Amazon Music vs YouTube Music splits on what you value: Amazon Music Unlimited's lossless/Hi-Res catalog versus YouTube Music's music-video library and bundle with YouTube Premium. YouTube Music excels for music discovery and YouTube integration with 256 kbps streaming, while Amazon Music Unlimited offers better value for Prime members at $8.99/month and includes lossless audio support. Choose based on your ecosystem: YouTube if you watch music videos frequently, Amazon if you're a Prime subscriber seeking lossless quality.
Amazon Music vs YouTube Music — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Music streaming with 100+ million songs, official music videos, AI discovery, and YouTube integration.
Amazon's music streaming service with competitive pricing and deep Alexa smart home integration.
Pricing for Prime/YouTube Members. Maximum Audio Bitrate. Music Video Integration. Free Tier Availability. Artist Discovery Tools (2026). Echo Device Compatibility. Library Size
YouTube Music wins for integrated music video discovery and lower Prime member pricing ($8.99/month), making it ideal for those deeply invested in YouTube's ecosystem. Amazon Music Unlimited wins for lossless audio quality and value for Prime subscribers who prioritize sound fidelity and native Alexa integration. Choose YouTube Music if you watch music videos regularly and want the best free tier; choose Amazon Music Unlimited if audio quality and smart home integration matter most.
YouTube Music: 1000+ million | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $0.007 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Not available | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Data not available | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 320 kbps standard | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: YouTube-hosted only | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Primary growth engine via YouTube Shorts | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Wider access via Partner Program | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $13.99 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Audio + Video (music videos, official content, shorts) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Requires YouTube Partner Program verification | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Yes (Premium members) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 100+ million tracks | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Deep (Google Assistant, Workspace, Search, Android) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Ad revenue sharing, Super Chat, channel memberships | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 100+ million | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $11.99 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: No | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Limited | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Full integration (2.7B videos) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Split-view Now Playing redesign rolling out | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Standard streaming splits | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 320kbps Opus (lossy) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $0.007 (blended average) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Yes - full catalog with shuffle | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Android, Wear OS, web browser only | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: YouTube ecosystem video performance + watch history | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $0.006-$0.012 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $0.002-$0.004 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: AAC 256kbps (lossy) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: None | Amazon Music Unlimited: Limited (shuffle-only with ads)
YouTube Music: Premium subscribers only | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $0.005-$0.009 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 100M+ | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $22.99 | Amazon Music Unlimited: $15.99/month (6 users)
YouTube Music: Android-optimized only | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 8.1/10 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 12% | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 256 kbps AAC | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Yes — full library | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Yes (ad-supported) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Yes | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Yes (auto-mix) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Google Assistant | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Yes (preferred on Android) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Native | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Via AirPlay | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $11.99/mo ($15.99 w/ YT Premium) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $26.99/mo (w/ YT Premium) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $6.99/mo | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $12.99 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: No skipping allowed | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Unlimited downloads | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: ~0.3-0.4 cents per stream | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $22.88 saved (buy yearly) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
Monthly Subscription Price (Premium/Paid Tier)
YouTube Music: 13.8% | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 128 kbps | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $0.003-0.005 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 100,000 watches/month (YouTube Partner) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 100+ | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 80 million | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Google Assistant (500M+ devices) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
Annual Prime/YouTube Premium Bundle Cost
YouTube Music: $139.99 (YouTube Premium music only) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium Tier)
YouTube Music: 256 kbps | Amazon Music Unlimited: 320 (MP3)
YouTube Music: $0.004 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 800+ million | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: None (AAC only) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 180+ | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
Monthly Subscription Price (Standard Tier)
YouTube Music: $10.99/month | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $139/year (Premium + YouTube ad-free) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: ~80+ million (estimated YouTube Music users) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $0.003-0.005 (estimated) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Yes, available on Premium | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $0.003-$0.005 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: No (requires distributor) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 15-20 per hour | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Full integration with official videos/Shorts | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $11.99/month | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 100+ million songs | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Under 1 million (limited availability) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Unlimited | Amazon Music Unlimited: Unlimited
