Home

 › 

Articles

 › 

How to Connect Spotify to Alexa in 5 Steps

spotify icon on dark smartphone screen

How to Connect Spotify to Alexa in 5 Steps

Alexa and the Amazon Echo make for a pretty potent combo in the house. They can handle things like ordering items, listening to music, and your favorite audiobooks. While Amazon Music doesn’t always have everything we look for, it integrates smoothly with Spotify.

The setup is easy, requiring only your smartphone and two apps. Of course, you’ll also need an Amazon account with Alexa, and the Echo registered and a Spotify account. Free or premium membership doesn’t make a difference for Spotify; connecting it to Alexa has the same steps.

If this is your first time connecting an external app to Alexa, follow these five easy steps to enjoy your music anywhere in the home.

Step 1: Download Spotify and Alexa Apps

Make sure you download both apps to your phone first.

Spotify and Alexa are available in the Google Play and Apple App Stores, respectively, and are absolutely necessary for this step.

Step 2: Open Alexa App and Open Settings

Open the Alexa app, then navigate to the menu selection on the bottom right labeled More.

From here, you’ll enter into settings containing the next step’s location.

Step 3: Settings and Connection

Select Music & Podcasts, and under the Autoplay settings will be the option to link a new service.

Select link a new service and scroll to Spotify. From here, you will be asked to log in to your Spotify account.

You will need a Spotify account. Premium plans are available, but the sign-up for Spotify is free and gives access to more music than some of the offerings on Amazon Music.

Step 4: Confirm Connection

Once logged in, Spotify should be working with Alexa.

Issue a command, but add “on Spotify” to your request. The next step is optional but will make Spotify the default for playing music.

Step 5: Set Spotify As Default Choice

This will make music first play on Spotify unless you specify to play on Amazon Music.

Return to the Music & Podcasts selection under settings, and from here, you’ll want to tap the selection asking to choose your default music services. Under this section, select Spotify and tap done. You’ll still need to specify to play on Spotify for selecting podcasts and audiobooks.

Learn the step-by-step process of connecting Spotify to Alexa for a seamless music experience. Discover how to set it up and start jamming to your playlists in no time by checking out this informative video!

Spotify or Amazon Music?

Why would you want to use a different music streaming service? Amazon Music does have tight integration with the other Amazon services and comes configured on Alexa already. Spotify has been on the market for much longer and has a massive song selection.

Price-wise, Spotify is more affordable Premium coming in at $9.99 a month and Amazon Music coming in at $14.99 a month. Spotify has some exclusives with podcasts and the like, with the parent company securing exclusive streaming rights for specific podcasts in the last couple of years.

There is potential for bundled deals on monthly subscriptions if you are a Prime Subscriber, which can make Amazon Music more affordable overall.

If you are a podcast buff or a music addict, Spotify presents a better choice. Plus, it has a broader selection, and some features exclusive to the platform.

What About Other Services?

Alexa can integrate various music streaming services beyond just Spotify and Amazon Music. Apple Music, Tidal, Pandora, Deezer, iHeartRadio, and SiriusXM are just some of the many services Alexa can use for listeners. Getting Alexa to use these services typically follows the same steps as using Spotify. You’ll have to log into your account and the accompanying app to get things rolling.

These services have their own pros and cons. Services like Pandora and iHeartRadio have free tiers, so you can listen to local radio stations or custom streaming stations if you don’t mind ads. Apple Music also presents an attractive alternative if you’re an iPhone user, but the streaming library present isn’t quite as wide as Spotify’s.

Spotify Benefits

As the streaming service of choice for many people, Spotify does have some distinct advantages over its competitors. Since 2020, the audio streaming giant has been offering exclusive contracts to some notable podcasts. They feature popular podcasts from Michelle Obama, Joe Rogan, Warner Brothers, DC Comics, Heavyweight, and many more.

Podcast fans won’t be disappointed with the service as it covers entertainment, sports, true crime, and general talk. Music has always been a center point of Spotify, and the catalog here shows just how dominant they are. Premium members can enjoy ad-free listening, downloading music, and unlimited skips on radio stations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Alexa support Spotify?

Yes, Alexa supports a variety of music and audio streaming services, and Spotify is easy to link up to your Echo. It isn’t a complicated process, but it does require you to have an Amazon and Spotify account.

Does Alexa play podcasts in addition to music?

Alexa offers support for audiobooks, podcasts, and music. If you can listen to it online, you can listen to it through your Amazon Echo. You can also stream audio from your smartphone or tablet to an Amazon Echo on your home network.

Is Spotify the best service to use with Alexa?

For the sheer amount of content on offer, yes, Spotify is probably the best choice. Amazon Music does have a good amount of stuff, but Spotify has exclusive rights to some major podcasts and offers a better premium experience for less expensive monthly costs.

Can I remove my Spotify account from Alexa?

Yes, no accounts added to your Alexa app is a permanent addition.

How much does Spotify Premium cost?

Spotify Premium starts at $9.99 for individual plans, for two accounts this jumps up to $12.99, and finally family plans with six accounts are $15.99 a month. Additionally, students with proof of attendance get a special discount individual plan for $4.99 a month that includes access to Hulu, Showtime, and all the perks of Spotify Premium.

To top