If you’ve been eyeing SiriusXM’s vast content library while enjoying your Amazon Prime benefits, you might be wondering if these two popular services have any crossover. Let’s cut straight to the chase and explore whether your Prime membership includes SiriusXM or if you’ll need to reach for your wallet.
The Direct Answer: SiriusXM is Not Free with Amazon Prime
Despite what you might have hoped, SiriusXM is not included as a complimentary service with your Amazon Prime membership. The two services operate completely independently, with SiriusXM requiring its own separate subscription regardless of whether you’re a Prime member or not.
When you see SiriusXM working with Amazon devices, that’s purely a technical integration rather than a bundled service. As SiriusXM clearly states, their “Subscription [is] sold separately” when using their service on Amazon devices.
How SiriusXM and Amazon Actually Work Together
Device Integration Without Service Bundling
SiriusXM has created seamless compatibility with Amazon’s ecosystem, but this doesn’t translate to free access. You can use SiriusXM on your Amazon devices in these ways:
- Stream through Alexa-enabled speakers
- Watch SiriusXM video content on Fire TV
- Access your SiriusXM subscription via the Amazon Alexa app
To get started with this integration, you’ll need to enable the SiriusXM skill in your Alexa app. Just head to Skills & Games in the menu, search for SiriusXM, and enable it. But remember—you’ll still need an active SiriusXM subscription to actually use the service.
Past Limited-Time Promotions You Might Have Heard About
Temporary Collaborations Between the Companies
The confusion around SiriusXM and Amazon Prime might stem from previous promotions that temporarily linked the services. For example, in 2018, Amazon device owners could get three months of free SiriusXM service through a special limited-time offer.
More recently, other promotions have surfaced, like a deal offering Platinum service for $5 per month along with a free Echo Dot. These marketing collaborations create temporary crossover between the brands but don’t represent a permanent bundling of services.
Current SiriusXM Subscription Options and Trials
Free Trial Opportunities
If you’re interested in trying SiriusXM without committing financially, they do offer several trial options:
Trial Type | Duration | Requirements | What’s Included |
---|---|---|---|
Standard Vehicle Trial | 3 months | Eligible vehicles, no credit card needed | In-car and app access |
Vehicle Service Contract | 3 months | Purchase of eligible service contract | SiriusXM Platinum Plan |
Promotional Trials | Varies | Typically requires registration | Full service access |
Regular Subscription Pricing
After your trial ends, you’ll need to choose from SiriusXM’s regular subscription options:
Plan Type | Promotional Rate | Regular Rate | Features |
---|---|---|---|
Basic Plans | Starting ~$8/month | $16.99+ | Limited channel selection, single-device streaming |
Platinum Plan | ~$8.25/month promo rate | $21.99 after promo | Full channel access, multi-device streaming |
These rates fluctuate based on current promotions, but they always represent a separate cost from your Amazon Prime membership.
What SiriusXM Actually Offers
Content Variety
For those considering a subscription, SiriusXM provides:
- Ad-free music channels organized by genre and era
- Artist-dedicated stations
- Live sports coverage including NFL, MLB, NBA and more
- Talk shows with celebrity hosts
- Comedy channels
- News from various political perspectives
- Original and third-party podcasts
How You Can Listen
With a SiriusXM subscription, you can access content through:
- Traditional in-car satellite radio
- Mobile phones via the SiriusXM app
- Web browsers for online streaming
- Amazon Alexa devices (with separate subscription)
- Smart TVs
- Gaming consoles including PlayStation
- Streaming devices like Roku
Why the Confusion Exists
The misconception that SiriusXM might be included with Amazon Prime likely stems from several factors:
- The prominent integration between SiriusXM and Amazon devices
- Past promotional collaborations between the companies
- Amazon Prime’s history of expanding its included media services
- Both being subscription services focused on digital content
However, unlike Prime Video or Amazon Music Prime (which offers a limited music library), SiriusXM remains a completely separate service with its own business model.
Alternatives Within Your Amazon Prime Benefits
While SiriusXM isn’t included, your Amazon Prime membership does include several audio and entertainment options:
- Amazon Music Prime: Basic music streaming with about 2 million songs
- Prime Video: Thousands of movies and TV shows
- Amazon Original Podcasts: Growing collection of exclusive podcasts
These services might partially overlap with what SiriusXM offers, potentially reducing the need for an additional subscription depending on your listening preferences.
The Bottom Line: Separate Services, Separate Costs
Despite their technical compatibility, SiriusXM and Amazon Prime remain independent subscription services. Your Prime membership fee goes toward Amazon’s suite of benefits, while SiriusXM requires its own payment arrangement directly with SiriusXM.
If you’re interested in SiriusXM, your best bet is to look for one of their frequent promotional offers or free trials rather than expecting it as part of your Prime benefits. And if you own Amazon devices, you can enjoy a better SiriusXM experience through the integration—just remember you’ll need both subscriptions to make it work.