Amazon Music review 2026

Amazon Music Unlimited offers more than 100 million songs and is therefore on a par with Spotify and Apple Music. The catalogue covers all genres comprehensively, from international charts to German niche genres. Podcasts are also available, though with a considerably smaller offering than at Spotify. The decisive difference lies in the two tiers: Amazon Music Prime (included in the Prime subscription) is heavily restricted, including in free song selection. For full, unrestricted use you need the Unlimited subscription. This two-tier split causes confusion for many users. The Unlimited subscription also includes one audiobook a month from the Audible catalogue; podcasts play without ads. Scoring (28/35): An excellent catalogue with Unlimited, on a par with Spotify and Apple Music. A clear deduction for the heavily limited Prime version and the weaker podcast offering.

Amazon Music Unlimited offers Ultra HD audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos at no extra charge – on a par with Apple Music and Tidal. The quality is outstanding and a serious option for audiophiles. Amazon Music Prime, on the other hand, streams only in standard quality (up to 320 kbit/s). Ultra HD is reserved exclusively for Unlimited subscribers. That is fair, since the Prime version is designed as a free extra. In a direct listening comparison, Amazon Music Ultra HD sounds equivalent to Apple Music lossless. Dolby Atmos support is available for selected tracks and works automatically with compatible headphones. Scoring (19/20): Excellent audio quality with Unlimited, with Ultra HD and spatial audio. Just behind Apple Music only because of the slightly smaller catalogue of Dolby Atmos tracks.

Amazon's recommendation algorithms are functional but noticeably weaker than Spotify's. The personalised playlists and radio stations deliver solid but rarely surprising suggestions. “My Soundtrack” and similar features are usable but not industry-leading. The absolute killer feature is the Alexa integration: “Alexa, play jazz” works seamlessly on Echo devices, Fire TV and any Alexa-compatible speaker. Voice control is the best of all streaming services and makes Amazon Music the ideal smart-home music service. X-Ray Lyrics shows song lyrics in real time. The app offers a car mode with a simplified interface. Podcast integration is functional but less mature than at Spotify. Scoring (14/20): The Alexa integration is industry-leading and a genuine unique selling point. The recommendation algorithms and social features, however, are clearly weaker than at Spotify.

Amazon Music Prime is included in Amazon Prime (€8.99 a month or €89.90 a year) – but in a limited form. Amazon Music Unlimited costs €12.99 a month, or €11.99 a month for Prime members. The family plan (Unlimited Family) is €21.99 a month for up to 6 people. The Prime discount of €1 a month is an advantage for existing Prime members. At €11.99, Unlimited is then on a level with Apple Music, Deezer and YouTube Music and €1 below Spotify – including HD/3D audio and one audiobook a month. There is no free ad-supported tier like at Spotify. The Prime version is the closest comparison but, because of the shuffle limitation, not a full substitute. Scoring (13/15): An attractive Prime discount and a good overall package for Amazon customers. A deduction for the lack of a genuine free tier and the confusing two-tier structure.

Amazon Music is available on iOS, Android, web, Fire TV, Fire tablets, Echo devices, CarPlay and Android Auto. The desktop app is available for Windows and macOS. No Linux support. Integration into Amazon's own ecosystem is naturally excellent: Echo speakers, Fire TV, Ring cameras and Alexa-enabled devices work together seamlessly. Amazon Music is also available directly on Sonos speakers and many smart TVs. Offline downloads are possible, and quality settings can be configured in detail for each device type. Amazon Music also works on the Apple Watch. Scoring (8/10): Broad platform coverage with particularly strong smart-home integration. A deduction for missing Linux and the occasionally sluggish desktop app.