Subscription Fees

A subscription to either service costs a total of $14.93 per month ($12.95 plus a $1.98 music royalty fee), plus an initial activation fee (usually around $14.99). When you buy a satellite radio (see below for more on satellite radio hardware), you must call to activate your subscription; this subscription is then associated with that individual radio (each radio has a unique identification number). Every subsequent satellite radio you buy must be patched into your account by your service provider. If you replace your radio, you must call to switch your account from the old radio to the new one.

XM and SIRIUS both offer a family plan, in which you can add extra radios to your account at a discounted rate of $9.96 ($8.99 plus a $0.97 music royalty fee) per radio (on top of your base $14.93 monthly subscription for the first radio). You can save money by purchasing a prepaid yearly or multi-year plan with XM or SIRIUS, which lowers your per-month average subscription cost.

There are lots of types of satellite radios out there, including portable radios that let you hear XM or SIRIUS just about anywhere.

What do I need to listen to satellite radio?

Satellite radio began life as strictly a car thing, but quickly spread into the home and beyond. All you need to get satellite radio service is a satellite radio (there are several types for car and home), a satellite radio antenna, and a subscription.

The type of radio you choose depends on where you'd like to listen to satellite radio most, and the type of hardware you'd like to have. Click the following link for a deeper discussion of satellite radio hardware and accessories.