Free and open source, with optional pay-what-you-want support tiers on itch.io and Patreon, from Free (an active Apple Music subscription is required to stream content)
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2020
Headquarters
Distributed open-source project with no fixed corporate headquarters
What Cider Is and Who Built It
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 versus Cider 2
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.
Why Listeners Choose Cider Over Apple's Official App
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.
Key Features
Cross-platform availability — Cider runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, covering desktop platforms that Apple's own Music app does not officially support, particularly Linux.
Official MusicKit integration — Cider streams through Apple's sanctioned MusicKit JS and MusicKit APIs rather than reverse-engineered access, connecting directly to a user's existing Apple Music subscription.
Discord Rich Presence — Currently playing tracks can be shown automatically on a user's Discord profile, a feature Apple's official client does not provide.
Last.fm scrobbling — Built-in scrobbling support lets users log their listening history to Last.fm for tracking and social sharing.
Audio enhancement tools — Cider includes a configurable equalizer and an audio processing and spatialization engine to shape sound output beyond Apple's default settings.
Offline downloads — Users can download songs, albums, and playlists for offline playback within the app, mirroring functionality from Apple's mobile apps.
Apple Music Sing support — Cider supports Apple Music Sing, enabling real-time lyrics display and karaoke-style vocal adjustment for supported tracks.
Theming and customization — The interface can be restyled with community themes and adjusted layouts, giving users more visual control than Apple's stock client.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Fills a real gap by providing a native-feeling Apple Music client on Linux, a platform Apple does not officially support
Cider 1's source code is fully open, allowing community auditing, forks, and contributions
Adds features Apple's own apps lack, such as Discord Rich Presence and Last.fm scrobbling
Free to use, with support funded through optional pay-what-you-want contributions rather than mandatory fees
Actively maintained by a dedicated community collective with frequent updates and a public roadmap
Offers extensive visual customization through themes not available in Apple's official apps
Cons
Still requires a paid Apple Music subscription, since Cider does not provide music access on its own
Cider 2, the newer and more actively promoted version, is closed-source and proprietary, unlike Cider 1
Being a third-party client dependent on Apple's APIs, it can break or lag behind when Apple changes MusicKit behavior
Cider 2 is labeled early access as of 2026, meaning some features and platform builds may be unstable
Electron-based Cider 1 can use more system memory than a native application
As a community-maintained project without a company behind it, support response times can vary compared to commercial software
Pricing
Cider (Free) 0 one-time download
Support the Collective Pay what you want, suggested from around 3.49 dollars one-time or recurring via Patreon
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cider free to use
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.
Do I still need an Apple Music subscription to use Cider
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.
Is Cider available for Linux
Yes, Linux support is one of Cider's main selling points, since Apple does not offer an official Apple Music desktop app for Linux.
What is the difference between Cider 1 and Cider 2
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.
Is Cider affiliated with Apple
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.
Is Cider open source
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.
Does Cider support offline listening
Yes, Cider supports downloading songs, albums, and playlists for offline playback, similar to Apple's official mobile apps.
Can Cider show what I am listening to on Discord
Yes, Cider includes built-in Discord Rich Presence integration that can automatically display the current track on a user's Discord profile.