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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
User consensusAlternativesIs it worth it?
Is it worth paying for

Apple Music

75
Value score / 100 Worth paying? Depends It depends

Apple Music offers a vast, ad-free music library with high audio quality, making it a strong contender for music lovers, but it comes with a mandatory subscription and several frustrating UI and syncing issues.

Free to download seen up to $54.99 4.9★ lifetime (2,912,874) since 2016

Apple Music provides a comprehensive, ad-free listening experience with a wide selection of songs and good audio quality, which many users appreciate R1R2R3R32. However, it requires a paid subscription for any functionality, leading to complaints about its cost and lack of a free tier R66R72R149R161. Users also report issues with playlist management, syncing across devices, and inconsistent search results.

Free vs paid

Based on user reviews, Apple Music does not offer a free tier with music playback R72R165. Users report that to listen to any music, a subscription is required R66R149R156R161. Without a subscription, users cannot even browse for songs to purchase or add to their library, and the app may delete previously downloaded music R72. The paid experience provides an ad-free environment R1R3R12R16, access to a large music library R2R5R6R8, and features like personalized stations and lyrics R4R18R54.

Value complaints

  • The app requires payment to use any music functionality, lacking a free tier available on competitors like Spotify or YouTube Music.R66R72R149R156
  • Users feel the subscription is overpriced, especially given perceived issues with the service.R149R338
  • The app forces upgrades and locks music users previously owned behind a paywall.R139
  • Some users complain about having to pay for 'chill and stuff', implying certain content is paywalled.R31

Where it delivers

  • Provides an ad-free listening experience.R1R3R12R16
  • Offers a very large selection of songs, including clean versions and diverse genres.R2R5R6R8
  • Features high audio quality.R32R89R690
  • Includes useful features like lyrics display, personalized stations, and artist information.R4R18R33R54
  • Easy to use for finding music and creating playlists.R2R6R12R54
Worth paying if

It is worth paying for Apple Music if you prioritize an ad-free listening experience and a large music library R1R3R5R16. It is also suitable if you value high audio quality R32 and features like personalized stations and lyrics R4R18R54. Users who are deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem and want seamless music access across their Apple devices might find it beneficial, despite some syncing complaints R89.

Skip / stay free if

Skip Apple Music if you are looking for a free music streaming option, as it has no free tier R72R161R165. Users who are frustrated by UI inconsistencies, poor shuffle algorithms, or syncing issues with Windows iTunes should also consider alternatives . If you frequently switch between devices and expect seamless cross-platform playback like Spotify, you might be disappointed R10.

Evidence note: The reviews provide a balanced view, with strong praise for the ad-free experience and music library, but also significant complaints about the mandatory subscription, UI, and technical issues. The lifetime rating is very high, but recent reviews often highlight frustrations.

