YouTube Music Premium costs $11.99 a month and wins on videos, live tracks and remixes. Amazon Music Unlimited costs $12.99 a month, or $11.99 if you have Prime, and wins on sound quality, with HD and Spatial Audio plus one Audible audiobook a month.
On price they're almost level, so the choice comes down to what you listen to and which subscriptions you already pay for. Every figure below comes from YouTube's and Amazon's own US pages, checked in October 2026.
YouTube Music vs Amazon Music at a glance
| YouTube Music Premium | Amazon Music Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|
| Individual price (as of Oct 2026) | $11.99 a month, or $119.99 for 12 months | $12.99 a month, or $11.99 for Prime members |
| Family | $18.99 a month, up to 5 family members aged 13+ | Not listed on the page I checked |
| Student | $5.99 a month, verified yearly | Not listed on the page I checked |
| Catalogue | Over 100M songs, plus videos and live performances | 100 million songs ad-free |
| Top sound quality | 256kbps AAC and OPUS on the High setting | HD and Spatial Audio |
| Extras | Switch between song and music video; included with YouTube Premium | One audiobook a month from Audible; ad-free top podcasts |
| Free trial | 1 month for $0 | Shown as an offer for new subscribers |
Sound quality: where Amazon pulls ahead
YouTube Music Help says Premium members can choose their streaming quality. Normal, the default, has an upper bound of 128kbps, while High and Always High go up to 256kbps AAC and OPUS. That's good for everyday listening on earbuds.
Amazon Music Unlimited sells itself on HD and Spatial Audio instead. If you've got decent headphones or a good speaker and you care about detail, Amazon is the stronger pick. For background listening on a phone, most people won't notice much difference.
Videos, remixes and rare tracks: where YouTube wins
YouTube Music's big advantage is everything that exists only on YouTube. Its page promotes live performances, remixes, covers and hard-to-find tracks, and you can switch from a song to its music video with one tap. If half your listening starts with a live version you found on YouTube, nothing else will feel complete.
There's also the bundle effect. YouTube Premium, at $15.99 a month in the US, includes YouTube Music Premium, so if you already pay to remove ads on YouTube, you're paying for the music service too. I explain the free version in is YouTube Music free.
The Prime catch most people miss
Prime members already get Amazon Music Prime, so it's easy to assume that's the full service. It isn't. Amazon's own Prime Music page invites you to try Amazon Music Unlimited if you want on-demand music with HD and Spatial Audio, which tells you those are the parts the Prime version lacks. If you want to choose exactly which song plays next, in the best quality, you need Unlimited.
Podcasts sit on both sides too. Amazon promotes ad-free top podcasts with Unlimited, while YouTube Music carries podcasts alongside songs and videos. If podcasts are a big part of your listening, try your regular shows on both before you commit, because the shows each service carries ad-free differ.
The good news for Prime households is the discount: Unlimited drops from $12.99 to $11.99 a month, the same as YouTube Music Premium. The Amazon Music Unlimited plans guide covers them in more detail.
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Which one should you choose?
| If you... | Pick |
|---|---|
| Already pay for YouTube Premium | YouTube Music (it's included) |
| Listen to live versions, remixes and covers | YouTube Music |
| Want the best sound on good headphones | Amazon Music Unlimited |
| Have Prime and listen to audiobooks | Amazon Music Unlimited |
| Are a student on a budget | YouTube Music at $5.99 |
| Share with a big household | YouTube Music Family at $18.99 |
My verdict
If you already pay for YouTube Premium, don't pay for a second music service: YouTube Music is already yours. If you don't, and you're a Prime member who values sound quality or likes an audiobook, Amazon Music Unlimited at $11.99 is the better buy. Everyone else should try YouTube Music's free month and Amazon's offer back to back with the same playlist, then keep whichever sounds and feels right.
Frequently asked questions
Is YouTube Music cheaper than Amazon Music?
Slightly, unless you have Prime. YouTube Music Premium is $11.99 a month and Amazon Music Unlimited is $12.99, or $11.99 for Prime members, as of Oct 2026.
Which sounds better, YouTube Music or Amazon Music?
Amazon Music Unlimited offers HD and Spatial Audio. YouTube Music Premium streams at up to 256kbps AAC and OPUS on its High setting, which is fine for everyday listening.
Which has more songs, YouTube Music or Amazon Music?
They're level on paper. YouTube says Premium gives you over 100M songs plus videos and live performances, and Amazon says Music Unlimited has 100 million songs ad-free.
Is Amazon Music free with Prime?
Prime includes Amazon Music Prime, but Amazon's own page points Prime members to Music Unlimited for on-demand music with HD and Spatial Audio, at $11.99 a month for Prime members.
Does YouTube Premium include YouTube Music?
Yes. YouTube Premium, listed at $15.99 a month in the US, includes ad-free YouTube Music.
