You shouldn't have to pay $11 a month just to listen to the new Post Malone album or a classic Coltrane record. Honestly, most people just assume they have to cough up the subscription fee the second their initial trial ends, but that is a massive misconception. Apple wants you on a recurring billing cycle. That is their whole business model now. But if you know where to look, you can redeem free Apple Music offers basically on a loop, or at least for much longer than the standard one-month trial they dangle in the Music app.
It is kind of wild how many companies are literally paying for your subscription just to get you into their ecosystem. We are talking about major retailers like Best Buy, tech giants like Shazam, and even mobile carriers. They use these promos as loss leaders.
The Best Buy Loophole Everyone Forgets
Most people head straight to the Apple website. That’s your first mistake. If you want to redeem free Apple Music, your first stop should actually be Best Buy’s website. It sounds weird, right? Why would a big-box retailer give away months of a service they don't even own? Because it gets you into their database.
Best Buy frequently lists "Free Apple Music for up to 4 months" as a digital product. You "buy" it for $0.00. You don't even need to purchase a laptop or a pair of headphones. You just add the digital code to your cart, check out, and they email you a redemption link within a few minutes. I've seen this work for returning subscribers too, though usually, you get three months instead of four if you’ve used the service before.
The trick is that these codes have expiration dates. You can't just stockpile ten of them in your inbox and hope to live for free forever. You use one, let it expire (or cancel the renewal immediately so you don't forget), and then check if a new promotion has cycled in. It's a bit of a game, but it's a game that saves you over $100 a year.
Shazam is Still the Secret Weapon
Remember Shazam? Apple bought them years ago. Because of that, the Shazam app is one of the most consistent ways to redeem free Apple Music without any hoops.
If you download the Shazam app on your iPhone or Android, they almost always have a banner hidden in the settings or appearing after you identify a song. Sometimes it’s two months. Sometimes it’s five. During the holidays or major events like the Super Bowl Halftime Show, they usually crank up the offer.
What’s interesting here is how Apple treats the "new vs. returning" user status.
- New Users: You get the full monty—usually 3 to 6 months.
- Returning Users: You often get 1 or 2 months as a "win-back" offer.
I’ve seen people get frustrated because they click a link and it says "This offer is only for new subscribers." Don't give up. The Shazam promos are historically more "lenient" with returning users than the codes you find inside the actual Apple Music app settings.
Why Your New Hardware is a Goldmine
If you just bought AirPods, a HomePod, or certain Beats headphones, you are sitting on six months of free music. This is the big one. Apple calls it their "6 months free" offer.
But there’s a catch. A big one.
You only have 90 days from the moment you first pair your new device to your iPhone or iPad to claim the offer. If you wait until 91 days? Poof. Gone. You've missed out on $66 worth of service. To redeem free Apple Music via hardware, you just open the Music app on the device paired with the new gear. A pop-up should hit you immediately. If it doesn't, go to the "Listen Now" tab and tap your profile icon. It’s usually buried in there under "Special Offers."
Wait, what if you bought the AirPods at a garage sale or from a friend?
Generally, it has to be a "new" device that hasn't been paired with an Apple ID before. If your friend already claimed the six months, you’re out of luck. But if they never used the Music app or preferred Spotify, you might actually be able to snag their unused promo. It’s worth a shot.
Mobile Carriers and the "Unlimited" Perk
Verizon is the big player here. If you are on an older 5G Get More plan, Apple Music is actually included for the life of the plan. You aren't just "redeeming" a trial; you own it.
However, on the newer "myPlan" structures, Verizon moved to a "Perk" system. You pay $10 for the perk, which saves you... about a dollar. Not a great deal. But if you are on a family plan with several lines, check your account settings. Often, one line has a promo attached that nobody bothered to activate.
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T-Mobile and AT&T occasionally run these too, but they are usually limited-time trials (3-6 months) rather than permanent features. If you're switching carriers, always make the salesperson show you where the streaming perks are hidden in the app. They won't tell you if you don't ask.
The Student Discount is Better Than "Free"
Let’s talk reality. You can't always find a way to redeem free Apple Music every single month of your life. Eventually, the system recognizes your Apple ID and cuts you off from the freebies.
If you are a student, stop looking for codes. Use UNiDAYS.
The student plan is roughly half price and currently includes Apple TV+ for free. That’s basically two services for five or six bucks. To get it, you have to verify your enrollment through the UNiDAYS portal. It takes five minutes. If you’re a graduate student, you’re still eligible. If you have a .edu email that still works? You might be able to squeeze a few more years out of that discount.
Avoiding the "Subscription Ghost"
Here is where people mess up. They find a way to redeem free Apple Music, they're happy, they listen to 40 hours of Taylor Swift, and then three months later, they see a $10.99 charge on their bank statement.
Pro Tip: You can cancel the subscription the second after you redeem the code.
On an iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap your Name.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Find Apple Music.
- Hit Cancel Free Trial.
Most Apple trials—unlike some other services—will actually let you keep using the service until the expiration date even if you cancel on day one. (Note: Read the fine print on the specific offer, as some "introductory" trials stop immediately, but the Best Buy and Shazam ones usually persist.)
What if the Code Doesn't Work?
It happens. You find a link on a forum, you try to redeem free Apple Music, and you get the "This code has already been used" or "Offer expired" message.
Check your region. Apple Music codes are region-locked. A code generated for the US store will not work in the UK or Canada. If you are using a VPN, turn it off. Apple’s billing system is incredibly sensitive to location. If your Apple ID is registered in New York but your IP address says you're in London, the redemption will fail 100% of the time.
Also, make sure your iOS is up to date. Apple likes to bake these redemption features into the latest firmware. If you’re running iOS 15 in a world of iOS 18, the "Special Offers" tab might not even appear.
The Actionable Game Plan
If you want to start listening right now without paying, follow this sequence:
- Check Shazam first. It is the lowest effort and highest success rate for returning users.
- Go to Best Buy’s website. Search "Apple Music" and look for the $0.00 digital download. It’s a literal gift.
- Verify your hardware. If you’ve bought any Apple audio products in the last three months, your 6-month window is closing.
- Check your Apple ID "Subscriptions" menu. Sometimes Apple drops a "1 Month Free" offer directly in there just to get you back.
- Set a calendar alert. If you don't cancel, you will be charged. Simple as that.
Using these methods, a savvy user can usually string together 6 to 10 months of free service before they ever have to pay a dime. Just remember that Apple’s goal is "frictionless" payment. Your goal is to keep the friction high and your wallet closed.
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Navigate to the "Listen Now" section of your Music app. If there is a banner at the top, that is your golden ticket. If not, head to the Best Buy site and start there. It is the most reliable "permanent" way to find these deals.