Spotify suits people who live on playlists like Discover Weekly, look forward to their yearly Wrapped and want Spotify Connect on almost every speaker and console. Amazon Music suits Prime members, because Prime already includes all the music ad-free, and Unlimited adds an Audible audiobook each month. If you live on playlists, choose Spotify; if you already have Prime, try Amazon Music first.
Both apps let you listen free with ads, both have around 100 million songs, and both now mix music, podcasts and audiobooks. The difference comes down to who you already shop with and how you find new music. I read both App Store listings plus Amazon's Music Unlimited page and Spotify's free page.
Amazon Music and Spotify compared
| Amazon Music | Spotify | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, free with ads, no card needed | Yes, Spotify Free, no card needed |
| Catalogue | 100 million songs on Unlimited | Over 100 million songs and 6 million podcast titles |
| With Prime | All the music ad-free, shuffle play | Not part of Spotify |
| Audiobooks | One Audible audiobook each month on Unlimited | Audiobooks in Premium |
| Discovery | Recommendations from your likes | Discover Weekly, Release Radar, Wrapped |
| Plays on | Phones, Apple Watch with offline mode, Alexa | Smart speakers, TVs, consoles, cars via Spotify Connect |
Where Amazon Music fits in
Amazon's listing sets out three levels. Free listening with ads needs no credit card. Prime members get all the music ad-free, with shuffle play on any artist, album or playlist, plus top podcasts ad-free. Amazon Music Unlimited adds pick-and-play on 100 million songs, offline listening, unlimited skips, spatial audio and HD.
The newest perk is Audible. Amazon's Music Unlimited page says Audible is now included, with one audiobook each month. You can also bring playlists over from other music apps, and any music you own from Amazon is stored in your library. There's an Apple Watch app too, which can download playlists and albums so you can listen offline when you leave your phone at home.
Why Spotify keeps so many listeners
Spotify's listing leads with discovery: Discover Weekly every week, Release Radar and New Music Friday, collaborative playlists with friends and Spotify Wrapped at the end of the year. Spotify Free lets you stream music and podcasts with ads, and the free page has a Data Saver to cut mobile data.
Premium removes ads, gives you full on-demand playback and downloads for offline listening, and adds audiobooks. Spotify Connect plays on smart speakers, smart TVs, Chromecast, PlayStation, Xbox, smartwatches and cars, which is why it turns up in so many homes. Spotify's plans include Premium Individual, Duo for two accounts under one roof, Family for up to 6 accounts and Student, so a household can share without sharing one login.
Prime members, read this first
If you already have Prime, look in your Amazon Music app before signing up to anything else. Amazon's listing says Prime members get all the music ad-free, with the catch that it's shuffle play rather than picking any song you like. That's plenty for background listening while you work or cook.
If you want to choose exact songs and download albums, you're comparing Spotify Premium with Amazon Music Unlimited. Then the deciding factor is usually habit: your playlists, your friends' shared playlists and the speakers you already own.
YouTube Music is a third big option, and its plans are laid out in YouTube Music Premium plans.
Which listener each app fits
Spotify suits playlist lovers, people who share music with friends, podcast fans and homes full of different speakers and consoles. Amazon Music suits Prime members, Alexa households and audiobook listeners who'd like one Audible title a month in the same app. If you're staying with Spotify, here's how to download songs on Spotify and how to make a collaborative playlist.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
My advice on Amazon Music or Spotify
If you have Prime, use Amazon Music's included listening for a fortnight first and see whether shuffle play is enough. If it isn't, and your life runs on playlists, Spotify is the natural pick. If you listen to audiobooks too, Amazon Music Unlimited with its monthly Audible title is the better bundle for you. You can import playlists either way, so switching isn't painful.
Do you make music or podcast apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon Music free?
Yes. Amazon's listing says you can listen free to music and podcasts with ads, no credit card required.
Is Amazon Music included with Prime?
Yes. Amazon says Prime members get all the music ad-free with shuffle play, plus top podcasts ad-free.
Does Amazon Music Unlimited include audiobooks?
Yes. Amazon says Audible is now included, with one audiobook each month.
Is Spotify free?
Yes. Spotify Free lets you stream millions of songs and podcasts with ads, and no credit card is needed.
How many songs does Spotify have?
Spotify's listing says over 100 million songs and 6 million podcast titles.