Frequently asked

Does Apple Music have a free tier?
No, Apple Music does not offer a free tier for music playback; a paid subscription is required to listen to music R72R161R165.
Are there ads on Apple Music?
No, Apple Music is an ad-free service for subscribers R1R3R12R16.
Does Apple Music have all songs?
Apple Music has a very large selection of songs, with many users finding what they are looking for R2R5R6R8, but some users report missing songs or songs disappearing R16.
Is Apple Music better than Spotify?
Many users claim Apple Music is better than Spotify due to its ad-free experience and large library R1R16R20, while others prefer Spotify for its algorithms, UI, or specific features R10.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R66] 1/5 · US I’m broke: Costs money
  2. [R72] 1/5 · US Disappointed: So, there is no free option. If you are not subbed you can’t even look for songs to buy to add to your phone. They will go in and delete what’s downloaded to your phone and iCloud without your permission. They did that to me.
  3. [R149] 1/5 · US Overpriced: This app is too overpriced, wasting this much money sucks per month. And not only that but you can’t even listen to music without paying at least just make it so we can listen to music without paying a couple ads without having to pay so much money
  4. [R156] 1/5 · US Payment: You have to PAY to listen to like a few songs like bro
  5. [R338] 3/5 · GB A bit expensive but good: Above.
  6. [R139] 1/5 · US Why do you take my music: You force upgrades and now all my music is locked because I don’t pay you for the privilege to listen to music I own,.
  7. [R31] 2/5 · US The subscriptions: It’s ok and all but I don’t like how you have to pay for chill and stuff, could do better
  8. [R1] 5/5 · US Best music app: I never get any add I find every song that I want and and that’s all that matters to me
  9. [R3] 5/5 · US No adds: Great music no adds and when It was just silent I put on music there was a party
  10. [R12] 5/5 · US <3: It's awesome, no adds, also very easy to use!!
  11. [R16] 5/5 · US Awesomeeee: This is the best music app! There are no ads, and so many songs! It sometimes doesnt have certain songs that I listen to on YouTube Music but it is still my favorite. 💖💖💖
  12. [R2] 5/5 · US Amazing!🤩 5 stars ⭐️: I love this so much! It’s such a good app to listen to songs! There is over 1 million world- wide songs on here t ok listen to! I have had and listened to music on Apple Music for over 5 years! It’s also really nice that you can search up any song, and then it’s has a clean version of the song pinned with it! If you want to relax or study, this would also be perfect for you!
  13. [R5] 5/5 · US Never lets me down: Has every song I’m looking for!
  14. [R6] 5/5 · US Apple: Love Apple Music easy to find what I need and it has about everything I look for!!!
  15. [R8] 5/5 · US Apple Music: There so many music options so many artists like bill ilish and macal Kansan
  16. [R32] 5/5 · US Best: Apple Music has the best audio quality in the game.
  17. [R89] 3/5 · US Good, but room for improvement.: As a musician, I’ve tried multiple streaming services over the years: Tidal Hi-Fi, Spotify Premium, Amazon Music, now Apple Music & Classical. As a musician / software developer with a lot of apple devices, the switching cost from Tidal Hi-fi, > Apple Music was very low. I appreciate the diverse library in both Music/Classical and some selection over audio quality.
  18. [R690] 3/5 · CA Decent: It’s ok the songs are great. I love the recommendation for song is based off what you listen too, and what you favorite. The only thing I don’t like is that it’s very quit even with headphones, I could still hear my family in the background. But the moment I use the same headphones on Spotify it’s way louder and it’s to the point where I could take off my headphones and you can still hear
  19. [R4] 5/5 · US Too good: I love music and singing and how the lyrics are like in Apple Music is nice so yep
  20. [R18] 5/5 · US Love it: I like the personalized stations and my Apple Music has no ads
  21. [R33] 5/5 · US Automatic Genius: Flow that’s part of my thread throughout the listening environment, thanks Apple Music!
  22. [R54] 5/5 · US Thank you Apple Music!: I love Apple Music and how easy it is to use. Making playlists, finding music, and everything is so easy to use. I also love how it has features like showing the credits to songs and albums. As a musician myself, I love being able to see all the people and parts that go into creating something. And the artist bios as well as birthplaces and when bands and artists formed or
  23. [R161] 1/5 · US Don’t like it: First of all you gotta pay for it to use it i can just download Spotify and I will pay nothing overall this app is bad don’t recommend it.
  24. [R165] 1/5 · US THIS APP SUCKS: it has no free tier unlike Spotify or YouTube music or anything. PLEASE MAKE A FREE TIER RIGHT NOW
  25. [R10] 3/5 · US Works okay but there’s an issue with controls: I removed the app from my iPhone 17 Pro Max because when I first connect USB to my car, even if Spotify is playing a song, the iPhone stops Spotify and plays a track from Apple Music. It plays the same Music track unless I delete it from my library. I’ve found a few issues with this app. First, when I deleted the Music track, it was one that I purchas
  26. [R20] 5/5 · US Done: This music is better than spotfiy

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store