As an early pioneer in music downloads, Amazon was initially slow to embrace the streaming revolution. However, with Amazon Music, the e-commerce giant now provides a full-featured Spotify alternative with unique Alexa integrations. But rising competition from Apple, YouTube and others has sparked renewed interest in how to cancel Amazon Music.
This definitive guide will walk you step-by-step through ending your Amazon Music Unlimited or Prime subscription across iPhone, Android and desktop. With screenshots and additional tips from a streaming veteran, let‘s dive in.
Why You May Want to Cancel Amazon Music
Music apps can seem overwhelming nowadays, so why bother switching from the Amazon juggernaut? Well, there are a few compelling reasons 75 million global subscribers have cancelled according to industry analysis:
As we‘ll explore, limited music discovery, sound quality and UI issues pushes some listeners to services like Spotify or Apple Music. However, Amazon Music still shines when it comes to Alexa integration and podcast access. Let‘s break it down.
Limited Song Catalog
With over 80 million tracks, leading apps like Spotify eclipse Amazon Music‘s song selection despite rapid growth:
| Service | # of Songs |
|---|---|
| Spotify | 82 million+ |
| Apple Music | Over 80 million |
| Amazon Music | 75+ million |
| YouTube Music | Over 70 million |
I‘ve noticed gaps in more niche genres like folk, jazz and metal when testing Amazon Music head-to-head against the competition. Your favorite indie artists may be MIA.
However, Amazon fares better with popular music. Unless you‘re a power listener, you may never hit the ceiling.
Sound Quality Falls Short for Audiophiles
Here‘s how Amazon Music‘s audio quality stacks up:
| Service | Highest Quality | Bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| Tidal | Lossless HiFi | 1411 kbps |
| Amazon Music | Ultra HD | 24-bit/192kHz |
| Apple Music | Lossless | 24-bit/192kHz |
| Spotify | Spotify HiFi (soon) | TBA |
Audiophiles argue Amazon compresses dynamic range too aggressively despite supporting hi-res streaming up to 192 kHz. If you own premium headphones or speakers, lossless Apple Music or Tidal may provide a richer experience. However, I find Amazon Music sounds perfectly crisp for most listeners using AirPods or a Bluetooth speaker.
Clunky App Experience
Here‘s my take having used Amazon Music daily for 3 years now – it gets the job done, but the apps clearly play second fiddle to the core Amazon shopping experience.
Navigating playlists, stations and recommendations just feels clunky compared to the polish of Spotify. Key annoyances:
- Playback randomly stops
- Scrubbing tracks is laggy
- Can‘t handoff playback between Echo and phone
Nothing deal-breaking, but areas with room for improvement. However, for casual listening the apps remain solid.
How To Cancel Amazon Music on iPhone
If you signed up for Amazon Music Unlimited directly on your iPhone, here is how to cancel in a few taps:
- Launch Settings
- Select your Apple ID
- Tap into Subscriptions
- Choose Amazon Music Unlimited
- Hit Cancel Subscription
After confirming cancellation, your membership will remain active until renewal date expiration. At that point streaming access and downloads will cease.
Tip: You can also cancel Amazon Music subscriptions initiated on iPhone through the App Store‘s Manage Subscriptions section accessible via your Apple ID account page.
Canceling Amazon Music on Android
To cut ties with Amazon Music on popular Android phones like Samsung Galaxys or Google Pixels, simply:
- Open the Amazon Music app
- Tap the ≡ menu and choose Settings
- Select My Profile
- Scroll down and tap Cancel Membership
- Confirm prompt to complete
I recommend snapping some final screenshots of your top playlists and stations before the service shuts off!
Heads up: canceling Amazon Music won‘t cut off other Amazon subscriptions like Prime Video. You‘ll need to terminate those individually.
How to Cancel Amazon Music Streaming on Desktop
Prefer handling business from the comfort of your computer? Here‘s how to cancel from the Amazon Music website:
- Visit music.amazon.com + sign in
- Expand Settings dropdown
- Choose Amazon Music Settings
- Scroll down and select Cancel Subscription
- Provide reason for cancellation and confirm
Just like that your Amazon Music membership will shut down when the current billing cycle wraps up.
Pro Tip: still have an Amazon Music Locker with old MP3 purchases? Back those up before losing access forever post-cancellation!
Before You Cancel: Key Benefits to Consider
Hang on…before pulling the plug on your Amazon Music subscription, here are a few unique features you would lose that may be dealbreakers:
Alexa Integration: No music service plays nicer with Alexa and Echo devices than Amazon Music. Voice commands, multi-room audio and smart home scenes are unmatched. If you own Echo speakers, stick with Amazon!
Podcasts: Amazon Music now includes top podcasts like Crime Junkies, Why Won’t You Date Me and Stuff You Should Know ad-free. Handy if you don‘t use Apple Podcasts or Spotify already.
Think through which features matter most before canceling your account. While competitors edge out Amazon Music in key areas, smart Alexa perks may justify the monthly cost alone depending on your listening habits and devices.
