Amazon Music as a Podcast App: Full Review

Amazon Music added podcast support in 2020, and for Prime subscribers, it's an interesting option. But does it compete with dedicated podcast apps?

Overview

Amazon Music bundles podcasts alongside music and audiobooks. If you're already paying for Prime, you get access to everything at no extra cost. The podcast library is comprehensive, with most major shows available.

Key Features

• Included with Prime — no additional subscription needed
• Alexa integration — seamless handoff to Echo and smart speakers
• Combined library — music, podcasts, and audiobooks
• Offline downloads — download episodes for offline listening
• Cross-platform — available on iOS, Android, web, Fire tablets, and Echo devices

What's Good

The Alexa integration is Amazon Music's unique advantage. You can start a podcast on your phone and seamlessly continue on an Echo speaker, or ask Alexa to play specific shows hands-free. For households with multiple Echo devices, this creates a genuinely useful multi-room podcast experience.

The app is also included with Prime at no extra cost, which makes it the cheapest option for Prime subscribers.

What Could Be Better

The podcast-specific features lag behind dedicated apps. Queue management is basic, there's no smart speed or silence trimming, and the interface sometimes prioritises music over podcasts. Discovery is mediocre — you'll find popular shows easily but niche content can be harder to surface.

Who It's For

Amazon Music makes the most sense for Prime subscribers who use Alexa devices regularly. If you're already in the Amazon ecosystem, it's a convenient way to access podcasts without installing another app.

Verdict

Good for: Prime subscribers, Alexa/Echo users, casual listeners. Not ideal for: power users, detailed playback controls, podcast-first listeners.