You can now get the cheaper Apple Music voice plan if you can cope with using Siri

Home / News / You can now get the cheaper Apple Music voice plan if you can cope with using Siri

Apple has confirmed it is now offering the cheaper $4.99/£4.99 Apple Music Voice Plan to customers having previously announced it in October.

So what’s the catch? Well, while you do have access to the usual 90 million track-strong catalogue, you need to use Siri to access it – it’s voice access only.

This is fine if you’re using a HomePod or HomePod Mini, but we can imagine quickly becomes a pain if you’re doing it on your iPhone and can’t browse in-app. You can use any Apple device with the service including AirPods or when your phone is in CarPlay mode.

You can sign up with “Hey Siri, start my Apple Music Voice trial,” or by signing up through the Apple Music app. You’ll get a week trial if you’re a new subscriber.

As well as asking for particular tracks and albums, you’re naturally able to ask Siri for your favourite playlist, a personalised mix or to play Apple Music Radio (formerly Beats 1). Apple says its curated playlists have been optimised for voice to go with the new service.

As well as the US and UK, Apple Music Voice is available now in Australia, Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan.

Some example Siri voice commands for the Apple Music Voice Plan

Hey Siri, play the Waking Up playlist
Hey Siri, play the Family Time playlist
Hey Siri, play the Making Coffee playlist
Hey Siri, play At My Desk
Hey Siri, play the Afternoon Walk playlist
Hey Siri, play the Relaxing Drive playlist
Hey Siri, play the Dinner Party playlist
Hey Siri, play the Winding Down playlist
Hey Siri, play the Dreaming playlist
Hey Siri, play the Sunny Day playlist
Hey Siri, play the Housework playlist
Hey Siri, play Mellow Days
Hey Siri, play Fireside Chill
Hey Siri, play the Date Night playlist
Hey Siri, play A Day in New York City
Hey Siri, play the Me Time playlist
Hey Siri, play the Hanging Out playlist
Hey Siri, play the Day at the Park playlist
Hey Siri, play Start the Day Off Right
Hey Siri, play the Long Lunch playlist
You can also ask “Hey Siri, play more like this”

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website. Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.