Apple Music vs Amazon Music: Which is best for iPhone customers, and why?

As a music lover and iPhone person, I’ve just lately examined out two of the preferred music streaming companies accessible on the App Retailer – Apple Music and Amazon Music. Each apps supply in depth music libraries, customized playlists, and offline listening choices. However as I delved deeper into every service, I found some distinct variations. 

On this editorial, I’ll share my private expertise and supply a complete comparability of Apple Music vs. Amazon Music. So, whether or not you’re making an attempt to resolve between the 2 companies or simply interested by how they stack up towards one another, learn on to seek out out which one I feel comes out on prime for iPhone customers and why.

Apple Music vs. Amazon Music – Detailed comparability

When evaluating Apple Music and Amazon Music, it’s necessary to contemplate the general person expertise, pricing, music library, unique content material, and many others. Apple Music has seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem and presents unique content material equivalent to reside radio stations and unique reveals. 

However, Amazon Music presents a extra inexpensive pricing construction, with a free ad-supported tier. Additionally, I received a less expensive subscription plan as a Prime member. Moreover, Amazon Music has built-in Alexa, making it a fantastic alternative for many who use voice assistants usually. 

So, let’s dig into every parameter and see which one wins the final word battle!

1. Subscription plans

After I purchased my AirPods Professional, I received 6 months free subscription to Apple Music. After that, it billed $10.99 per 30 days. Because it appeared expensive to me, I considered switching to a Household Plan value $16.99 month-to-month. So, my different members of the family may benefit from the premium service at one price. In distinction, I first joined Amazon Music Free and later opted for an Particular person Plan at $8.99 per 30 days. 

I’ve shared the entire pricing chart for a greater overview:

At first look, it might appear Amazon Music presents the perfect subscription pricing. Nonetheless, have in mind the $139 annual price of Prime. So, together with the Limitless membership for $89 per 12 months for Prime members, it’s costing far more than Apple Music. Nonetheless, my brother is having fun with the premium at solely $0.99 per 30 days as an eligible pupil.

Additionally, when you’ve got an Amazon Echo system and are a Prime member, you may get Limitless for under $4.99 a month. Nonetheless, your membership shall be restricted to only one speaker. Final however not least, Amazon presents a Household Final Plan for six members, which prices $15.99 per 30 days.

Although Apple has raised the costs just lately, I really feel it’s extra inexpensive than Amazon Music Limitless. That’s since you don’t have to buy a further membership. Additionally, you may’t neglect the advantages of getting an Apple One plan. So, opposite to common perception, Apple Music has higher and cheaper general plans.

Winner: Apple Music

2. Free trials

My mantra is – every time doubtful, at all times go for a free trial. And Apple Music is the perfect guinea pig on this case. There are a number of methods to get a protracted free trial of Apple Music. Usually, Apple offers a one-month free trial, however you may get 6 months free on a purchase order of an eligible Apple system and three months free by way of Shazam. 

I take pleasure in Apple Music utterly free as I received Apple One subscription😉. Additionally, for its paid music service, Amazon does present a free trial, however it solely lasts for 30 days earlier than expenses are utilized.

Winner: Apple Music

3. Person interface

The UI for Apple Music is traditional: clear, gentle, minimalistic, and aesthetic. It presents a handy drag-and-drop characteristic to switch tracks to varied playlists. One of the best half is all playlists are categorized beneath sections for a transparent view. In distinction, Amazon Music’s interface resembles Spotify with its tiny tiles and vivid lettering towards a black backdrop.

Aside from the slight modifications in model in each apps, there isn’t a lot of a sensible distinction general. Nonetheless, every time I’m in search of new music, Amazon Music’s Discover web page is extra logical because it’s organized by style construction, which appeals extra.

On this case, I can’t resolve on a winner because the person expertise utterly is determined by private selections. As a long-term Apple person, I really feel extra homely at Apple Music.

