What Happens To Downloaded Music After A Streaming Service Free Trial Ends

Free trials for music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music offer a compelling way to access vast libraries of songs without an initial cost. During these trial periods, users can often download music for offline listening, a feature typically reserved for paid subscribers. A common question arises: what happens to these downloaded songs once the free trial expires or if the user cancels the subscription? This article examines the policies of two major streaming platforms, based on information from their official resources and related technical documentation, to clarify the fate of downloaded content after a trial ends.

Understanding the Nature of Streaming Service Downloads

It is crucial to first understand the fundamental model of music streaming services. According to the provided sources, services like Spotify and Apple Music operate on a subscription-based, rental-style model. When a user pays for a Premium subscription, they are not purchasing ownership of the music. Instead, they are paying for temporary access to the service's entire catalog under specific terms. This access includes the ability to download songs for offline playback, but these downloads are not stored as standard, local audio files on a user's device in a format that can be played outside of the service's proprietary application. The sources describe this as a "rental service" where the downloaded songs are only available for offline listening as long as the subscription remains active. Once the subscription ends, whether by cancellation or expiration of a free trial, the downloaded songs become invalid and can no longer be accessed.

Spotify Free Trial and Downloaded Music

Spotify offers a one-month free trial of its Premium plan to new users who have not tried it before. During this trial, users can enjoy all Premium features, including the ability to download songs, albums, and playlists for offline listening. However, once the one-month trial period concludes, the user's account automatically reverts to the free plan if no payment is provided, or the user cancels the subscription.

According to the information provided, when the free trial ends and the subscription is not continued, all downloaded songs become inaccessible for offline playback. The sources state that "once the free trial comes to an end, you won’t be able to access Spotify songs offline again, including the ones that you’ve downloaded previously." This means that any music downloaded during the trial period will no longer be playable offline if the user does not maintain an active Premium subscription. The downloaded files are not saved as local files on the user's computer or device in a playable format; they are encrypted and tied to the active subscription status.

Apple Music Free Trial and Downloaded Music

Apple Music provides a free trial period, which is typically one month for new subscribers. During the trial, users have full access to the Apple Music library, including the ability to download songs for offline listening. Similar to Spotify, Apple's policy is that downloaded music is contingent upon an active subscription.

Upon the conclusion of the Apple Music free trial, if the user does not select a paid subscription plan, the downloaded songs become unavailable. The sources clarify that "any music you download during the Apple Music free trial period will be unavailable if you choose not to join the paid membership." Furthermore, if a user cancels their Apple Music subscription after the trial, they will lose access to all downloaded songs from the Apple Music service. It is important to note that any music purchased from the iTunes Store prior to subscribing to Apple Music remains available in the user's library, as those are owned files, but downloaded tracks from the Apple Music catalog itself are not retained after subscription cancellation.

The Role of Third-Party Conversion Tools

The provided sources also discuss a method for preserving music from these services after a trial ends, though it involves using third-party software. Tools like Sidify Music Converter and TuneMobie Apple Music Converter are mentioned as utilities designed to convert streaming audio into standard, local file formats such as MP3, M4A, WAV, or FLAC. The instructions suggest that users can use these tools during their free trial period to download and convert songs from Spotify or Apple Music to their local drive.

According to the sources, converting songs to a local file format before the trial expires allows users to keep and play the music after the trial ends, without requiring an active subscription. For example, Sidify is described as a tool that can save Spotify songs as local files, and TuneMobie is presented as a way to convert Apple Music songs to MP3 or other formats. However, it is critical to note that the use of such third-party tools may violate the terms of service of the streaming platforms. The provided information is technical and does not address the legal or ethical implications of using these converters. The sources present these tools as a method to achieve "a truly free listening experience" but do not comment on the legitimacy of this approach under the platforms' terms.

Cancellation Procedures and Refund Policies

The sources also provide practical information on how to cancel subscriptions to avoid charges after a free trial. For Apple Music, the cancellation process involves going to the device's settings, navigating to 'Subscriptions', selecting Apple Music, and choosing 'Cancel Subscription'. Users are advised to check for any additional accounts and cancel those as well. In the event of an accidental charge after cancellation, the sources suggest contacting Apple Support for a potential refund or credit.

For Spotify, the information indicates that if the subscription is not canceled before the trial ends, the payment method on file will be automatically charged the monthly Premium fee. The primary way to avoid this charge is to cancel the subscription prior to the trial's conclusion.

Conclusion

In summary, the downloaded music from both Spotify and Apple Music free trials does not remain accessible after the trial period ends if the user does not continue with a paid subscription. Both services operate on a rental model where offline downloads are a feature of an active subscription. Once the subscription expires or is canceled, the downloaded songs become invalid and cannot be played offline. While third-party conversion tools are mentioned as a method to convert and save these songs as local files during the trial period, the use of such tools is not endorsed by the streaming services and may conflict with their terms of service. For users who wish to keep music from these platforms, the only legitimate method, as per the provided information, is to maintain an active, paid subscription.

Sources

1. Sidify Music Converter
2. Remodel or Move
3. TuneMobie
4. NoteBurner