Software · head to head
Amazon Prime Video vs YouTube
The short version
- Only YouTube has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Amazon Prime Video the Internet Archive's capture of Prime Video's signup page on 1 January 2024 (EU locale) priced a standalone Prime Video membership at 5.99 euro per month, capped at 3 devices watching at once; figure is region-specific and may differ in other markets.; YouTube youTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.
- They diverge on capability: Amazon Prime Video covers Video streaming, YouTube covers Video hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Amazon Prime Video and YouTube actually diverge.
| Attribute | Amazon Prime Video | YouTube |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $8.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Fire-tv | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles |
| Founded | 2006 | 2005 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Amazon Prime Video
- Video streaming
- Original content
- Offline downloads
- Multiple profiles
- X-Ray features
- 4K Ultra HD
- HDR content
- Dolby Atmos
Only in YouTube
- Video hosting
- Live streaming
- Content discovery
- Creator tools
- Analytics
- Google services
- Social media
- Creator tools
Both cover
- Parental controls
- Web support
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Amazon Prime Video
- Entertainment streamingnot YouTube
- Original series viewingnot YouTube
- Movie streamingnot YouTube
- Family entertainmentnot YouTube
- Offline viewingnot YouTube
YouTube
- Video sharingnot Amazon Prime Video
- Content marketingnot Amazon Prime Video
- Educationnot Amazon Prime Video
- Entertainmentnot Amazon Prime Video
- Live streamingnot Amazon Prime Video
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Amazon Prime Video
- The Internet Archive's capture of Prime Video's signup page on 1 January 2024 (EU locale) priced a standalone Prime Video membership at 5.99 euro per month, capped at 3 devices watching at once; figure is region-specific and may differ in other markets.
YouTube
- YouTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.
Pricing, plan by plan
Amazon Prime Video
$8.99/month- Prime Video$8.99/month
- Thousands of movies and TV shows
- Amazon Original series
- Ad-free viewing
- Amazon Prime$14.98/month
- All Prime Video content
- Free shipping on Amazon
- Amazon Music Prime
YouTube
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited video watching
- Basic video uploads
- Community features
- YouTube Premium$11.99/month
- Ad-free videos
- Background play
- YouTube Music included
Which should you pick?
Choose Amazon Prime Video if
- You need video streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Fire-tv.
- You also want original content.
Choose YouTube if
- You need video hosting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
- You also want live streaming.
Questions people ask
- Is Amazon Prime Video or YouTube better?
- Neither clearly leads. Amazon Prime Video starts at $8.99/month and YouTube at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Amazon Prime Video or YouTube?
- YouTube has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $8.99/month for Amazon Prime Video and Free for YouTube.
- Does Amazon Prime Video or YouTube run on more platforms?
- Amazon Prime Video runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Fire-tv. YouTube runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
- Can I use YouTube for free?
- Yes. YouTube has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Amazon Prime Video starts at $8.99/month.
- What is Amazon Prime Video best used for?
- Amazon Prime Video is most often used for entertainment streaming, original series viewing, movie streaming, family entertainment. Of those, entertainment streaming and original series viewing are not what YouTube is typically brought in for.
- What can Amazon Prime Video do that YouTube cannot?
- Amazon Prime Video covers Video streaming, Original content, Offline downloads, Multiple profiles. YouTube covers Video hosting, Live streaming, Content discovery, Creator tools. Both handle Parental controls, Web support, Ios support.