Winner: Tie

4. Music library

Each Apple and Amazon Music have 100 million songs accessible. Moreover, Apple has over 30,000 expert-curated playlists and unique reveals, concert events, and exclusives, and reside & on‑demand radio stations hosted by artists. Off late, I fell in love with Apple Music Classical, which options the most important classical catalog.

The vast majority of Apple Music’s music alternatives are curated in hundred classes beneath the ‘Browse’ space. Playlists like Right this moment’s Hits, New Music Every day, and Every day High 100 make it easy for followers of common music like me to maintain up with all the most recent releases. Additionally, Apple Music presents many area of interest music with impartial artist playlists, video playlists, and stations.

Apple Music additionally helped me uplift my temper by providing curated temper playlists. The customization algorithm is terrific, because the app asks you to decide on a couple of of your favourite artists once you join. Then utilizing this information, Apple Music creates playlists, the day by day combine, and updates the For You part with new releases to fit your tastes.

You’re more likely to uncover the identical tracks on Amazon Music, so don’t fear about shedding out on new releases. Nonetheless, it locations a larger emphasis on ‘common’ music tracks as only some classes are accessible within the House space of Amazon Music. I felt it was extra like “better of the perfect” compilations made out of what’s common within the app.

There are a complete of 12 playlist classes, together with Pop Tradition, Rap Rotation, and All Hits, and so they cowl the preferred genres. Nonetheless, I didn’t discover any impartial or area of interest music featured, and I needed to actively seek for these particular songs. Additionally, Amazon Music doesn’t have temper playlists and world music charts, and the suggestion accuracy isn’t nice. 

Winner: Apple Music

5. Number of curated content material

Each companies proceed to offer their very own distinctive model of non-music materials like movies, podcasts, speak reveals, and many others.

In addition to music, I actively comply with podcast reveals, and Amazon Music makes it simple because it features a devoted podcast part with 70,000 distinctive reveals. It additionally offers entry to behind-the-scenes movies, reside performances, and distinctive classes like “Prime Day Present,” interviews, and playlists of music movies. Sadly, Apple didn’t present a variety of podcasts on its Music app and developed a distinct app for this.

Each companies use curated materials in a really related manner, assessing your listening patterns to create playlists that embrace each your favourite songs and brand-new music that they imagine you’ll like. Additionally, each create and play playlists primarily based on style and even the time of day, equivalent to choosing cheerful music to get you shifting within the morning.

Winner: Amazon Music

6. Streaming high quality 

On the subject of decision and bit charge, Apple Music has glorious audio high quality. It stands out due to its lossless streaming at as much as 24-bit/192kHz and “CD-quality” at 16-bit/44.1kHz with True Hello-Res Audio. If lossless music shouldn’t be your factor, Apple Music offers 256kbps AAC information for the best high quality. 

In addition to, it makes use of the ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) format, which retains the unique audio file’s information to transform its music tracks to Lossless Audio. So, you’ll hearken to the identical type as after they had been first recorded within the studio.

Equally, Amazon Music additionally has high-resolution Extremely HD assist and lossless audio with the identical bitrate. However for the very best quality on iPhone, you’ll most likely want an exterior DAC (digital-to-analog converter) for the Hello-Res Lossless tier. Additionally, you may choose audio high quality (low/medium/excessive), which varies from 48 Kbps to 320 Kbps.

So, a lot of the audio high quality settings are the identical for each platforms on iPhone. Nonetheless, Apple beats Amazon Music by way of HD streaming high quality of 24-bit/48 kHz. 

Winner: Apple Music

7. Information utilization

Every time I’m on the go and use mobile information whereas streaming music, information utilization is the most important concern. That’s why I’ve taken this under consideration whereas evaluating Apple Music vs Amazon Music Limitless. 

Apple Music makes use of roughly 200MB information on Wi-Fi or 75MB information over mobile community hourly when streaming in its unique 256kbps AAC format. Amazon Music, then again, doesn’t particularly point out the music format. Nonetheless, I feel it’s the usual AAC or MP3 information. 