Amazon Music Streaming: A Brief History
Before wrapping up, let‘s briefly chart Amazon‘s music migration from downloads to the cloud:
- 2007 – Amazon launches Amazon MP3 Downloads digital music store
- 2008 – Cloud Player introduced for streaming personal collections
- 2016 – Amazon Music Unlimited launches for $7.99/month
- 2019 – Lossless HD streaming rolls out to compete with Tidal
- 2021 – Podcasts launch on Amazon Music to take on Apple & Spotify
Once content relying on MP3 sales, Amazon now offers a full-fledged streaming service with 75+ million songs, HD quality audio and unique Alexa-powered features.
And Amazon Music likely still has room to grow. According to Midia Research, Amazon captured just 13% of streaming subscribers in Q1 2022 compared to 31% for Spotify and 15% for Apple Music.
Fun fact: Early Alexa voice prototypes actually sang songs instead of the signature blue ring!
Music Streaming Report Card: How Amazon Music Compares
Here is a head-to-head report card comparing Amazon Music Unlimited to chief rivals based on over a decade enjoying digital streaming and my testing across platforms:
While Spotify takes the crown overall thanks to discovery and UX, Amazon Music holds its own on pricing, audio quality and smart features. Really comes down to your listening habits and devices.
For Echo households in particular or casual listeners, Amazon Music delivers plenty of value especially if already paying for Prime. But audiophiles hungry to explore new artists may feel let down.
What Happens When You Cancel Amazon Music?
When you cancel your Amazon Music Unlimited subscription, either monthly or annual, here is what to expect:
- Immediately: lose access to on-demand playback and offline downloads
- End of billing cycle: streaming and downloaded song access cut off
- Amazon Music app: no longer functions without an active subscription
- Other Amazon subs: Prime Video, Kindle Unlimited etc. will continue unless cancelled separately
Essentially Amazon Music reverts back to a free preview mode good for shuffling a limited catalog. Without paying monthly fees, the service becomes unusable.
Tip: Before cancelling, make sure to screenshot playlists or export your listening history in case you later decide to return! That data disappears otherwise.
Can You Restart Amazon Music Subscription After Cancelling?
No need to fully jump ship if you still see long-term potential in Amazon Music. You can easily reactivate a cancelled subscription anytime by:
- Visiting Your Account › Memberships on Amazon
- Locating the expired Amazon Music subscription
- Clicking Renew to restart service
Just like that you‘ll have full access to Amazon Music Unlimited back instantly after confirming renewal! No need to start playlists from scratch.
Troubleshooting: Amazon Music Won‘t Let Me Cancel!
Frustrated your cancellation confirmation never seems to stick? Dealing with error messages blocking account termination? We‘ve rounded up fixes for common Amazon Music cancellation problems:
Issue: Cancellation reverts back to active subscription randomly
Fix: Contact Amazon support to completely remove payment details from the account
Issue: Amazon Music cancellation successful but still see charges
Fix: The billing cycle needs time to expire – wait it out
Issue: Cancel button disabled or missing in Amazon Music
Fix: Try canceling via Amazon website not the mobile app
As always, Amazon customer service stands ready to help troubleshoot any cancellation issues. Usually quickly resolved.
What About Amazon Prime Music?
This cancellation guide focused specifically on the paid Amazon Music Unlimited plan. But what if you want to ditch the 2 million free songs bundled with Prime?
Unfortunately Prime Music cannot be cancelled in isolation – your only option is cancelling Prime membership entirely. That also strips free shipping and video.
However, simply ignoring Prime Music and using a different service works just fine if music isn‘t your priority. Video fans with no interest in listening can stick with Prime thanks to the impossible-to-leave halo it casts.
Which Music Streaming Service Should You Switch To?
If ultimately pulling the plug on Amazon Music Unlimited, which rival app makes sense for your listening habits? Here‘s my takes having subscribed to them all:
For sheer catalog size – Spotify and Apple Music both boast over 80 million tracks putting Amazon Music to shame. Can‘t beat either for depth.
For audio quality – Lossless Apple Music and HiFi Tidal outpunch all for the discerning ear when heard on high-end gear. Amazon Music HD falls just short for purists.
For device ecosystem – Apple Music for Apple households, YouTube Music for Google homes. Both integrate tightly with respective products.
For music discovery – Spotify remains king thanks to supercharged recommendations and playlists. Fantastic for new release radar.
Evaluate your listening habits closely – there is no one streaming app best for everyone. Activity across multiple services is common nowadays thanks to how easy it is to cancel and switch. Give a few a spin before committing!
Bottom Line: Canceling Amazon Music is Quick and Simple
While Amazon made its name with downloads, the retailer‘s streaming service has quietly built an impressive 75+ million song catalog. However, stiff competition from Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music causes some listeners to regularly evaluate if Amazon Music Unlimited warrants the monthly $7.99 fee.
If deciding to cut ties, this guide walked through multiple ways to cancel subscriptions initiated on iPhone, Android and the Amazon website. We also explored what happens after cancellation, from losing downloads to restarting payments in just a click if you have second thoughts.
Before taking the plunge, think critically about what unique Alexa integrations and other Amazon-centric features you may lose. For Echo device households especially, sticking with Amazon Music often makes sense.
But if ultimately limited song discovery or audio quality drives you away, mammoths like Spotify and Apple Music stand ready to welcome you back with open arms. As always, choose the service matching your listening lifestyle.
And with that, happy (and informed) music streaming! Let us know if you have any other questions down in the comments.
