Music & Audio Apps · head to head
YouTube Music vs Amazon Music
YouTube Music
Music & Audio Apps
A new music streaming service from YouTube
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: YouTube Music free tier includes unskippable ads which interrupts music listening; Amazon Music amazon Music Unlimited is required for on-demand access to the 100 million song catalogue, ad-free podcasts and Audible audiobooks
- They diverge on capability: YouTube Music covers Music videos, Amazon Music covers HD audio.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which YouTube Music and Amazon Music actually diverge.
| Attribute | YouTube Music | Amazon Music |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers | Web, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, Echo |
| Founded | 2005 | 2007 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Music & Audio Apps).
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 YouTube Music
- Music videos
- Live performances
- Personalization
- Google services
- Smart speakers
- Android Auto
- Google account security
- Smart-speakers support
Only in Amazon Music
- HD audio
- Podcasts
- Alexa integration
- Echo devices
- Fire TV
- Alexa
- Amazon account security
- Fire-tv support
Both cover
- Music streaming
- Family controls
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
YouTube Music
- Music streamingnot Amazon Music
- Video watchingnot Amazon Music
- Discoverynot Amazon Music
Amazon Music
- On-demand music streaming across phone, watch and speakersnot YouTube Music
- Listening to podcasts and Audible audiobooks in one appnot YouTube Music
- Offline playback for subscribersnot YouTube Music
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
YouTube Music
- Free tier includes unskippable ads which interrupts music listening
- User-uploaded content creates inconsistent audio quality and metadata compared to official releases
- Limited music discovery and recommendation features compared to Spotify's AI-powered algorithms
Amazon Music
- Amazon Music Unlimited is required for on-demand access to the 100 million song catalogue, ad-free podcasts and Audible audiobooks
- Unlimited skips require the Amazon Music Unlimited subscription
- Subscriptions bought through iTunes renew automatically each month unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends
- The account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of each membership period
- The iOS app requires iOS 16.0 or later
Pricing, plan by plan
YouTube Music
Free- FreeFree
- Ad-supported listening
- Music videos
- Premium$11.99/month
- Ad-free
- Offline downloads
- Background playback
- Family$18.99/month
- Up to 6 accounts
- Parental controls
- Student$5.99/month
- Ad-free
- YouTube Premium included
Amazon Music
Free- FreeFree
- Limited selection
- Ads
- Unlimited$9.99/month
- Full catalog
- HD audio
Which should you pick?
Choose YouTube Music if
- You need music videos.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
- You also want live performances.
Choose Amazon Music if
- You need hd audio.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, Echo.
- You also want podcasts.
Questions people ask
- Is YouTube Music or Amazon Music better?
- Neither clearly leads. YouTube Music starts at Free and Amazon Music at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, YouTube Music or Amazon Music?
- YouTube Music starts at Free and Amazon Music at Free.
- Does YouTube Music or Amazon Music run on more platforms?
- YouTube Music runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. Amazon Music runs on Web, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, Echo.
- Can I use YouTube Music for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is YouTube Music best used for?
- YouTube Music is most often used for music streaming, video watching, discovery. Of those, music streaming and video watching are not what Amazon Music is typically brought in for.
- What can YouTube Music do that Amazon Music cannot?
- YouTube Music covers Music videos, Live performances, Personalization, Google services. Amazon Music covers HD audio, Podcasts, Alexa integration, Echo devices. Both handle Music streaming, Family controls, Web support, Ios support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
YouTube Music: How much does YouTube Music Premium cost?
YouTube Music Premium costs $11.99 per month for individual subscriptions, $18.99 per month for family plans (up to 6 accounts), and $5.99 per month for students.
SourceYouTube Music: Does YouTube Music have a free tier?
Yes, YouTube Music offers a free version with access to music and music videos but includes occasional unskippable ads. Free users can create playlists and discover music but lack premium features like offline downloads.
SourceYouTube Music: What makes YouTube Music different from other streaming services?
YouTube Music uniquely provides access to official songs, music videos, live performances, remixes, and user-uploaded content not available on other platforms. Users can seamlessly switch between audio and official music videos.
Source