Amazon Prime is a popular subscription service that offers a range of benefits for its members, from fast and free delivery to unlimited streaming of movies, TV shows, music, and more. But how much does it cost to join Amazon Prime, and is it worth it?
In this blog post, we will answer these questions and provide you with a comprehensive overview of the features and perks that come with a Prime membership.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, but there are also discounted plans for students, government assistance recipients, and more.
- Amazon Prime members enjoy fast, free, and flexible delivery options on millions of items, as well as exclusive deals and savings.
- Amazon Prime members also get access to a variety of digital entertainment services, such as Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Gaming, Prime Reading, and more.
- Amazon Prime members can share some of their benefits with other household members through Amazon Household.
- Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial for new members, and you can cancel your membership anytime.
How Much Does Amazon Prime Cost?
The standard price for an Amazon Prime membership is $14.99 per month or $139 per year. However, Amazon also offers several discounted plans for eligible customers:
- Prime Student: If you are enrolled in a two- or four-year college, you can get a Prime Student membership for $7.49 per month or $69 per year. This plan includes all the benefits of a regular Prime membership, plus some additional perks for students, such as exclusive deals, discounts on textbooks, and more.
- Prime Access: If you receive government assistance, such as SNAP EBT or Medicaid, you can get a Prime Access membership for $6.99 per month. This plan includes all the benefits of a regular Prime membership, except for household sharing.
- Prime Video: If you only want to access the streaming service Prime Video, you can get a Prime Video membership for $8.99 per month. This plan does not include any other benefits of a regular Prime membership.
You can also get a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime if you are a new customer. You can cancel your membership anytime during the trial period or after without any penalty.
What Are the Benefits of Amazon Prime?
Amazon Prime offers a wide range of benefits for its members, covering various aspects of shopping, entertainment, and more. Here are some of the main features and perks that you can enjoy as a Prime member:
Fast, Free, and Flexible Delivery
One of the most attractive benefits of Amazon Prime is the fast, free, and flexible delivery options that it provides on millions of items. Depending on your location and the availability of the products, you can choose from different delivery methods to suit your needs:
- Free One-Day Delivery: You can get your order delivered in one business day on over 15 million items.
- Free Same-Day Delivery: You can get your order delivered in as fast as five hours on over 3 million items if you place your order before the cut-off time and meet the minimum threshold of eligible items.
- Free Two-Day Delivery: You can get your order delivered in two business days on millions of items.
- Free No-Rush Delivery: You can opt for a slower delivery option and earn rewards that can be applied to digital purchases, such as e-books, movie rentals, and more.
- Amazon Day: You can shop throughout the week and receive your orders on a single day of your choice.
- Amazon Fresh: You can get fresh groceries delivered to your door with exclusive Prime member discounts and free shipping on orders of $100 at Amazon Fresh stores.
Exclusive Deals and Savings
Another benefit of Amazon Prime is the exclusive deals and savings that it offers to its members. As a Prime member, you can access various discounts and promotions that are not available to non-members:
- Prime Day: You can participate in an annual shopping event that features thousands of deals across categories like fashion, home, toys, electronics, and more.
- Prime Early Access: You can get early access to Lightning Deals on Amazon.com 30 minutes before other customers.
- Prime Exclusive Deals: You can save on thousands of items that are only available to Prime members.
- Whole Foods Market: You can get an extra 10% off select items and other special offers at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide.
- Amazon Pharmacy: You can save up to 80% off generic drugs and 40% off brand-name drugs when paying without insurance at Amazon Pharmacy or other participating pharmacies.
Digital Entertainment Services
Another benefit of Amazon Prime is the digital entertainment services that it provides to its members. As a Prime member, you can access a variety of content and platforms that cater to different interests and preferences:
- Prime Video: You can stream thousands of movies, TV shows, live sports, and original productions on your favorite devices. Some of the popular titles include The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, Coming 2 America, and more.
- Prime Music: You can listen to over 2 million songs and browse Prime Playlists, all ad-free and on-demand. You can also access top podcasts and shuffle play any artist, album, or playlist.
- Prime Gaming: You can enjoy free games, exclusive in-game content, and a free Twitch channel subscription every month. You can also get discounts on select video game pre-orders and new releases.
- Prime Reading: You can read hundreds of books, magazines, comics, and more each month on any device. You can also access Amazon Original Stories, which are short fiction and nonfiction works from bestselling authors and new voices.
- Amazon Photos: You can store unlimited, full-resolution photos and up to 5 GB of videos in the cloud. You can also share your photos with other family members through the Family Vault feature.
Household Sharing
Another benefit of Amazon Prime is the household sharing feature that it offers to its members. As a Prime member, you can share some of your benefits with other members of your household through Amazon Household. You can create an Amazon Household with up to:
- One other adult: You can share your payment methods, Prime benefits, digital content, and more with another adult in your household. You will need to verify your account with a one-time code sent via text message or email.
- Up to four teens (ages 13-17): You can give your teens their own login and the ability to shop on their own. You can also set spending limits and approve their orders before they are placed.
- Up to four children (ages 12 and under): You can manage your children’s profiles and content through Amazon Kids (FreeTime). You can also set parental controls and time limits for their devices.
Is Amazon Prime Worth It?
The answer to this question depends on your personal needs and preferences. However, based on the benefits and costs that we have discussed above, we can say that Amazon Prime is worth it for most customers who shop online frequently, enjoy digital entertainment, and want to save money on various products and services.
To help you decide whether Amazon Prime is worth it for you, you can ask yourself the following questions:
- How often do you shop online and how much do you spend on shipping?
- How much do you value fast, free, and flexible delivery options?
- How much do you use or would like to use digital entertainment services such as streaming movies, TV shows, music, games, books, and more?
- How much do you save or would like to save on exclusive deals and discounts on various products and services?
- How many people in your household would benefit from sharing your Prime benefits?
If you answer positively to most of these questions, then Amazon Prime is likely worth it for you. However, if you are still unsure or want to try it out before committing to a membership fee, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime and see for yourself how it works for you.
Conclusion
Amazon Prime is a subscription service that offers a range of benefits for its members, from fast and free delivery to unlimited streaming of movies, TV shows, music, and more.
The cost of an Amazon Prime membership is $14.99 per month or $139 per year, but there are also discounted plans for students, government assistance recipients, and more. Amazon Prime also offers a 30-day free trial for new customers.
If you are looking for a convenient, simple, and fun way to shop online and enjoy digital entertainment, Amazon Prime might be the right choice for you.