Cider is a free, open-source Apple Music client for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. Explore features, pricing, pros, cons, and FAQs for 2026.
Cider is an unofficial, third-party client for Apple Music, created because Apple does not provide a native Apple Music application for Windows in the same polished form as on macOS, and provides no official desktop client at all for Linux. It began life as a small project called Apple Music Electron and evolved into the Cider Collective, an open-source organization dedicated to building Apple Music software across platforms using Apple's own MusicKit and related SDKs.
Because Cider authenticates against a user's real Apple Music account and streams through Apple's sanctioned APIs, it functions as a skin and feature layer on top of the official service rather than a way to access music without paying for a subscription. This keeps Cider compliant with Apple's terms while still giving the collective room to add features Apple's own apps lack.
Cider 1, the version most associated with Cider's open-source reputation, was written in Electron, Vue.js 2, and Webpack, and its source is publicly hosted so the community can audit, fork, or contribute to it. This version established Cider's cross-platform reach across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.
Cider 2 represents a ground-up rewrite that swaps the backend for a custom Rust implementation aimed at reducing the memory footprint and CPU usage that Electron-based apps are often criticized for. Unlike its predecessor, Cider 2 is proprietary and closed-source, and as of 2026 is still labeled early access, so some features and platforms may be incomplete or unstable while it matures.
The most common motivation is platform availability: Apple has never shipped a native Apple Music desktop app for Linux, so Cider is one of the only ways Linux users can access their Apple Music library with a graphical interface rather than a browser tab. On Windows, users often turn to Cider because Apple's own Windows Music app has historically lagged behind the macOS and iOS experience in design and feature parity.
Beyond platform gaps, Cider appeals to users who want visual customization through themes and layout options, integrations like Discord presence and Last.fm scrobbling that Apple's app does not offer, and a lighter, more configurable listening experience overall.
Yes, Cider is free to download and use. The Cider Collective offers optional pay-what-you-want support through itch.io and Patreon, but there is no mandatory purchase to use the core application.
Yes. Cider is a client, not a music source, and it streams through Apple's official MusicKit APIs, so an active Apple Music subscription is required to play content.
Yes, Linux support is one of Cider's main selling points, since Apple does not offer an official Apple Music desktop app for Linux.
Cider 1 is the original Electron, Vue.js, and Webpack based client with fully open-source code. Cider 2 is a rewrite with a custom Rust backend aimed at better performance, but it is closed-source and, as of 2026, still in early access.
No. Cider is an independent, third-party client built by the volunteer Cider Collective. It uses Apple's public MusicKit APIs but is not developed or endorsed by Apple.
Cider 1's source code is publicly available and open source under the Cider Collective's GitHub organization. Cider 2 is proprietary and not open source.
Yes, Cider supports downloading songs, albums, and playlists for offline playback, similar to Apple's official mobile apps.
Yes, Cider includes built-in Discord Rich Presence integration that can automatically display the current track on a user's Discord profile.