I was a loyal Spotify user for the longest time. But all that changed when I gave Amazon Music a shot, thanks to it being included with my Prime subscription. And despite my long-standing relationship with Spotify, there are a few reasons why Amazon’s music streaming service won me over.
5
It’s Included With My Prime Subscription
You’ve likely heard of all the usual perks you get with a Prime membership, from access to Prime Video to free next-day shipping. I’ll admit that while I took advantage of these perks, I completely overlooked Amazon Music, assuming it was just a watered-down version of apps like Spotify and YouTube Music.
On a whim, I decided to check it out and was genuinely surprised by how much it offered. Currently, the platform offers access to 100 million songs and thousands of playlists and stations. What stood out to me was that, unlike the ad-heavy experience on Spotify’s free tier, Amazon Music (included with Prime) is completely ad-free.
Not having to pay for a specific music streaming app—and not having to shell out even more money to avoid ads—made a huge difference for me. And given that I’m already paying for Prime (and don’t see myself canceling anytime soon), it just made more sense to use Amazon Music. So, if you, like me, value ad-free music streaming and are trying to decide if Amazon Prime is worth the money, you might try Amazon Music.
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4
I Enjoy the Podcast Catalog
There are a lot of great podcast apps for Android and iOS, and Spotify is definitely a popular one. However, I prefer the podcast selection that Amazon Music offers, especially since it provides an ad-free experience for Prime users. If you use the Amazon Music app, there’s a separate tab dedicated to just podcasts, and navigating this section feels fairly easy and intuitive.
You can easily spot the top podcasts in different genres and access Amazon Originals, too. Podcasts you enjoy can be downloaded for offline listening, and you can add them to playlists, which I’ve found to be pretty handy. The Sleep Timer is a nice feature, too, as it allows you to decide exactly how long the audio plays before it cuts off. Sure, if you’re a hardcore podcast enthusiast, you’ll likely prefer a standalone app. But for the average user who enjoys a good mix of music and podcasts, all in one interface, Amazon Music more than delivers.
3
Hands-Free Listening Is Seamless With Alexa
One of my favorite Amazon Music features is that Alexa is built into the app, making it easy for you to use the music streaming service hands-free. All you need to do is open the app, tap the Alexa icon (located on the right side), and speak your request out loud. This is especially helpful if you’re cooking or driving.
While it can’t control the volume, it can handle most playback functions with ease. So, you can essentially ask Alexa to play a specific track, skip a track, or pause a song. The voice recognition is also quite accurate, and I haven’t experienced significant lag in responses.
2
You Get Lossless Audio With Amazon Music Unlimited
If you decide to go the extra mile and subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited, one of the biggest perks you can take advantage of is lossless audio. The only downside is that it isn’t free. While I have access to Amazon Music at no extra cost, Amazon Music Unlimited costs $11 per month for Prime members. So, although it’s not for everyone, it’s definitely worth paying for if sound quality matters to you.
I wasn’t sure if it would make a significant difference, so I gave the free four-month trial a shot (if you’re not a Prime member, you get three months free). The jump in quality and clarity was apparent, especially when using headphones. It’s worth noting that all 100 million songs in the catalog are available in HD (which Amazon says is CD-quality audio), while over 7 million songs are available in Ultra HD, offering even more clarity. As someone who enjoys crisp vocals, Spotify just doesn’t hit the mark anymore in comparison.
1
I Prefer the Interface
I don’t find Spotify’s interface problematic or unintuitive by any means. But now that I’ve spent a good amount of time using Amazon Music, I’ve come to prefer its more simplistic layout. The homepage isn’t cluttered, and it’s easy to shift between songs and podcasts. Looking up tracks via the search bar or a specific genre/mood is just as easy. I can also easily navigate to my playlists, downloads, song history, and more by simply clicking the Library icon.
Amazon Music isn’t without its flaws, but it’s a solid option if you’re looking for a music and podcast streaming platform that excels in all the basics. It’s easy to navigate, has an extensive music and podcast selection, and the value is hard to beat. So, if you’re yet to try it, I recommend giving it a go, especially if you’re already a Prime member.
