Source-cited · Updated Aug 2026
Spotify vs Apple Music: $12.99/mo vs $11.99/mo
Apple Music raised US prices twice since 2021 — to $10.99 in October 2022 and to $11.99 in July 2026 — while Spotify has hiked three times, most recently to $12.99 in January 2026. Apple Music remains $1 a month cheaper on Individual and still wins on price stability. Every Spotify and Apple Music tier tracked, 2021–2026, with every price change sourced.
Spotify
4 plans · default: Premium Individual
Apple Music
Better value3 plans + 1 retired · default: Individual
Verdict
Better value: Apple Music
Apple Music raised US prices twice since 2021 — to $10.99 in October 2022 and to $11.99 in July 2026 — while Spotify has hiked three times, most recently to $12.99 in January 2026. Apple Music remains $1 a month cheaper on Individual and still wins on price stability.
Scorecard
The numbers behind the verdict
Premium Individual vs Individual — the default tier of each service, 2021–2026. A green tick marks the better number in each row.
| Metric | Spotify Premium Individual | Apple Music Individual |
|---|---|---|
| Current Price (2026) | $12.99 | $11.99 (better) |
| Total Change | +30% | +20% (better) |
| Number of Hikes | 3 | 2 (better) |
| Hike Frequency | Every 1.7 yrs | Every 2.5 yrs (better) |
| Avg Annual Change | $0.60/yr | $0.40/yr (better) |
Every tier
Which tier costs what today
Every Spotify and Apple Music plan in one list, cheapest first. First Tracked is each plan’s price when our tracking began — 2021, or its debut year if it arrived later. Retired tiers sit at the bottom with their final price.
| Service | Plan | Price Now | First Tracked | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSpotify | Premium Student | $6.99 | $4.99 (2021) | +40% |
| AApple Music | Student | $6.99 | $4.99 (2021) | +40% |
| AApple Music | IndividualDefault | $11.99 | $9.99 (2021) | +20% |
| SSpotify | Premium IndividualDefault | $12.99 | $9.99 (2021) | +30% |
| SSpotify | Premium Duo | $18.99 | $12.99 (2021) | +46% |
| AApple Music | Family | $19.99 | $14.99 (2021) | +33% |
| SSpotify | Premium Family | $21.99 | $15.99 (2021) | +38% |
| AApple Music | VoiceRetired | $4.99 final (2023) | $4.99 (2021) | 0% |