Apple Music vs YouTube Premium: price, plans, and which to keep
Current US prices, price history, trial terms, and cancellation friction side by side, built from our service guides. Last reviewed September 8, 2026.
The short answer
Apple Music is four dollars cheaper for individuals ($11.99 versus $15.99), seven dollars cheaper for families ($19.99 versus $26.99) and two dollars cheaper for students ($6.99 versus $8.99). What you get for YouTube's premium is ad-free YouTube and background play on top of YouTube Music, which is a genuinely different product. Apple's strengths are lossless audio and the Apple One bundle; YouTube's is a pause option that Apple does not have, now that its April 2026 rise has ended three years of stable US prices.
YouTube Premium is cheaper by $36 a year on its entry plan.
At a glance
| Apple Music | YouTube Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest standard plan | Individual: $11.99/mo | Premium Lite: $8.99/mo |
| Cheapest plan per year | $143.88 | $107.88 |
| Most expensive plan | Family (up to 6): $19.99/mo | Family (up to 5 extra): $26.99/mo |
| Price changes since 2023 | 1 | 2 |
| Latest price change | July 2026 | April 2026 |
| Free trial | 1 month free; up to 3 months free with new Apple devices or accessories. | 1-month free trial for new members; frequent 2-3 month promos. |
| Cancellation | 4 steps · app-store or partner billing caveat | 4 steps · app-store or partner billing caveat |
Cheapest and most expensive plans exclude add-ons, student, bundle, and per-seat plans. Price changes are counted from January 2023. US list prices, last reviewed September 8, 2026.
Which one should you pick?
Choose Apple Music if…
Pick Apple Music if you are in the Apple ecosystem, want lossless at no extra cost, or can bundle it into Apple One at $21.95 with Apple TV, Arcade and iCloud+. Export playlists before cancelling; there is no free tier.
Choose YouTube Premium if…
Pick YouTube Premium if you watch YouTube daily and would pay to remove its ads anyway; the music service comes free with that. Subscribe on the web, never in the iOS app.
Every current plan
Apple Music plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Individual | $11.99/mo |
| Family (up to 6) | $19.99/mo |
| Student | $6.99/mo |
YouTube Premium plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Individual | $15.99/mo |
| Family (up to 5 extra) | $26.99/mo |
| Student | $8.99/mo |
| Premium LiteAd-free on most videos; no YouTube Music, no downloads | $8.99/mo |
US list prices; taxes, promotions, and app-store billing may differ. Last reviewed September 8, 2026.
Price history, both services
July 2026 · Apple Music
US prices increased: Individual $10.99 → $11.99, Family $16.99 → $19.99, Student $5.99 → $6.99.
April 2026 · YouTube Premium
Individual rose from $13.99 to $15.99, Family from $22.99 to $26.99, Student and Premium Lite from $7.99 to $8.99 (new subscribers from April 10, 2026; existing from their June 7 bill). YouTube Music Premium went from $10.99 to $11.99 in the same round.
July 2023 · YouTube Premium
Individual rose $11.99 → $13.99; Family went to $22.99.
October 2022 · Apple Music
Individual rose $9.99 → $10.99; Family $14.99 → $16.99.
How to run both without paying for both
If your household already has Apple One, adding YouTube Premium is the only justified overlap, and only for the video half. Otherwise pick one, use the free month on the other once a year for a change of scenery, and pause YouTube rather than cancelling.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Apple Music or YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium. Its cheapest standard plan works out to $8.99 a month ($107.88 a year) versus $11.99 a month ($143.88 a year) for Apple Music, a difference of $36 a year. Bundles, promotions, and app-store billing can change the final price.
Is YouTube Music as good as Apple Music for the price?
YouTube Music Premium on its own costs $11.99, the same as Apple Music; YouTube Premium at $15.99 adds ad-free YouTube and background play. If you never watch YouTube, compare the two music services on catalogue and audio quality, because the price is a tie.
Can I pause Apple Music like YouTube Premium?
No. YouTube Premium can be paused for one to six months; Apple Music can only be cancelled, and access ends with the paid period.
Full guides
Apple Music price & cancellation guide
Individual moved to $11.99 in July 2026, still $1 cheaper than Spotify, with lossless audio included free.
View guideYouTube Premium price & cancellation guide
The 2023 holdout ended: every US tier rose in April 2026, so ad-free YouTube plus YouTube Music now starts at $15.99.
View guideMore comparisons
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