I’ve been in a long-term relationship with Spotify. We’ve been together for over a decade. My friends use it, my family uses it, and pretty much every smart speaker, soundbar, and random Bluetooth gadget in my house happily connects to it. It’s been my musical home since the days when streaming felt like magic rather than just another monthly bill.
But here’s the twist… In 2025, I’ve been cheating on Spotify.
And not with the obvious “other” (you know who I mean). Instead, I’ve been spending a lot more time with Amazon Music. Yeah, I know, the app that most people forget exists until their Alexa blurts out a random playlist they didn’t ask for. But after actually giving it a proper test, I’ve found myself genuinely impressed. And in a couple of areas, Amazon Music is flat-out better than Spotify.
So in this post, I’m going to compare the two, feature by feature, to see which one is the better streaming service in 2025, and whether you might want to make the switch.
Spotify’s Strengths in 2025
Spotify still does one thing better than anyone else: it knows your music taste. Sometimes better than you do.
Class-Leading Personalization
Spotify’s Discover Weekly is still my Monday morning ritual. It’s like having a mate who says, “You liked that track last week? Here’s 29 more in the same vibe, and a couple of curveballs you’ll secretly love.” Same story with Release Radar. Every Friday, I get a neat bundle of new songs from my favorite artists, plus the occasional “huh?” moment when it decides I might be into Lithuanian techno.
Then there’s the “Liked Songs” playlist, which is basically my musical diary. Every heart I tap adds to it, turning it into a timeline of my listening habits. And if you want to go on a full nostalgia trip, Spotify Wrapped and all those Yearly Top Songs playlists are still some of the best ways to waste an afternoon.
Keeping Recommendations Clean
If you’ve got kids, or a partner with wildly different music tastes, Spotify makes it easy to stop their choices from messing up your algorithm. You can exclude specific playlists from influencing your recommendations, which means I can play Disney soundtracks in the car without being haunted by them in my Discover Weekly.
Extra Features That Keep People Loyal
Spotify Connect still feels like magic; being able to start a song on your phone, then instantly send it to your TV, smart speaker, or even a friend’s device without missing a beat is brilliant. Add in Spotify Tap (one button on compatible headphones to resume your favorite playlist), a huge podcast catalog, and the recent addition of audiobooks for Premium subscribers, and it’s easy to see why so many people stick around.
Where Amazon Music Pulls Ahead
If Spotify is the cool, reliable best friend who always knows what to play at the party, Amazon Music is the quiet neighbor you didn’t realize had a home cinema in their basement… until they invite you over and blow your mind.
Higher-Quality Audio (Without Paying Extra)
This is the big one. Amazon Music offers lossless audio and Ultra HD tracks as part of its standard subscription. No premium add-ons, no “coming soon” announcements. It’s here now, and it’s included.
The difference is instantly noticeable if you have decent headphones or speakers. In my car, tracks from Amazon Music come through louder and cleaner than on Spotify. At home, with a good pair of over-ear headphones (like my favorite Bose headphones), the extra detail in the music is obvious. Bass lines feel tighter, vocals sound more natural, and you can pick out subtle instruments that Spotify’s compression smooths over.
Spotify has been teasing a high-quality “Supremium” tier for years, but as of 2025, we’re still waiting. And even when it arrives, all signs point to it costing extra.
Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio
Amazon’s 3D audio support is another nice surprise. Tracks mixed in Dolby Atmos or Sony’s 360 Reality Audio put you in the middle of the music; instruments and vocals are placed all around you, rather than just left and right. Not every song takes full advantage, but when it works, it’s genuinely immersive.
Better Value for Prime Members
If you’re already paying for Amazon Prime, Amazon Music Unlimited is cheaper. That’s a big plus if you’re in the “why am I paying for another subscription?” stage of life. And for casual listeners, there’s even a decent free tier with Prime (though it’s more like a radio shuffle experience than true on-demand listening).
Massive Library with iTunes Match-Style Uploads
Spotify’s library is huge, but Amazon Music has a clever trick for collectors; you can upload your own music files to your library. That means rare B-sides, live recordings, or even tracks you’ve made yourself can sit alongside your streaming playlists, all in one place.
Where Spotify Still Beats Amazon Music
Yes, Amazon Music wins on raw audio specs. But Spotify is still the undisputed king of music discovery and user experience.
Best-in-Class Recommendations
Spotify’s personalization is still miles ahead. The Discover Weekly playlist is legendary for a reason; it consistently surfaces new artists you’ll actually like, not just whatever is trending. Release Radar is another favorite, delivering fresh tracks from your go-to artists without you having to dig for them.
Amazon Music tries, but its “My Discovery Mix” often feels like it’s guessing. Sometimes it nails it… Other times, it’s like it’s recommending music to a slightly different version of me from an alternate reality.
Curated Playlists That Feel Human
Spotify’s playlists feel like they’re made by people who actually love music, not algorithms. You’ve got mood-based mixes and thousands of themed playlists like “Upside Down” (inspired by Stranger Things), and honestly, half the fun is stumbling across something you didn’t even know you needed. Even the nostalgic Spotify Wrapped each December is a cultural event at this point. Amazon’s equivalent, Amazon Music Delivered, doesn’t quite hit the same way.
Podcast & Audiobook Integration
Spotify is aggressively becoming the one-stop shop for audio. You can jump between your playlists, podcasts, and now even audiobooks in a single app. Amazon technically has podcasts via Audible, but that means a whole separate app, and the experience just isn’t as smooth.
Smarter Multi-Device Playback
Spotify Connect lets you switch between your phone, PC, smart speaker, TV, or even a car head unit, without losing your place in a track or playlist. Amazon Music works with Alexa devices well enough, but outside of the Echo ecosystem, it can feel clunky.
Kid-Proof Listening
One underrated Spotify feature: you can exclude specific songs or playlists from your listening history. That means your kids can binge the Frozen soundtrack in the car without wrecking your recommendations. Amazon doesn’t have an equivalent yet, so brace yourself for a month of Elsa popping up in your workout mix.
Spotify vs Amazon Music: Which Should You Choose in 2025?
The honest trust is that neither service is objectively better for everyone. It really comes down to what you value most in a streaming platform.
If you want the best possible audio quality without paying extra, Amazon Music wins hands down. Lossless and Ultra HD tracks are included, Dolby Atmos is there for the immersive crowd, and if you’re a Prime member, the price is hard to beat. Plus, the ability to upload your own music means your rare bootlegs and personal recordings aren’t left out.
But… if music discovery is your priority, and you want a platform that feels a bit more vibrant, Spotify still takes the crown. Its recommendations are sharper, its curated playlists have personality, and the app experience is unmatched for hopping between music, podcasts, and now audiobooks.
My personal setup? I’ve got the best of both worlds. I use Amazon Music for focused, high-quality listening sessions on good headphones or in the car. And I use Spotify when I’m looking for new music, catching up on podcasts, or just want some background music.
In 2025, there’s no shame in playing both sides. But if you have to pick just one, ask yourself: do you care more about hearing music at its absolute best or finding your next favorite artist? Your answer will tell you exactly which app to open.
