Apple Music could soon get different subscription tiers

As spotted by Aaron Perris, Apple seems to be working on different subscription tiers to Apple Music, based on strings found in the beta version of the platform’s Android app. Here are the details.

Per Perris’s post on X, it looks like Apple is working on different subscription tiers for Apple Music.

NEW: It appears that Apple may be working on a free or lower-cost tier of Apple Music.

Strings in the latest Apple Music for Android beta mention "Can't skip any more tracks" and "Premium access required" pic.twitter.com/xGHeaDb7X3

— Aaron (@aaronp613) May 30, 2026

The post shows two strings found in the beta version of the Apple Music app for Android: one informing the user that a given action requires “premium access,” and an error message, “Can’t skip any more tracks,” after the user reaches a “skip limit.”

So far, there are no details on whether this means Apple is working on a free tier or on tiers with different prices. Perris himself notes that “it’s possible this could be for something unrelated like radio stations.”

Limits on features such as track skipping have historically been common on free plans from Apple Music competitors, including Spotify. In fact, Spotify still promotes skipping “as many times as you want” as one of the perks of its paid subscription plans.

Interestingly, Perris’s finding comes just one month after Apple Music head, Oliver Schusser, had this to say in a Bloomberg interview after being asked what he didn’t like about the music industry:

I’m sure you’ve heard me say this: I think “free” was a terrible idea. Apple Music is the only service that doesn’t have a free tier, and believe it or not, we are really proud of that.

Be that as it may, the fact that Apple added these strings to the beta version of Apple Music for Android suggests that whatever is in the works could be unveiled sooner rather than later.

Would you subscribe to a cheaper, or even free, Apple Music plan if it came with limits on track skipping? Let us know in the comments.

Apple Music requires an active subscription. You can sign up for $10.99 per month, with 1 month free.

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