Reviews

The Apple Music Voice Plan: What You Need to Know

By Adam Davidson

Published June 13, 2023

Are you looking for a cost-effective way to subscribe to Apple Music? Learn more about the Apple Music Voice Plan here.

Apple Music is one of the most popular music streaming services on the planet, with a catalog of over 100 million tracks. Unlike Spotify, however, there’s no ad-supported free tier. If you want to listen to Apple Music beyond your free trial, you’ll need to take out a subscription.

There are so many subscriptions fighting for your dollar, however, from movie and TV streaming services to software-as-a-service. If you’re looking for a more cost-effective way to get access to Apple Music, there is an option that you might want to consider.

Here’s what you need to know about the Apple Music Voice Plan.

What is the Apple Music Voice Plan?

The Apple Music Voice Plan is a low-cost subscription option that gives you access to Apple Music’s library of over 100 million songs at a price point significantly lower than the default Apple Music Individual subscription.

The reason that the Apple Music Voice Plan is significantly cheaper is that, as the name suggests, you can only control it with your voice. You use Siri to request songs, albums, artists, or playlists, and they will play in the app. There are minimal physical controls, but you can’t search for music in the app itself.

If you use a device such as a HomePod to play your music, a voice-only subscription makes perfect sense. If you use Apple Music on your iPhone, there are some features that you might miss. However, if you’re not fussed about those missing features, then you can save a significant amount on your subscription costs.

What Is Included in the Apple Music Voice Plan?

Apple Music Voice Plan subscribers get full access to Apple’s library of more than 100 million tracks and over 30,000 curated playlists. You can request any song, album, playlist, or station within Apple Music by asking Siri with your voice, or by using Type to Siri to enter your request.

There are no ads, and you can access your Apple Music Voice Plan on any Apple device that allows access to Siri. This includes your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, and even CarPlay. You can only play music on one device at a time, however.

What Isn’t Included in the Apple Music Voice Plan?

There are a significant number of features that aren’t available with the Apple Music Voice Plan. You don’t get access to the full catalog in lossless audio, and there’s no access to Spatial Audio, either. You can’t download songs to your library for offline listening; you’ll only be able to stream music when you have a network connection.

There’s also no access to the Apple Music Classical app or Apple Music Sing, which allows you to turn your iPhone into a karaoke machine. You also can’t use your Apple Music Voice Plan on non-Apple devices; Android users can use the standard Apple Music app on their devices if they have an Apple Music individual subscription.

How Much Does the Apple Music Voice Plan Cost?

The Apple Music Voice Plan is the cheapest subscription option. Currently, you can sign up for just $4.99/£4.99 per month.

In comparison, an Apple Music Individual subscription is $10.99/£10.99 per month—more than double the price. You can also try Apple Music Voice for free for a week. After that, you’ll need to sign up if you want to keep using the service.

How to Play Music on the Apple Music Voice Plan

Playing music on the Apple Music Voice Plan is simple enough to do using Siri. You can do this using your voice, or by typing into your device if that is an option.

To play music on the Apple Music Voice Plan:

1. Activate Siri using the method you have set up on your device. This could be by pressing and holding the side key or home key on your iPhone, raising your wrist with your Apple Watch, double tapping your AirPods, or simply by saying “Hey Siri” out loud.
2. Once Siri is active, state your command. Most of the most obvious commands you might consider trying will work. You can speak these commands or enter them using Type to Siri. Some examples include:
   • Play White Christmas by Bing Crosby
   • Pause
   • Play the new Taylor Swift album
   • Play some hip-hop from the 90s
   • Skip this song
   • Play a relaxing playlist
   • Play Apple Music 1
   • Repeat this song
   • Turn the volume up

3. In the Listen Now section of the app, you can find some personalized recommendations. You can play these suggestions by tapping them, or by asking Siri to play them.
   
4. You can use the search field in the app to find music. However, you can only play this music by asking Siri.

How to Subscribe to the Apple Music Voice Plan

As you might expect for a plan that only allows you to use your voice, you can subscribe to the Apple Music Voice Plan simply by asking Siri. You can also subscribe through the Apple Music app.

To subscribe to the Apple Music Voice Plan:

1. Activate Siri using the method for your specific device.
2. Say “Start my Apple Music Voice trial” to start using the service.
3. You can also sign up through the Apple Music app. When you first open the Apple Music app, you will see the option to subscribe to Apple Music Voice.
4. If you’re already an Apple Music subscriber, open Settings and tap your Apple ID.
   
5. Select Subscriptions.
   
6. Select Apple Music.
7. Tap the Voice plan.
8. Confirm that you want to change your plan.

Enjoying Apple Music

If you’re looking for a more economical way to listen to Apple Music, then the Apple Music Voice Plan is a great option. It’s particularly useful if you usually listen on a device such as a HomePod, where you’ll already be using voice interaction.

If you decide you want to opt for the full Apple Music subscription, there are some useful tips and tricks to know. You can learn how to add your own music to Apple Music, how to share your best playlists, and how to add your own cover photo to a playlist.