For the lossless choices, I used to be charged between 720 and 2900 MB of information per hour on the highest settings on each platforms. Due to this fact, whereas in a poor community space, I confronted some playback troubles due to the larger audio high quality and elevated information utilization. There was latency and buffering that lasted for roughly 3–4 seconds.

To remedy this excessive information consumption, Amazon Music presents a straightforward methodology to avoid wasting information. You might activate Information Saver settings or select low audio-quality streaming. Additionally, on Apple Music, it can save you your mobile information however that’s a workaround, not in-app settings. In my expertise, each platforms’ playback had little to no lag when in data-saver mode.

If you’re not an audiophile for me, you gained’t discover a lot of a distinction between the highest-quality streaming of the identical track. Due to this fact, if you happen to’re involved about utilizing up your mobile information, Amazon Music’s means to decide on the bitrate could also be useful.

Winner: Amazon Music

8. Headphones expertise

Any music streaming comparability is incomplete with out testing out their sound immersion ranges. Each Apple Music and Amazon Music differ by way of 360-degree sound. I at all times get a healthful listening expertise due to Dolby Atmos with Spatial Audio. It offers a digital 3D expertise even when used with headphones. 

To beat the expertise, Amazon has tied up with Sony and included assist for Sony 360 Actuality Audio. Additionally, you’re going to get the Dolby Atmos characteristic. However notice that the 360 Actuality Audio is restricted to the Echo Studio, Sony RA3000, and RA5000 audio system, whereas Dolby Atmos playback is simply supported by the Amazon Echo Studio.

As more often than not I exploit my AirPods, Apple Music is my go-to music app.

Winner: Apple Music

9. Offline listening

Each Apple Music and Amazon Music Limitless present offline listening and obtain 100,000 songs to your library. You might entry your Apple Music library on any system, due to the iCloud Music Library characteristic. It allows you to sync any downloaded music throughout any system with the identical Apple ID. 

Nonetheless, Amazon Music doesn’t have an equal to this handy characteristic. Amazon Music Limitless customers can save downloaded tracks throughout a most of 10 gadgets. You possibly can’t sync these gadgets to entry or replace your library.

Winner: Apple Music

10. Music sharing 

You might comply with your folks on Apple Music and share your custom-made playlists with them. Additionally, the For You tab will show what your folks are listening to. Though it lacks these options, Amazon Music Limitless does will let you share track hyperlinks by way of textual content.

On the subject of social media integration, I choose Spotify over Apple Music and Amazon Music. Nonetheless, Amazon Music has some workaround as I may add music tracks straight to the social community by way of the app. However, I may solely share songs with Apple Music members by way of AirDrop.   

Winner: Amazon Music

11. Integration and voice assistants

Siri is already my greatest pal, and with the Apple Music subscription, it has develop into my private DJ. You handle enjoying songs, queue up tracks, analysis track particulars, add music to your library, play your favourite playlists, and even play one thing new utilizing Siri. Apple Music has particular Siri options and automation for a greater person expertise.

You might use Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant when you’ve got Echo audio system or an Amazon Hearth TV. It offers lots of the similar DJ talents that Siri does. I attempted to configure Apple Music to stream on Amazon Echo gadgets. However the expertise is much less clean, and there aren’t any Alexa expertise accessible.

Apple’s HomePod audio system and Apple TV 4K, then again, are designed for use with Apple Music. It helps Siri options to handle and entry playlists. You possibly can solely stream music to HomePod out of your iPhone operating the Amazon Music app. However keep in mind, not one of the different options gained’t work.

I discover Siri shortcuts for Apple Music extra handy, simple to make use of, and time-saving. If you’re habituated to Alexa, then Amazon Music is good for you.

Winner: Tie

12. In-car expertise

Each Apple Music and Amazon Music are supported by Apple’s CarPlay expertise. In case your automobile lacks CarPlay, you should still join your automobile’s infotainment system to Apple Music from an built-in app, by way of Bluetooth, or over a cable connection with none exterior system. 

