How to pay for Apple Music with an Apple Gift Card in 2026

Apple Music is the most iOS-integrated music service: lossless audio, Spatial Audio, lyrics, sync with iCloud library. After Apple's exit from Russia in 2022 and Russian card blocks, many users lost the ability to pay directly.

The solution — top up Apple ID balance with an Apple Gift Card and subscribe from there. Even easier than paying for ChatGPT — Apple Music is bought directly from Apple, no third-party providers, balance is deducted instantly.

Apple Music pricing

Region	Individual	Family (up to 6)	Student
US	$10.99/mo	$16.99/mo	$5.99/mo
Turkey	~$3.50/mo	~$5.50/mo	~$2.20/mo
India	~$1.50/mo	~$2.40/mo	~$0.80/mo
Argentina	~$2.20/mo	~$3.50/mo	~$1.50/mo

Cheapest region — India (~₽140/mo for Individual), then Argentina and Turkey. For easy sign-up we recommend Turkey — Apple ID creates without a local phone number.

What you need

• iPhone, iPad, Mac or PC with iTunes.
• Email not tied to an existing Apple ID.
• Apple Gift Card for the chosen region.
• VPN for the Apple ID region for sign-up and redemption.

Step 1. Create an Apple ID

Better to use a new Apple ID rather than changing your existing one's region — your old account may have Russian-service bindings and subscriptions.

1. appleid.apple.com on a PC.
2. Create Your Apple ID.
3. Fill in:
   • Country/Region — Turkey (or chosen).
   • Name — anything.
   • Email — real, new.
   • Date of Birth — 18+.
4. Confirm via email code.

Step 2. Sign in on iPhone

1. Settings → [name at top] → Sign Out (old account data stays).
2. Settings → Sign in to your iPhone → new Apple ID.
3. Don't Merge.

iCloud, App Store and Apple Music now run under the new Apple ID; old Apple ID files stay on the device as local copies.

Step 3. Redeem Apple Gift Card

1. App Store → profile icon.
2. Country/Region = Turkey (or your region).
3. Payment Method — pick None.
4. Redeem Gift Card or Code → Enter Code Manually.
5. Turn on VPN for the Apple ID region.
6. Enter the 16-character card code.
7. Redeem.

Balance shows in the local currency: ₺ for Turkey, ₹ for India, $ for US.

Step 4. Subscribe to Apple Music

Option A: via Music app

1. Open Music (pre-installed Apple app).
2. Pick Listen Now tab → a Try Apple Music Free or Subscribe banner appears.
3. Tap → pick Individual / Family / Student.
4. Apple shows the price in local currency, confirm Face ID.

Option B: via Settings

1. Settings → Apple ID → Media & Purchases.
2. Subscriptions → Apple Music.
3. Pick the plan → Start Trial or Subscribe.
4. Apple debits the balance.

In 30 seconds Apple Music is active — catalog of 100M tracks, playlists, radio, lossless.

Cross-device usage

After subscribing, it works on all devices signed in to this Apple ID:

• iPhone, iPad — Music app.
• Mac — Music app on macOS.
• Android — Apple Music for Android on Google Play.
• Windows — Apple Music on Microsoft Store or web (music.apple.com).
• HomePod, Apple TV, CarPlay — automatic.
• Sonos, Echo, JBL Link — via third-party apps with Apple Music support.

Family Plan and Student

Family (₺119/mo in Turkey, ~₽1,130) — up to 6 people, each with own library and playlists, shared billing. Great for families or friend groups. Each member effectively pays ~₽190/mo.

Student (₺49/mo in Turkey, ~₽465) — requires verification via UNiDAYS or SheerID. Turkey verifies through Turkish universities. India and US verify globally. Bonus: bundled free Apple TV+.

Subscription management

Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions → Apple Music:

• Change tier (Individual ↔ Family).
• Cancel — subscription runs until end of paid month, then stops.
• Next billing date.

Apple Music is the smoothest "Apple Gift Card → subscription" path: one click, no third-party account or confirmation.

Where to buy Apple Gift Cards

Marix sells Apple Gift Cards for US, Turkey, India and other regions. Various denominations — from $5 to $500 for US, ₺50–₺2000 for Turkey. RU card / SBP / USDT payment — code by email instantly.