Spotify vs. Amazon Music Unlimited-Which Subscription is Right for You In 2024?

Music streaming has become incredibly popular in recent years. Services like Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited give you access to a huge library of songs, playlists, podcasts and more that you can listen to anytime, anywhere. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the right one? In this article we talk about Spotify vs. Amazon Music Unlimited-Which Subscription is Right for You In 2024.

In this comprehensive guide, we compare Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited head-to-head on key factors like library size, sound quality, platforms & devices, discovery features and pricing to help you decide which music subscription is the best fit for your listening needs and budget.

Library Size & Song Selection

Both Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited boast extensive catalogs over over 70 million songs each. This includes the latest chart-topping hits as well as more niche, indie tracks and classic tunes.

However, there are some differences in the specific songs and albums available on each service. Spotify tends to have a deeper selection of indie, alternative and international music. Meanwhile, Amazon Music Unlimited has a slight edge when it comes to the latest pop and country releases.

This comes down to licensing deals with record labels. But for most listeners, both services provide more than enough music to enjoy. Unless you regularly listen to very obscure or regional artists, you’ll find all your favorite music on both Spotify and Amazon.

Winner: Tie

Sound Quality

In terms of audio quality, Amazon Music Unlimited edges out Spotify. Amazon offers over 70 million songs in Ultra HD, lossless quality with a bitrate up to 3730 kbps for CD-quality sound.

Spotify caps out at 320 kbps for Premium subscribers. While still very good quality for streaming, audiophiles will appreciate Amazon’s higher fidelity, High-Resolution Audio.

If sound quality is your top priority, Amazon Music Unlimited is the way to go. However, Spotify’s audio is perfectly enjoyable for most people, especially when listening on the go through phone speakers or Bluetooth earbuds rather than high-end headphones and speakers.

Winner: Amazon Music Unlimited

Supported Platforms & Devices

One area where Spotify really shines is platform and device support. Spotify has apps for just about any smartphone, tablet, computer, smart speaker, smartwatch, TV, and gaming console out there. This makes it easy to listen from any of your devices.

Amazon Music Unlimited also has broad platform support, but not quite as extensive as Spotify. One limitation is that you can only use Amazon Music Unlimited on one Alexa device per account. So you couldn’t have it on your Echo at home and also your office Echo.

Spotify also offers more options for controlling music playback through services like Google Assistant. So if cross-platform convenience is important, Spotify comes out ahead.

Winner: Spotify

Discovery Features

Music discovery features are incredibly vital for any streaming service. Both Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited incorporate playlists, radio stations and recommendations to help you find new favorite tunes.

Spotify is especially renowned for its discovery algorithms and playlists. The service offers endless personalized playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar that surface music you’ll love based on your listening data and new releases from the artists you follow.

Amazon has similar discovery playlists, but they aren’t quite as advanced or ubiquitous across the service. When it comes to radio stations and podcast recommendations, the two services are on par.

So Spotify takes the crown when it comes to overall music discovery and personalization. But you’ll still find many ways to discover new music on Amazon Music Unlimited too.

Winner: Spotify

Pricing and Plans

Lastly, let’s break down the pricing and plans for Spotify vs Amazon Music Unlimited:

Spotify Premium – $9.99/month for individuals or $15.99/month for families up to 6 members. Students pay just $4.99/month.

Amazon Music Unlimited – $7.99/month for Prime members ($9.99 for non-Prime) or $79/year. Family plans up to 6 for $14.99/month or $149/year.

Students can try Amazon Music Unlimited for just $0.99 a month.

Both also offer free ad-supported tiers with limited on-demand playback for those not ready to pay a monthly fee.

At the end of the day, the pricing is very similar between these two premium music streaming leaders. Amazon Music Unlimited does have a slight discount for Amazon Prime members. Meanwhile, Spotify shines with its cheap student pricing.

Ultimately, the subscription cost shouldn’t be the deciding factor between these two excellent services. Instead, choose based on factors like sound quality, platform availability and discovery features that matter most to you.

The Verdict

Spotify continues to lead in discovery algorithms, platform support and student pricing. So for many listeners, especially younger generations, Spotify is going to tick all the boxes.

However, don’t count Amazon Music Unlimited out. It matches Spotify in terms of vast music selection and is actually superior in terms of audio fidelity. Amazon Music Unlimited is an appealing choice for serious music fans with high-quality speaker systems.

Casual listeners are still better off going with the global community and discovery of Spotify. But if sound quality trumps all, then Amazon Music Unlimited takes the top prize for streaming services.

Hopefully this comprehensive comparison helps you decide whether Spotify or Amazon Music Unlimited is the right premium music streaming choice for your personal listening preferences and budget. I sincerely hope you find this “Spotify vs. Amazon Music Unlimited-Which Subscription is Right for You In 2024?” article helpful.