Honestly, trying to keep up with streaming prices in 2026 feels like a full-time job. Everything is going up. Netflix is expensive, Disney+ is getting greedy, and Spotify just bumped their Premium price to $12.99. It’s a lot. But then you see it—the whisper of apple music for 2.99. It sounds like a scam or maybe a relic from a decade ago.
Is it real? Well, kinda.
You can't just open the App Store, click a button, and pay three bucks a month forever. Apple isn't quite that generous. But if you know where to look and which specific promo cycles are running, getting your bill down to that $2.99 mark is actually possible. It’s all about timing and knowing which tier you qualify for.
The 6-Month Promo Secret
Last year, Apple started rolling out these weirdly specific "one-off" payments. Instead of the standard monthly drain, they offered a six-month chunk of service for a flat $2.99. If you do the math, that’s basically 50 cents a month.
It’s an aggressive move to steal users from Spotify.
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The catch? It’s almost always for new subscribers. If you’ve been paying for Apple Music for years, you’re probably out of luck unless you create a new Apple ID (which is a massive pain for your library). But for anyone sitting on the fence, this is the "golden ticket" entry point. Usually, these offers hide in the "Home" tab of the Music app on a brand-new iPhone or iPad. If you don't see it, you can sometimes trigger it by visiting Apple's official "offers" subpage directly.
Is the Voice Plan Still a Thing?
A few years ago, there was a legit $4.99 plan called the Voice Plan. You could only use Siri to play music. No typing. No UI. It was... polarizing.
Apple eventually killed it.
They realized most people actually like using their thumbs to pick songs. Since that plan vanished, the floor for "permanent" pricing moved. However, in certain international markets—think India, parts of Africa, or Southeast Asia—the standard monthly rate actually hovers right around that apple music for 2.99 price point due to local currency adjustments. If you're seeing people brag about a $3 price tag on social media, there’s a good chance they’re just living in a different zip code.
The Student Discount Loophole
If you are a student, you aren't paying $2.99, but you’re close. The current rate is $5.99.
Wait.
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Before you skip this part, remember that the student plan includes Apple TV+ for free. If you were already planning on paying for Ted Lasso or whatever new sci-fi epic they’ve launched this month, the "math" essentially brings your music cost down to almost nothing.
- Verify through UNiDAYS.
- Link your .edu email.
- Profit.
It’s the most stable way to keep your bill low without hunting for one-time promo codes every six months.
How to Check if You’re Eligible
Don't just take my word for it. Apple changes these promos faster than I change my socks. To see if you can currently grab apple music for 2.99, you need to check your specific ID eligibility.
Go to your Settings, tap your Name, and hit Subscriptions. If you see an "Expired" Apple Music sub from three years ago, you might be eligible for a "Come Back" offer. Apple frequently sends these via email—often hidden in the "Promotions" tab of your Gmail—offering three months for the price of one or a flat-rate discount that mirrors that $2.99 target.
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Pro-Level Savings: The Family Shuffle
If the $2.99 solo deal isn't appearing for you, there’s one more way to hit that price point: the Family Plan split.
The Family Plan is $16.99. It allows six people.
If you actually have five friends or family members who are willing to Venmo you, your individual cost is roughly $2.83. It is the only way to get the full, non-restricted Apple Music experience for under three dollars consistently. Plus, everyone gets their own private library. No one has to know you’re secretly listening to 2000s pop-punk on repeat.
Your Action Plan for Cheap Streaming
If you're hunting for that specific $2.99 price point, here is exactly what you should do right now:
- Check the App Home Tab: Open Apple Music on your device. If you're a new user, look for the "6 Months for $2.99" banner. It’s often a limited-time popup.
- The Direct Link: Visit
offers.applemusic.applein your browser. Sometimes the web portal shows deals that the app store hides. - Regional Check: If you travel frequently or have dual residency, check the local rates. Apple Music prices are not global; they are pegged to the local economy.
- Bundle Up: If you use iCloud storage ($0.99) and Apple TV+, stop paying for them separately. Switching to Apple One often reduces the "effective cost" of the music portion to that elusive $2-3 range.
Stop overpaying for your playlists. The deals are there, you just have to stop clicking "Accept" on the standard $10.99 renewal.