Spotify vs Amazon Music: Difference and Comparison

The music industry is valued at around 22 billion US dollars.

Music is not just art; it is an escape route for many; careers have been built on it, and now there are more than just music players or CDs; streaming services and applications like Spotify, amazon music, Wynk Music, Apple Music, and so on.

Spotify, founded in 2006 in Sweden, is one of the biggest audio streaming services with over 320 million monthly users, out of which 144 million are paid subscribers; not just music from various genres but also podcast shows are offered on Spotify.

Amazon Music, a music service operated by Amazon, launched in 2007, is a lossless music platform for audiophiles with around 50 million users.

Key Takeaways

  1. Spotify offers a larger music library than Amazon Music, with over 70 million songs compared to Amazon’s 75 million.
  2. Amazon Music offers more pricing options, including a free plan for Amazon Prime members and a more affordable plan for Echo device owners.
  3. Spotify has a better user interface and more advanced features, such as personalized playlists and the ability to share music with friends.

Spotify vs Amazon Music

Spotify is a standalone music service that offers a free ad-supported version and a paid subscription service. Amazon Music is included with Amazon Prime membership and offers a selection of music and the option to purchase and download songs.

Spotify vs Amazon Music

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonSpotifyAmazon Music
Music OfferedSpotify offers 40 million tracks to its users. 50 million tracks, if one has Amazon Music Unlimited.
Special FeaturesPodcasts are another great attraction for this app; they can be on any topic, from education, comedy, self-help, stories, and even sports.They are not offered directly on this platform. 
Sound Quality128kbps-the free tier, while premium has a better bit rate to offer.256 kbps is the general bit rate, though users can get a better bit rate at a higher price. This feature is by far one of the best ones on Amazon Music.
Cost-EffectivenessHas more on offer at a lower price.Unless one has prime membership, it is not as cost-effective.
Music DiscoveryThe “Discover Weekly” section uses Spotify’s algorithm and suggests the user songs based on their music history.There is no such feature.
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What is Spotify?

A music service that is now synonymous with music streaming and not just music but also podcasts.

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This application has been on the rise, especially for the past two years; it is compatible with Tablets, phones, windows, and  Mac-os.

It has over 50 Million music libraries, and the premium comes with no advertisement and a better bit rate.

The music discovery algorithm is by far the most outstanding feature of this application; it also helps the consumer connect with the artists they like based on the pattern of music they stream, which is also available for the free version.

The podcast section is quite a paradise for people who love to learn about new stuff, be it history, entertainment, sport, or even good old crime stories.

It can connect to smart speakers quite smoothly as well. It is more widely available worldwide in up to 79 countries; sharing and downloading music is easy, but only if you have a premium subscription.

The Desktop version is appealing and user-friendly. 

However, there are some disadvantages, especially in the free version; the advertisements can ruin the enjoyment of music. Also, the low quality of music in the free version is another con.

spotify

What is Amazon Music?

Coming from the highly successful parent company Amazon, Amazon Music is versatile regarding music quality, availability, and compatibility with various platforms.

Even though it is not as popular as Spotify, music lovers are fast gravitating to it! The biggest advantage that Amazon Music provides is its music quality.

The bit rate is adjustable and can be 3D or HD in format.

At the beginning of this year, it had 55 million users and another thing that sets it apart from Spotify is the exclusive releases from artists. Unlike Spotify, there is content creator equality and no exclusive releases.

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As it is an Amazon product, it is compatible with not only Alexa but other smart speakers too.

The disadvantages include being a Prime member or subscribing to amazon music unlimited, and there is no podcast feature on this platform.

The listener can listen to podcasts on the smart speaker via a third-party application.

amazon music

Main Differences Between Spotify and Amazon Music

  1. The music catalogue is similar; Spotify’s algorithm has better music recommendations.
  2. The price range is slightly more on Amazon Music Unlimited than on Spotify Premium.
  3. The bit rate is better in Amazon Music than in Spotify. As a result, the music experience is better on Amazon Music than on Spotify.
  4. The podcast section in Spotify helps the user explore outside of traditional music.
  5. The user interface is similar for both platforms, though it is in desktop mode; Amazon music is not as fluid as Spotify.
Difference Between Spotify and Amazon Music
References
  1. https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3209219.3209223
  2. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17510694.2015.1096618
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About Author

Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.