You're probably used to the drill by now. Black Friday rolls around, and every tech giant on the planet tries to bait you into a monthly commitment. Honestly, Apple is the king of this. They don't really do "discounts" in the traditional sense—you aren't going to see a "50% off Apple Music for a year" banner on the official site. That’s just not how Cupertino operates. Instead, Apple Music Black Friday deals are almost entirely built around the concept of "extended trials" and ecosystem bundles.
It’s kind of a game.
If you’re looking for a straight-up price cut on the $10.99 monthly individual plan, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you’re smart about where you look—specifically retailers like Best Buy, Target, and even Groupon—you can effectively go an entire year without paying a dime for your library. I've seen people stack these offers for years. It takes a little bit of maneuvering, but it's totally doable.
Why You Won’t Find a "Sale" on the Apple Music Website
Apple treats its services like a premium club. They want that recurring revenue to be predictable. Because of this, the official Apple Store app will likely remain at the standard MSRP throughout the holiday season. The real action happens through third-party retail partnerships.
Retailers use Apple Music as a "loss leader." Best Buy, for example, often gives away three or four months of Apple Music for free to new or returning subscribers just to get you onto their website. They want you there so you'll eventually buy a MacBook or a pair of AirPods Max.
The Best Buy Strategy
Best Buy is consistently the most reliable source for Apple Music Black Friday deals. Historically, they offer a "digital download" that costs $0.00. You "buy" it, they email you a code, and you redeem it in the Music app.
There's a catch, though. It’s usually for "new subscribers only," but here is the nuance: if your subscription has been inactive for several months, these codes sometimes work to give you a slightly shorter "returning user" trial, often one or two months instead of the full four. It’s a bit hit-or-miss depending on the specific promotion's terms and conditions for that year, but it’s always worth a shot before you put in your credit card details elsewhere.
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Retailer Bundles and the Hardware Hook
Wait. Are you actually planning on buying hardware? Because that changes everything.
If you're eyeing a pair of Beats Studio Buds+, Powerbeats Pro, or any version of AirPods during the Black Friday sales, Apple usually tosses in six months of Apple Music for free. This isn't just a Black Friday thing—it's a year-round offer—but since the hardware is discounted during November, the value proposition skyrockets. You're getting the lowest price on the headphones plus about $66 worth of streaming for free.
Watch Out for Target Circle
Target is another huge player here. Their loyalty program, Target Circle, frequently lists "Partner Offers." During the holidays, they often bump their standard two-month trial up to three or four. The best part? It’s usually free to join Target Circle. No membership fee like Amazon Prime or Walmart+.
Honestly, the Target interface for redeeming these is way smoother than Best Buy’s "checkout" process. You just claim the offer in the app, and it links directly to your Apple ID.
The "Family Sharing" Loophole Most People Miss
If you really want to optimize your Apple Music Black Friday deals, you have to talk about Apple One. This is Apple’s "all-in-one" subscription that bundles Music, TV+, Arcade, and iCloud+ storage.
During Black Friday, you might see "gift card" deals at stores like Amazon or Costco. For example, "Buy a $100 Apple Gift Card, get a $15 Amazon credit."
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This is the only way to effectively get a discount on the Apple One bundle. By paying for your subscription using discounted gift card credit, you’re shaving 10-15% off your monthly bill for the entire year. It’s a pro move. If you have a family of six, the Apple One Family plan is already a massive steal, but funding it with "cheap" credit makes it the best value in streaming.
Is Apple Music Actually Better Than Spotify in 2026?
Look, I get it. Moving your playlists is a nightmare. But if we're looking at the technical side, Apple Music is beating Spotify on two major fronts: Spatial Audio and Lossless quality.
Spotify has been promising "Hi-Fi" for what feels like a decade. Apple just... did it. And they didn't charge extra for it. If you have decent wired headphones or a high-end home theater system, the difference is noticeable. The "deal" here isn't just the price; it's the fact that you're getting high-resolution audio (up to 24-bit/192 kHz) included in the base price, whereas competitors often gatekeep that behind a "Pro" tier.
What Most People Get Wrong About Trials
People think if they’ve ever had a trial, they’re disqualified forever.
That's not always true. Apple is surprisingly aggressive about "win-back" campaigns. I’ve seen users get emails for three free months of Apple Music in November even if they cancelled two years ago. Always check your inbox for "A gift from Apple" or "Come back to Apple Music" headers around Black Friday. These are essentially private deals targeted specifically at you.
How to Stack Your Savings
Let's get practical. If you want to maximize your savings this holiday season, don't just click the first link you see. Follow this specific sequence.
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First, check your current subscription status. If you're active, you can't usually stack free trial codes. You have to let it expire.
Second, check your credit card offers. Amex and Chase frequently have "Apple Services" or "App Store" cash-back offers in November. I’ve seen "Spend $10, get $5 back" offers that effectively cut your monthly bill in half.
Third, look for the gift card promos. This is the big one. If you see a "Get a $15 Target gift card with a $100 Apple Gift Card" deal, buy it. Use that $100 to pay for your Music subscription. That’s essentially getting nearly two months of service for free via the rebate.
Real Talk: The Student Discount
If you’re a student, ignore Black Friday. Your deal is already better. The Apple Music Student plan is around $5.99 a month and usually includes Apple TV+ for free. That is a permanent Black Friday deal. You just need a UniDAYS verification to prove you’re actually in school.
What to Avoid This November
Be careful with "third-party" code sellers on sites like eBay or shady forums. A lot of these are just codes scraped from free promotions that might already be expired or region-locked. Stick to the big names:
- Best Buy
- Target
- Walmart
- Amazon
- Costco
Also, don't forget to set a reminder to cancel. These trials always turn into auto-renewing paid subscriptions. If you’re just "sampling" the service for the holidays, go into your Apple ID settings immediately after redeeming and hit "Cancel Subscription." In most cases (though not all, so read the fine print), you’ll still have access until the trial period ends, but you won't get hit with a surprise $11 charge in February.
Actionable Next Steps for Black Friday
To get the most out of your Apple Music experience this year without overspending, here is exactly what you should do starting the week of Thanksgiving:
- Audit Your Subscriptions: If you are currently paying for Apple Music, consider if you want to switch to the Apple One bundle. If so, wait for the Apple Gift Card deals at Amazon or Target to fund your account.
- Scour the Digital Circulars: On the Monday before Black Friday, search Best Buy’s website for "Apple Music Free Trial." They often go live early.
- Check Your Hardware: If you’re buying a new iPhone, iPad, or Mac this season, do not buy a separate Music subscription. Your new device will trigger a prompt for 3-6 months of free service within the Settings app.
- The "Shazam" Trick: Keep the Shazam app on your phone. They almost always run a holiday promotion where simply identifying a song or clicking the "try free" banner inside the Shazam settings gives you up to 5 months free. This is often the easiest "loophole" for people who aren't buying new hardware.
- Consolidate with Family Sharing: If multiple people in your house are paying for individual plans, Black Friday is the perfect time to "reset" and move everyone onto a Family Plan funded by discounted gift cards. It’s the single biggest way to lower your per-person cost permanently.
By focusing on these "hidden" avenues rather than looking for a simple discount code, you can keep your music playing all through 2026 without the premium price tag. The deals are there, but they require you to be a little bit more creative than the average shopper. Stay on top of the retailer apps and keep your Apple ID ready.