Amazon Music vs Spotify: which music streaming service is better?
If you're looking for a new music streaming provider, these are the big guns. But which is best?
Are you a music fan on the lookout for a new place to get your fix of tracks and tunes? Spotify and Amazon Music are two of the biggest and most popular streaming services out there, but are they right for you? Our guide will help you decide which is best.
Monthly subscriptions to music streaming services are simple - sign up and get listening, it's as easy as that. Each platform offers its own stand-out features and advantages, and different plans to suit you and your listening needs best. We're taking a look at the top main contenders to help you choose between Spotify and Amazon Music.
There are multiple tiers of both service depending on your budget, your willingness to hear adverts as well as music and the amount of features you want. We'll outline those, and their free trials, as well as explaining the difference between the two music libraries.
For more music streaming comparisons, check out our piece on Apple Music vs Spotify. Or for the full lowdown on the different music streaming services available, check out our guide to the best UK music streaming services to try in 2023.
Looking for even more savings? Take a look at the best Audible deals and top Kindle deals for this month.
Sign up to Spotify Premium now for three months free
Here at RadioTimes.com, we always prefer to try before we buy, and what could be a better test than three months' free of a streaming service? Well, that's exactly what Spotify is now offering.
For a limited time only, from today until Tuesday 12th September, music-lovers can sign up to Spotify Premium to listen to all their favourite tunes for free, and for three whole months.
What's the difference between Amazon Music and Spotify?
Spotify has a free entry-level subscription. You'll pay nothing but only get six 'skips' an hour and worse streaming quality, plus there are adverts on non-premium Spotify. However, pay £10.99 per month for premium and you'll get rid of the ads and open up the whole library. There's also the option of a £17.99 per month family membership, a £14.99 Spotify Duo membership offering music for two under the same roof, or a student membership for £5.99 per month.
Amazon's music offering has a slightly more complex list of options. Firstly, there's Amazon Music Free which provides access to a range of tracks and podcasts, but only to be played in shuffle mode (there's no skipping). Then there is the Amazon Music Prime which is included with Amazon Prime, which costs £8.99 per month, and allows uninterrupted, ad-free music of millions of songs. If you want the expanded library of Amazon Prime Music Unlimited, that will cost £10.99 per month, or £8.99 per month if you've already got a standard Amazon Prime membership. Amazon offers a similar family plan to Spotify coming in at £17.99, and a student plan at £5.99.
It's worth noting that during extended use, we've found Spotify to work more smoothly and encounter less issues. It also offers better suggestions to help you discover new music, which is a huge plus for those who are curious to add to their personal favourites libraries.
More like this
- Sign up for a three-month free trial of Spotify Premium
- Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited
Spotify Premium vs Amazon Music Unlimited
Those wanting the more high-end plans — Spotify Premium and Amazon Music Unlimited — will get access to the very best offerings from these providers.
For example, Amazon Music Unlimited's library has approximately 100 million songs, rather than the two million on the basic Amazon Music Prime library. Spotify has a similar offering. Bear in mind, both outlets also offer podcasts, too. So if you're a podcast fan it's worth checking that your favourites are available on your chosen platform.
When it comes to music, some artists are available on one platform and not another.
For Spotify, one of the real bonuses of Premium over non-Premium is the improved streaming quality and the lack of ads. The sound quality goes up from 128kbps to 320kbps. It's a big difference, making for an audible improvement and more immersive listening experience, especially if you're pairing the app with some of the best wireless earbuds out there.
When it comes to streaming quality though, Amazon wins. Music Unlimited offers lossless audio streaming across many of its tracks, albums and content. This is partly because Amazon Music HD — which used to be a separate, pricier tier of Amazon's offering — is now included with Amazon Music Unlimited.
- Sign up for a three-month free trial of Spotify Premium
- Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon Music vs Spotify verdict: Which music streaming service should you buy in 2023?
Having noted some of the key differences, Amazon Music Unlimited looks like the choice for those who are prioritising streaming quality and those who use Alexa devices.
However, Spotify's user interface generally works better and is more accessible in our opinion.
Both Amazon Music Unlimited and Spotify help you discover new music — with Spotify's bespoke playlists, like the 'Discover Weekly' mix, and Amazon Music Unlimited's 'My Discover Mix' which is updated every Monday.
Ultimately, which you choose will depend on your priorities. During personal use, we've found Spotify to be slightly more intuitive and enjoyable, but no-doubt audiophiles will be drawn to Amazon by that extra audio quality.
- Sign up for a three-month free trial of Spotify Premium
- Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited
For more on audio, check out our best budget wireless earbuds and best DAB radio guides. Plus, head over to the RadioTimes.com Technology section for the latest news, such as what is Amazon Luna and how much does Apple Music cost in the UK?
