subscription.
Target Circle Members
Target Circle members may receive up to 2 months free for Apple Music.
Step 1: Open “Target.com” and sign in to or sign up for your account.
Step 2: Search for “Apple Music” offers and click on “Redeem Now.”
Step 3: You should be redirected to Apple’s website. You’ll be provided with instructions to activate the Apple Music free trial from there.
Retail offers often stack with device purchases—check eligibility before buying accessories.
Method 4. Carrier / Mobile Plan Promotions
Duration: 2–6 months
Conditions: Eligible mobile plan subscribers only
Some carriers include Apple Music as a plan perk:
- Rogers (Canada): Up to 6 months free (Infinite plans)
- O2 (UK): 3–6 months depending on plan
- Orange Spain: 6 months free for postpaid users
These offers usually activate via SMS or account portals.
Carrier offers may work even if you’ve used a trial before—check the fine print.
Method 5. Apple Music Family Plan (Shared Cost)
Duration: Ongoing
Conditions: Paid plan with shared access
The Apple Music Family Plan isn’t free, but it significantly reduces individual costs by allowing up to six people to share one subscription. Instead of each user paying separately, the monthly fee is split among family members.
If you live in a household where everyone uses an Apple device, Family sharing might be a reliable option. Moreover, each user gets a personal library, recommendations, and playlists with the Family Sharing plan.
Method 6. Long-Term Offline Listening Alternative (No Subscription)
Duration: Permanent (local files)
Conditions: Not a subscription replacement
If you’ve decided that recurring subscriptions don’t fit your needs—but still want long-term access to music you like—offline conversion tools offer a different kind of solution.
Mediaio Audio Converter allows you to:
- Convert Apple Music tracks into local audio files
- Play them offline on any device
- Avoid ongoing subscription fees
This does not extend or replace your Apple Music subscription. It creates local audio files for personal offline playback.
Once the conversion is complete, navigate to the “Finished” tab and click “View output file” to start playing the Apple Music tracks offline.
This option suits users who value ownership-style access over streaming convenience.
Part 3: Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Although Apple Music’s free trials and promotional offers are legitimate, you might encounter avoidable issues that prevent successful activation or continued access. Below are common pitfalls to avoid when trying to access Apple Music for free.
“New User Only” Restrictions
Most free trials are limited to new Apple Music subscribers. If your Apple ID has previously been used for an Apple Music subscription, even years ago, the trial may be automatically blocked.
Expired or Invalid Promotional Codes
Gift cards and promotional codes often have expiration dates, regional limitations, or one-time redemption rules. So, before using a promotional code, verify if it's still valid or match the country associated with your Apple ID.
Family Sharing Misunderstandings
Always keep in mind that Family Sharing requires an active family subscription and proper setup by the organizer. Access may be limited if the family plan is downgraded, billing fails, or the user is removed from the family group. It is not a substitute for an official free trial.
Account and Regional Restrictions
Common problems like unverified payment methods, outstanding account balances, or mismatched regions between the Apple ID and promotion source can prevent trial activation. These prompts often appear during sign-up and must be resolved before access is granted.
FAQs
In most cases, no. Apple Music free trials are typically limited to one per Apple ID. Once an Apple ID has used a free trial, it usually becomes ineligible for future trials, even if a long time has passed. However, some carrier or retailer promotions may still apply to existing or returning users, depending on the offer’s terms.
Students are eligible for an Apple Music free trial, but there is no permanently free Apple Music plan for students. The good news is that students can subscribe to the Apple Music Student Plan at a discounted rate, which includes access to all Apple Music features.
Yes. You can cancel your Apple Music free trial at any time before it ends. If you cancel before the trial expiration date, you will typically retain access to Apple Music until the final day of the trial period, after which the subscription will not renew or charge you.
If you do not cancel before the trial period ends, Apple Music will automatically convert to a paid subscription, and your chosen payment method will be charged based on the selected plan.
Conclusion
By now, you should already know the ways to get Apple Music for free. However, it’s worth noting that these offers are time limited - you need to redeem them before they expire. Also, ensure to check the redemption conditions for each offer before making a choice. If you want to listen to Apple Music songs for free forever, we recommend downloading them offline with the Mediaio Audio Converter software.