Apple Music is one of the most popular music and video streaming services, with access to over 90 million songs. New users can sign up for a free 3-month trial before paying the regular subscription fee. But Apple requires a credit card to get the free trial. Is there any way to get an Apple Music free trial without inputting your credit card information?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain multiple methods that allow you to enjoy Apple Music for free without risking any charges to your credit card when the trial ends.
Overview of Apple Music Free Trial
Here’s a quick rundown of how the Apple Music free trial works:
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You can sign up for a 3-month free trial of Apple Music directly on the Apple website.
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Apple offers three paid subscription plans after the trial – Individual ($9.99/month), Family ($14.99/month for up to 6 people), and Student ($4.99/month).
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During signup, Apple requires you to enter a valid credit card, even just for the free trial. Once the 3 months are over, you’ll automatically be charged the monthly fee unless you cancel at least a day before the renewal date.
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You get full access to all Apple Music features during the free trial, including over 90 million songs, offline listening, live radio, music videos, and more.
The problem is many people don’t want to risk forgetting to cancel and being charged on their credit card. So is there a way around this?
Using an Apple Music Gift Card for the Free Trial
One way to avoid entering your credit card for the Apple Music free trial is to use an Apple gift card instead. Here’s how it works:
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Purchase an Apple gift card from a retail store like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, etc. Make sure the gift card balance is enough to cover one month’s subscription fee.
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When signing up for Apple Music, select “Redeem Gift Card or Code” instead of entering credit card details.
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Type in the gift card number and PIN to load the value to your Apple account wallet.
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Apple will use the gift card balance to cover the first month’s subscription fee after the 3-month trial. But they can’t charge your actual credit card since you didn’t provide it.
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Once the initial gift card balance is used up, your subscription will simply be canceled. You’ll have gotten 3 months free plus 1 month for the cost of the gift card without ever providing real payment info!
Just be sure to disable auto-renewal for the subscription within your Apple account settings first so it doesn’t try charging your credit card on file for Apple purchases if you have one.
Using a Virtual Credit Card
Another clever option is to use a virtual credit card service like Privacy.com to get the Apple Music free trial. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough:
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Go to the Privacy.com website and sign up for a free account.
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Generate a virtual Visa card number through Privacy – make sure the balance is at least $10 to cover one month’s Apple Music fee.
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When signing up for the Apple Music free trial, enter the virtual card details from Privacy instead of your real credit card.
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Apple will bill the virtual card after the 3-month trial is over. But since the virtual card doesn’t have any actual funds attached, the transaction will be declined.
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Apple will cancel your subscription after the failed payment. Meanwhile, you’ve enjoyed 3 months of free music streaming without the risk of real credit card charges!
The major advantage of using virtual credit cards is you can easily cancel them anytime without affecting your real credit. It’s one of the most reliable ways to avoid unwanted charges from free trials.
Using a Prepaid Debit Card
Prepaid debit cards that you purchase upfront with cash from stores can also work for an Apple Music free trial without linking your personal bank account or credit card. Here’s what to do:
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Buy a disposable prepaid Visa or Mastercard debit card from a pharmacy, grocery store, or retailer. Make sure to register it on the card provider website after purchase.
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When signing up for Apple Music trial, enter the prepaid card details instead of your real credit card.
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Apple will attempt to bill the prepaid debit card once the 3 free months are done. But since the card has no funds, the transaction will fail.
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You’ll then have your account immediately closed without ever being charged.
Just note that there may be a small activation fee when you purchase a prepaid debit card. But you’ll still end up getting Apple Music for free during the trial period.
Using an Old Gift Card with a Low Balance
If you happen to have an unused Apple gift card lying around with just a small remaining balance, you can use that to your advantage to get a free Apple Music trial without the risk of real charges.
Simply use the nearly-empty gift card when signing up for Apple Music. Once the 3-month trial is done, Apple will attempt to charge that gift card but it will fail due to insufficient funds. You’ll then have your subscription canceled without being billed.
This is a great way to squeeze every last bit of value out of an old Apple gift card before it expires! Just be absolutely sure the card has less than $10 left on it so the renewal payment won’t go through.
Signing Up with Someone Else’s Credit Card
While we don’t necessarily recommend it, you could sign up for the Apple Music free trial by entering someone else’s credit card that you have access to, such as a family member or partner, without their knowledge.
You’d want to immediately cancel the subscription within your Apple account settings after signup so their card doesn’t actually get charged when the trial ends.
Just keep in mind that the other person will likely see the Apple Music subscription on their credit card statement. So make sure to come clean with them to avoid potential problems down the road.
Cancelling Before You Get Charged
Of course, the simplest way to avoid getting charged for Apple Music after the free trial is remembering to cancel at least 24 hours before the 3 months are up.
You can cancel the auto-renewal within your Apple account settings or through your subscribed iTunes account. As long as you cancel before the renewal date hits, your subscription will end and your credit card on file won’t be billed.
Just be sure to closely monitor the renewal date so you cancel in time. Set a reminder on your calendar so you don’t forget!
Getting a Refund if You Miss the Renewal Cancellation
Let’s say you forget to cancel Apple Music before the 3-month free trial ends and you do get charged on your credit card. Is there anything you can do?
Fortunately, you can request a refund directly from Apple or dispute the charge with your credit card company by calling their customer service number on the back of your card.
Explain that you didn’t intend to continue the subscription and thought the free trial would just expire. Oftentimes, the company will grant you a refund as a one-time courtesy.
Just act quickly within the first 1-2 billing cycles to have the best chance of successfully getting reimbursed.
Avoiding Future Charges After Cancellation
Once you do successfully cancel your Apple Music subscription, make sure to review your credit card statements closely the next 1-2 months.
Sometimes companies accidentally charge you again even after a cancellation. If you see any more Apple Music fees after you canceled, contact Apple support and your credit card issuer right away to have the erroneous charges reversed.
Removing your payment method from your Apple account after cancellation can also help prevent any potential errors or unwanted renewals down the road.
The Bottom Line
While Apple would prefer you hand over your credit card upfront, there are many clever workarounds to get a free 3-month Apple Music trial without any risk using:
- Prepaid gift cards
- Virtual credit card numbers
- Disposable prepaid debit cards
- Existing gift card balances
As long as you cancel the renewal at least 24 hours before the trial ends, you can enjoy Apple Music for free and avoid unwanted credit card charges. Just stay vigilant!
FAQs About Apple Music Free Trials Without Credit Cards
Does Apple offer any free Apple Music trial without a credit card?
Unfortunately, Apple requires a credit/debit card or gift card during sign up for the free 3-month Apple Music trial. There is no way to get the free trial through Apple without providing some type of payment method.
What happens if you cancel Apple Music right after the free trial?
If you cancel your Apple Music subscription at least 24 hours before the free trial ends, you won’t be charged at all. Apple will simply cancel your subscription and end your access.
Can I use someone else’s credit card for the Apple Music free trial?
You could enter someone else’s credit card details when signing up, but this is not recommended since they will see the charges on their statement. Make sure to immediately cancel the trial after signup if you go this route.
What if I forgot to cancel and got charged – can I get a refund?
If you contact Apple or your credit card company right away, you can typically get a one-time refund of