YouTube Music: Select Google devices + Google Home ecosystem | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $18.99/month (6 accounts) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 256 kbps (AAC) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 100,000 songs maximum | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $22.99 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Full official videos | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Yes—ad-supported with limitations | Amazon Music Unlimited: Yes, for Prime members only
YouTube Music: Not available | Amazon Music Unlimited: Yes, available
YouTube Music: $7.99 | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Not applicable | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 320 (MP3) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 70+ official videos | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Unlimited with Premium | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 6 profiles | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 320 kbps | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 100+ million | Amazon Music Unlimited: 100+
YouTube Music: Separate subscription | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: No (Premium required) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 256 kbps | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Via distributor only | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $167.88/year | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 30 days | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Unlimited | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: ~15% | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 80+ million | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: 78% | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: $143.88 standalone | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Millions of official videos | Amazon Music Unlimited: Music-only, no video content
YouTube Music: 360 Reality Audio (8,000+ tracks) | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Full YouTube podcast library | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
YouTube Music: Advanced mood/activity detection AI | Amazon Music Unlimited: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard User)
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: $14.99
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: $8.99 (Prime member)
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: 100+ million songs
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: Amazon Alexa/Echo optimized
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: $9.99
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: 4
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: Limited to select Android and Amazon devices
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: $5.99/month (with Prime Student)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Individual Plan)
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: $14.99/month
Annual Subscription Cost (Individual Plan)
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: $179.88
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: 100+ million
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: AAC, FLAC, Spatial Audio
Discover Weekly Playlists Generated Weekly
YouTube Music: N/A | Amazon Music Unlimited: 5-10 million (estimated)
How to choose between YouTube Music and Amazon Music Unlimited
Compare YouTube Music vs Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon Music vs YouTube Music — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Amazon Music vs YouTube Music. Contains 159 attribute comparisons, 6 FAQ pairs.
Amazon Music vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Amazon Music vs YouTube Music.
Which service is cheaper for Prime members?
Both cost $8.99/month for Prime/YouTube Premium members respectively. However, YouTube Premium at $8.99 includes ad-free YouTube access, while Amazon Music Unlimited at the same price is music-only for Prime members. Non-Prime members pay $14.99/month for Amazon Music Unlimited versus the same for YouTube Music Premium standalone.
Can I watch music videos on Amazon Music?
No, Amazon Music Unlimited is a music-streaming-only service without native video content. YouTube Music includes full access to music videos through YouTube's integration, making it the better choice for users who want both audio and video content.
Amazon Music Unlimited supports lossless audio quality, making it superior for audiophiles with compatible devices. YouTube Music maxes out at 256 kbps AAC bitrate. Both offer the same 256 kbps streaming standard, but only Amazon Music provides true lossless fidelity.
Which works better with smart home devices?
Amazon Music Unlimited is deeply optimized for Alexa and Echo devices, offering free ad-supported playback on these devices. YouTube Music works with Google Home and Nest devices. Choose based on your smart home ecosystem.
YouTube Music offers an ad-supported free tier to all users with limited skip functionality. Amazon Music Unlimited requires a Prime membership to access its free tier (also ad-supported). YouTube Music's free tier is more accessible without additional subscriptions.
Why am I being charged $4.99 for Amazon Music when I have Prime?
Amazon Music has two tiers: Amazon Music Prime (included free with Prime membership) only offers shuffle-only streaming with limited access. Amazon Music Unlimited is a separate $10.99/month subscription (or $8.99/month for Prime members) that adds on-demand listening, offline downloads, HD audio, and full catalog access. The $4.99 charge is the legacy Amazon Echo/Alexa price for single-device Amazon Music Unlimited — it only works on one Alexa device and is cheaper than the full plan. If you want to use Amazon Music on your phone, car, or multiple devices, you need the $8.99–$10.99/month full plan.
How to Choose Between YouTube Music and Amazon Music Unlimited
Consider: Pricing for Prime/YouTube Members
Pricing for Prime/YouTube Members: YouTube Music has $8.99/month (Prime discount) vs $11.99 standard, while Amazon Music Unlimited has $14.99/month standard.
Maximum Audio Bitrate: YouTube Music has 256 kbps (AAC codec), while Amazon Music Unlimited has 256 kbps (lossless available for Music Unlimited).
Music Video Integration: YouTube Music has Native YouTube video access included, while Amazon Music Unlimited has Music-only service, no video content.
Free Tier Availability: YouTube Music has Ad-supported free tier with limited features, while Amazon Music Unlimited has Free tier for Prime members with ads, premium-only otherwise.
Artist Discovery Tools (2026): YouTube Music has New YouTube Creator tools launching 2026 for musician growth, while Amazon Music Unlimited has Standard curation without dedicated creator tools.
Echo Device Compatibility: YouTube Music has Compatible with Alexa ecosystem, while Amazon Music Unlimited has Optimized for Amazon Echo/Echo Dot with free ad-supported access.
Library Size: YouTube Music has 100+ million songs, while Amazon Music Unlimited has 100+ million songs.