I listen to music all the time — in the car, while cleaning, when I’m cooking, and sometimes just because the house feels too quiet. That’s why Amazon Music Unlimited Canada caught my attention.
So a music subscription is one of those things that can actually get used every single day.
If you already shop on Amazon or have Prime, you may have noticed Amazon Music and wondered: Do I already have this with Prime? And what exactly is Music Unlimited?
I wondered the same thing.
The two aren’t quite the same, and Amazon Music Unlimited has a few extras that make it much more interesting — especially now that audiobooks are included too.
Here are five things worth knowing before you sign up.
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What Is Amazon Music Unlimited Canada?
Amazon Music Unlimited is Amazon’s full music subscription service.
You can listen to millions of songs on demand and ad-free, along with top podcasts. It also includes HD and Spatial Audio for supported music and devices.
And there’s a newer perk that caught my attention: Audible is now included.
Music Unlimited subscribers can listen to one audiobook from Audible each month as part of the subscription.
At the time of writing, Amazon Canada is offering eligible new subscribers a 30-day free trial, with plans starting at $11.54 per month plus applicable taxes after the trial.
As always, prices and promotions can change, so check the current offer before signing up.
Check current Amazon Music Unlimited Canada plans and offers
1. Play the Music You Actually Want
This sounds obvious, but it’s one of the biggest differences between Prime Music and Music Unlimited.
Amazon Prime already includes access to millions of songs and top podcasts without ads. But Amazon describes Prime Music as letting members shuffle play artists, albums and playlists.
Music Unlimited is designed for on-demand listening.
So if I want a particular song, I want to tap that song and hear it — not cross my fingers and wait for shuffle to get there.
For someone who listens to music occasionally, Prime Music may already be enough.
But if music is playing throughout your day and you like choosing exactly what you hear, Unlimited starts making more sense.
2. Great for Driving, Working Out and Cleaning
This is probably where I’d use it most.
Driving somewhere? Put on your favourite playlist.
Going for a walk? Grab your headphones.
Cleaning the kitchen? Suddenly it’s slightly less annoying with good music playing. 😄
Because Music Unlimited gives you on-demand access without ads interrupting your music, it works especially well for the routines where you just want to press play and keep going.
It’s a small thing, but when you use something every day, convenience matters.
3. Better Sound With HD and Spatial Audio
If you care about sound quality, this is another reason to look at Unlimited.
Amazon Music Unlimited currently includes HD and Spatial Audio as part of the service.
You don’t need to understand all the technical details to appreciate the idea.
HD is about higher-quality audio, while Spatial Audio is designed to give compatible recordings a more immersive feeling.
Of course, what you actually hear depends on the song, your device and the headphones or speakers you’re using.
If you mostly play music quietly through your phone speaker, this may not be the feature that convinces you. But with decent headphones or speakers, it’s definitely something worth trying.
4. You Get an Audible Audiobook Every Month
This one surprised me.
Amazon Music Unlimited now includes access to one Audible audiobook each month. Amazon says subscribers can choose from Audible’s large audiobook catalogue.
That makes the subscription more interesting if you like both music and books.
You could listen to music while driving to work, play a podcast while making dinner, and switch to an audiobook on a longer drive — all through the same subscription.
If you were already thinking about trying audiobooks, this perk adds quite a bit of value.
And if you want to know more about Audible itself, I have a separate beginner-friendly guide to Audible Canada.
5. Try It Before You Decide
Subscriptions are easy to sign up for. The harder question is whether you’ll actually use them enough to justify another monthly bill.
That’s why I like having a trial first.
At the time of writing, eligible new Amazon Music Unlimited customers in Canada can try the service free for 30 days. After the trial, the subscription continues at the applicable monthly price unless cancelled.
A month is plenty of time to answer the important questions:
Do I actually use it in the car?
Do I like the playlists?
Can I hear a difference with the audio quality?
Will I use the audiobook benefit?
If the answer is mostly yes, keeping it might make sense. If not, at least you found out before paying for months of something you barely open.
Prime Music vs. Amazon Music Unlimited
This is probably the easiest way to decide:
| Prime Music | Music Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|
| Included with Prime | Yes | Separate subscription |
| Ad-free music | Yes | Yes |
| Millions of songs | Yes | Yes |
| Artist/album/playlist playback | Shuffle-based | On demand |
| HD & Spatial Audio | — | Yes |
| Audible audiobook each month | — | Yes |
| Best for | Casual listening | Frequent music listeners |
Prime Music is actually pretty generous if you already pay for Prime and just want something playing in the background. Amazon currently advertises millions of songs, ad-free top podcasts and shuffle playback as part of the Prime membership.
So I wouldn’t automatically pay for Unlimited just because it exists.
The upgrade makes more sense if you want control over exactly what you play, care about the additional audio features, or will actually use that monthly Audible audiobook.
Is Amazon Music Unlimited Worth It in Canada?
For a casual listener who already has Prime, I’d try Prime Music first.
Why pay for something extra if what you already have does the job?
But if you listen every day, want to choose exactly what plays, care about sound quality, or like the idea of getting an audiobook each month, Amazon Music Unlimited becomes a much more interesting deal.
And because there’s currently a 30-day free trial for eligible new subscribers, you don’t really have to guess.
Try it during your normal routine.
Use it in the car. Put it on while cleaning. Try the audiobook. Listen with your favourite headphones.
Then decide whether it actually earned a place in your monthly subscriptions.
FAQ
How much is Amazon Music Unlimited in Canada?
At the time of writing, Amazon Canada lists Music Unlimited plans starting at $11.54/month plus applicable taxes after the free trial. Offers and prices can change, so check Amazon before subscribing.
Is Amazon Music free with Prime in Canada?
Amazon Prime includes Prime Music at no additional charge. It provides millions of songs and top podcasts ad-free, but it is not the same service as Amazon Music Unlimited.
Does Amazon Music Unlimited include Audible?
Yes. Amazon currently says Music Unlimited includes one audiobook from Audible each month.
Does Amazon Music Unlimited have a free trial in Canada?
At the time of writing, Amazon Canada advertises a 30-day free trial for eligible customers.
Can I listen to podcasts on Amazon Music?
Yes. Amazon Music includes podcasts, and Amazon currently promotes top podcasts without ads as part of Music Unlimited.