Spotify is the most popular music service, but how does Amazon Music compare? We put Amazon Music Unlimited to the test.
Amazon Music and Spotify both have a free ad-supported and subscription listening tier.
For Prime members, Amazon Music Unlimited costs $9.99/month or $99 annually. Non-Prime members pay $10.99 monthly, and Spotify Premium costs $11.99 monthly. Both music services also have family plans. The Amazon Music Unlimited family plan allows for up to six people and costs $14.99 per month or $149 annually. Spotify offers a family plan for up to six people for $19.99 a month, in addition to a $5.99 student subscription and a $16.99 duo subscription.
Spotify raised its prices twice in the past year, from $9.99 in 2023 to its present price.
Amazon offers five months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free in conjunction with Prime Day.
Amazon Music Unlimited's main advantage over Spotify Premium is its sound quality. While both music services feature compressed music for their free tier of subscribers, Amazon Music Unlimited listeners can listen to songs in SD, HD, Ultra HD, Dolby Atmos, or 360 reality audio when available. Meanwhile, Spotify has teased HiFi lossless audio since 2021 without ever releasing it.
While the differences between lossless and compressed audio quality might not be noticeable to the casual listener, Amazon Music Unlimited wins over Spotify for those looking for a listening experience akin to CD-quality.
Amazon Music and Spotify have similar app user interfaces, but Spotify's desktop version is miles ahead of Amazon Music's basic design. Spotify's desktop version is a feast for the eyes and features nearly identical usability to its app; you can even download music offline.
Spotify has an unparalleled recommendations algorithm that allows users to follow other users and make collaborative playlists. While Amazon Music also features recommendations, they aren't as on the nose, and the music service lacks any of the social components that define Spotify's listening experience.
Depending on your listening priorities, either could work for you. Spotify is the right fit if you prioritize music discovery and swapping playlists with friends. But if you're a diehard music-head who wants top-tier sound quality above all else, Amazon Music is for you.
