Quick answer: Apple Music rose to $11.99 (Individual) and $19.99 (Family) in the US on 17 July 2026, with matching rises in the UK and eurozone. Spotify raised euro prices in the Netherlands and Belgium in August, and Pandora’s higher prices reach existing subscribers from 22 October 2026.
Music subscriptions have crept up again. Apple blamed rising licensing costs, and Pandora said it wants to keep investing in personalized listening. Whatever the reason, the monthly total for a family of streamers is climbing.
Here’s what changed, what it costs in each region we could verify, and what you can do about it. For the video side of the story, see our piece on Disney+, Hulu and Peacock price increases, and more explainers live in our Apps and Software section.
What are the new Apple Music and Apple One prices?
Apple’s increase took effect on 17 July 2026 and is the first since October 2022, according to Music Business Worldwide. Apple’s statement was short: “As a result of rising licensing costs, Apple Music is increasing its subscription price beginning today.”
| Plan (per month) | US | UK | Eurozone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $10.99 to $11.99 | £10.99 to £11.99 | €10.99 to €11.99 |
| Family | $16.99 to $19.99 | £16.99 to £19.99 | €16.99 to €19.99 |
| Student | $5.99 to $6.99 | Not confirmed | €6.99 |
TechRepublic reports the US Apple One changes as well: Individual stays at $19.95, Family goes from $25.95 to $27.95, and Premier goes from $37.95 to $39.95.
In Canada, Daily Hive reports Apple Music Individual at $11.99 (was $10.99) and Family at $19.99 (was $16.99), with Apple One Family at $30.95 and Premier at $46.95. Student and Apple One Individual didn’t change there.
New subscribers pay the higher price immediately. Existing customers move over at their next billing cycle after Apple notifies them.
What changed at Spotify?
Spotify’s US Individual plan is already $12.99 a month after an earlier rise this year. The newer news is in Europe. On 12 August 2026, German Apple site Macerkopf reported euro price rises in several countries. Here’s what it listed:
- Netherlands: Individual €12.99 to €13.99, Duo €17.99 to €19.99, Family €21.99 to €23.99. Student stays at €6.99.
- Belgium: Individual €11.99 to €13.99, Duo €16.99 to €19.99, Family €20.99 to €23.99.
- Luxembourg: Also affected, though the article gave no figures.
New customers pay more right away, and existing contracts adjust from September. Germany wasn’t affected, and the article says German prices have been unchanged since August 2025. We haven’t seen a verified Spotify change for France, Spain, Italy or Ireland, so we’re not claiming one.
In the UK, Spotify Premium Individual moved to £12.99 in a rise reported by Music Business Worldwide in October 2025. That’s older news, but it’s the figure to compare against.
When does Pandora’s price rise hit?
Engadget reports that Pandora announced its increase in September 2026. New subscribers started paying on 22 September, and current subscribers are charged the new rate from 22 October 2026 onward. Pandora is a US service, so this one only matters if you’re there.
| Pandora plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Plus | $5.99 | $65.89 |
| Premium | $11.99 | $131.89 |
| Premium Family | $19.99 | $219.89 |
If you subscribe through Apple, Google Play, Amazon or Roku, your price may differ from these direct prices. You can switch tiers or cancel before your next billing date.
Which music service is the better deal now?
On sticker price, the services have converged. In the US, Apple Music Individual at $11.99 is a dollar below Spotify’s $12.99, and Pandora Premium is also $11.99. For families, Apple Music’s $19.99 and Pandora’s $19.99 are close, so the choice mostly comes down to features, device ecosystem and the music you actually play.
We’d suggest a simple test. Check how many months you opened the app in the last year and whether you use any perk like lossless audio, podcasts or a family plan. If you mostly play the same playlists, a cheaper tier or a free ad-supported plan may be enough.
How can you pay less for music?
- Use a student plan if you qualify. Apple’s US student plan is $6.99 a month, and Spotify’s Dutch student plan didn’t move from €6.99.
- Share a family plan. Family tiers cost far less per head if the people share a household, as the rules require.
- Bundle. Apple One Family at $27.95 in the US can cost less than buying several Apple services separately, if you’d use them anyway.
- Cancel and return. You keep your playlists on most services, so a break costs little. Our step-by-step on cancelling subscriptions on iPhone and Android covers it.
What does this mean for a household?
The family plans took the biggest hit in dollar terms. Apple Music Family rose $3.00 a month in the US, which is $36 more over a year if you stay. Apple One Family went up $2.00 and Premier $2.00, so bundle users pay a little less extra than people on Apple Music alone.
Prices in the UK and eurozone moved by the same amounts in local currency, as the Music Business Worldwide report lays out. Don’t assume your own country follows the same pattern, though. Spotify’s August change hit the Netherlands and Belgium but left Germany alone, so music pricing isn’t uniform across Europe.
If you’re on a family plan, it’s also a good moment to confirm who’s actually using it. Splitting the new $19.99 between several people in one household costs far less per person than separate individual plans, and removing an unused member costs nothing.
Because existing customers get the new price only at their next billing cycle after a notice, you have a short window to decide. Check the email from the service, then decide whether to stay, switch to a cheaper tier or leave.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Apple Music now?
In the US it’s $11.99 a month for Individual, $19.99 for Family and $6.99 for Student. UK and eurozone Individual prices are £11.99 and €11.99.
Did Spotify raise prices in Germany?
Not in this round. Macerkopf says German prices haven’t changed since August 2025, while the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg saw increases.
When do existing Pandora subscribers pay more?
From 22 October 2026, at their next billing cycle, if they’re billed directly by Pandora.
Can I avoid the Apple Music increase?
Not if you stay on the paid plan. You can switch to a cheaper plan such as Student if you qualify, or cancel before your next renewal.
Sources
- Music Business Worldwide: Apple Music hikes subscription prices
- TechRepublic: Apple Raises Apple Music and Apple One Prices
- Daily Hive: Canadians now have to pay more for Apple Music and Apple One
- Macerkopf: Spotify hebt die Euro-Preise in verschiedenen Laendern an
- Music Business Worldwide: Spotify raises UK and Switzerland Premium prices again
- Engadget: Pandora raises prices