An Amazon Prime subscription has become commonplace in many homes, with roughly 157.4 million members in the United States. Over time, the cost of Prime has increased, now reaching up to $180 annually ($139 for the yearly plan).
Prime bundles a large assortment of perks, but whether it’s a good value depends on how much you use its offerings. Below, we break down the membership fee and the features included so you can decide if Amazon Prime is a sensible fit for you and your household.
What Is Amazon Prime?
Amazon, the global e-commerce leader, provides customers with extra perks and deals through a subscription program called Amazon Prime.
When Prime debuted in 2005, its main selling point was free two-day shipping. Since then, the program has grown to encompass a wide range of additional services.
As we review Amazon Prime, we’ll examine each included perk and service so you can judge whether a subscription makes sense for you and your family.
How Much Does Amazon Prime Cost?
Amazon Prime runs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, and new users can try Prime with a 30-day free trial before committing. People who canceled their membership and haven’t been subscribers for at least 12 months may also qualify for a one-month free trial.
Students and those on qualifying government assistance programs can get Prime at half price through Amazon’s discount offerings. College students also receive a longer six-month free trial before billing begins.
If you’re on eligible government aid such as SNAP or Medicaid, you’ll be asked to upload a photo of your EBT card or an eligibility letter to Amazon.
What Benefits Come With Amazon Prime?
Prime started as a simple subscription offering two-day shipping. Today, it includes a wide array of benefits, from expedited delivery to a streaming library and complimentary Kindle content.
Below are the features you can access as a Prime member.
Prime Delivery
Amazon still promotes Prime’s fast, free delivery, which has been a core benefit since the beginning; however, the delivery options have expanded substantially.
Prime now provides free one-day shipping on over 15 million items. For even quicker service, select products are eligible for free same-day delivery in certain U.S. metro areas.
Subscribers also gain access to free two-hour grocery delivery through Amazon Fresh in participating cities. If you’re not home, Amazon can leave orders in your garage with Amazon Key or place them in a local pickup locker for added security.
Prime Video and Music
Prime members get complimentary access to Prime Video and Prime Music, putting entertainment at your fingertips.
Prime Video works on computers and popular streaming devices, offering more than 26,000 films and 2,700 TV series. Notable titles available on Prime Video include “The Peripheral,” “The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power,” “The Boys” and “Thursday Night Football.”
For music lovers, Prime Music hosts over 100 million ad-free tracks and allows offline listening — handy for long trips or flights.
Prime Gaming
If gaming is your thing, Prime Gaming delivers monthly perks like free in-game items and no-cost PC games.
Recent Prime Gaming content has included bonuses for Lineage II, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, Apex Legends, League of Legends and Pokémon GO.
On the free games front, Amazon has offered downloads such as Fallout 76: The Pitt, Hero’s Hour, Horace, Total War: Warhammer II and Middle-earth: Shadow of War.
Additionally, Prime members receive a complimentary Twitch channel subscription each month, a nice way to support streamers while unlocking exclusive extras.
Prime Reading
Readers who enjoy Kindle books will appreciate Prime Reading. It provides a rotating collection of ebooks and audiobooks at no extra charge — essentially free reading material.
Each month, members can pick one free pre-release ebook from a curated list of editor selections, letting you access new titles before they’re generally available.
Prime Reading also includes access to magazines and comic books.
Amazon Photos
If your phone holds hundreds or thousands of pictures that aren’t backed up, consider Amazon Photos. Prime members get unlimited photo storage and 5GB for video at no extra cost.
The Amazon Photos app on iOS and Android can automatically back up full-resolution photos and videos. Once saved, your media is protected if your device is lost or damaged.
Amazon Photos can sync across smart devices like Echo Show and Fire TV for use as personalized screensavers. You’ll also get free shipping on orders if you choose to print your photos.
Prime Try Before You Buy
A newer Prime feature is Try Before You Buy, designed for shoppers who like to try clothing before paying. The program lets you order items, test them at home, and return what you don’t want at no charge.
Members can select up to six pieces through the Try Before You Buy program. Items are shipped to you, and you have seven days to try them on before being billed for what you keep.
If something doesn’t work out, Amazon provides several return methods.
Prime Discounts and Deals
A Prime membership includes member-only deals. Amazon runs exclusive sales throughout the year for subscribers, so check the savings page if you join.
One standout event is Prime Day, an annual shopping event similar to Black Friday that typically lands in late spring or early summer.
Prime Day usually features steep discounts across many product categories, including Amazon’s own devices like Fire TV, Echo, Kindles, Fire tablets and Blink security gear.
Other member benefits include Rx Savings, which helps you compare prescription prices across pharmacies, and a free one-year Grubhub+ subscription.
Is Amazon Prime Worth the Price?
There’s no single answer to whether Amazon Prime is worthwhile for you and your household. A good starting point is to tally how many Prime perks you actually use.
If you rely on fast shipping often, the savings on delivery fees can add up quickly; frequent shoppers who order multiple times a month may find the monthly cost justified by next-day or same-day shipping.
Many standalone streaming services cost around $10 monthly (with Netflix topping out higher), so the Prime monthly rate may be a bargain just for access to Prime Video and Prime Music.
If you’re already a member, make sure you’re aware of and using all included services — you might be missing useful features like Amazon Photos backup or Try Before You Buy.
Ultimately, you can cancel Prime and gauge how much you miss it; your personal usage determines its true value.
Is the Amazon Prime Card Worth It?
Amazon offers a Prime Rewards Visa Signature card to eligible members. Among its perks are 5% back on purchases at Amazon.com and Amazon physical stores (Prime membership required), plus rewards at other merchants.
You’ll earn 2% back on restaurant, gas station and pharmacy purchases with the Prime card, and 1% on other spending. Prime cardholders can also receive 10% back or more on rotating selections of items and categories on Amazon.com.
For frequent Amazon shoppers, the Prime card’s rewards could make it a worthwhile addition. Before applying, review guidance on credit card rewards to ensure you maximize any benefits from a Prime card.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
An Amazon Prime membership unlocks a variety of discounts and conveniences, including free same-day, one-day and two-day shipping on millions of items, as well as access to services like Prime Video, Prime Music and Amazon Photos.
Yes — an Amazon Prime subscription includes a streaming platform, Prime Video. Which service is better depends on your personal tastes and the content you prefer.
Netflix features exclusives such as “Stranger Things,” “13 Reasons Why,” “Peaky Blinders,” “Ozark” and “The Umbrella Academy.”
Amazon Prime, meanwhile, hosts shows like “Good Omens,” “Bosch,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”
Prime has grown pricier over the years, yet its collection of benefits has expanded as well.
It’s no longer just about two-day shipping; Prime now includes thousands of free movies, TV shows, books, magazines, comics and more.
Jordan Hayes is a senior writer specializing in technology at Savinly.