Amazon Music greatest works with Alexa Auto, which needs to be built-in. You might purchase an Echo Auto system to stream Amazon Music on the go and improve your listening expertise. 

Winner: Apple Music

13. Extra options

Many of the options are the identical on each music streaming platforms, equivalent to immersive sound, Dolby Atmos, built-in equalizer, track lyrics, and many others. However there are a couple of distinctive capabilities accessible. 

Apple Music

Apple Music is dominating the music streaming companies because it offers many extra further options, making it extra useful as a purchase order. Apple Music highlights the narratives of artists in particular playlists beneath the Behind the Songs part. Moreover, I actually just like the Apple Replay, which compiles your most-heard songs in a 12 months.

Additionally, the Spatial Audio by Dolby Atmos offers listeners an much more immersive listening expertise. One of many uncommon options is Saylists, which inspires higher speech articulation for individuals with speech-sound issues (SSD).

Apple Music’s true space of experience is radio. The Radio tab presents three flagship channels that stream reside to 165 completely different nations: Music 1, Music Hits, and Music Nation. Additionally, you may even tune in to overseas stations for the most recent in sports activities, information, interviews, and speak reveals. 

As well as, it offers specifically chosen music stations tailor-made to your listening preferences. For extra personalization, I’ve created my personal radio station on Apple Music. Furthermore, the Radio tab has probably the most well-liked radio packages and playlists from earlier years archived.

I additionally depend on Apple Music throughout my home events, due to the Apple Music Sing karaoke characteristic. It’s extra gratifying to hit each beat thanks to five new lyrical options. You possibly can sing hit songs with real-time lyrics and versatile voices that allow you to sing solo, duet, or backing harmonies. 

Moreover, with Apple Music Reside, I take pleasure in concert events of my favourite artists from the consolation of my sofa. You might watch all ongoing live performance collection to see distinctive performances that had been live-streamed.

Amazon Music Limitless

Every time I need in-depth data on any music tracks, I am going to the extra data part within the Now Taking part in web page of Amazon Music. Additionally, the DJ Mode is a spotlight that makes the playlist perform as a hosted listening occasion. In addition to, Amazon Music Reside permits musicians worldwide to stream their Twitch reside streams to their subscribers.

Amazon Music additionally offers radio stations, however in distinction to Apple Music, its default radio station choice is pitiful and doesn’t will let you construct a station from a track, album, artist, or playlist.

Ultimate verdict

It’s time for the ultimate judgment of the Apple Music vs Amazon Music comparability. In my comparability parameters, Apple Music took the lead normally.

Each apps present high-resolution lossless music and have large library collections. Additionally, you will get a large amount of video materials and different distinctive parts like radio and reside streams. So, by way of offering a top-notch listening expertise, each apps are nonetheless pretty aggressive. All of it comes down to non-public selections and what’s extra handy for you.

Who ought to get Apple Music?

Should you use iPhone and different Apple gadgets like me, Apple Music permits extra seamless system connectivity. Additionally, its person interface is elegant, and the album covers are fantastically animated. In addition to, Apple Music Radio may be very helpful to those that love listening to the radio. Additionally, it’s supreme if you would like extremely custom-made playlists and distinctive music and video content material.

Who ought to get Amazon Music?

The inexpensive Amazon Music subscriptions make sense if you happen to’re already a Prime member. Much more so if you happen to’re on a good funds since you should utilize the free plan. Nonetheless, I feel the free plan may be very restricted and excessively ad-supported. Amazon Music is your only option if you happen to additionally worth having quick access to podcasts. Moreover, you may take pleasure in Amazon Music extra with an Amazon Echo system.

FAQs

I hope that this analysis has helped you decide. If you’re nonetheless confused, you could join a free trial model of each apps and provides them a attempt.

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Ava is an fanatic technical author coming from tech background. She likes to discover and analysis about new Apple merchandise & equipment and assist readers decode the tech with ease. Together with learning, her weekend plan contains binge-watching anime.