What Is Amazon Prime?

Amazon Prime is a membership program offered by the popular online retailer Amazon.com. Prime members receive free two-day shipping, and access to streaming services for music, videos, books, audiobooks, and a lot more. We break down the service's benefits so you can decide if it's best for you.

Amazon Prime Basics: How Much Does It Cost?

Amazon’s Prime membership begins with a free 30-day trial, after which members pay a monthly or discounted annual fee.

Starting February 2022, it costs $139 for the yearly membership or $14.99/month for a monthly membership. There is also an Amazon Prime Student membership option for college students with an email address ending with .edu. That costs about half the price of the standard Amazon Prime member ($7.49 per month or $69 per year after a free six-month trial).

On the standard plan, members have a chance to test out many of the features of the Prime membership, including free two-day shipping on eligible items and early access to Amazon Lightning Deals, during the 30-day trial. Paying for the membership grants access to the complete services, benefits, features, and add-on options.

So, what exactly does Amazon Prime include?

Amazon Prime Benefits: Shipping

The flagship feature—and most often mentioned benefit—of an Amazon Prime membership is the savings on shipping.

• Free Two-Day Shipping: Members automatically get free two-day shipping on most items and orders. In cases where an item isn't available for two-day shipping, it still ships free but may take a day or two longer.
• Free Same-Day Delivery: Members who live in an eligible zip code, typically those near an Amazon warehouse or fulfillment center, can opt for free same-day delivery of their order.
• Free Release-Date Delivery: Members who pre-order an eligible item ahead of the release date, such as a video game, receive guaranteed delivery of the item on the actual release date.
• Prime Now: Members who live in select cities and zip codes where Prime Now service is available can receive free delivery in two hours or less (or, if preferred, a specially selected delivery time). Members can use this option for thousands of items, such as pet care needs, electronics, food, gifts, and even delivery from local stores and restaurants.
• Use of Amazon Locker and Amazon Hub: This is a safe place to hold items when you don't want packages left unattended at your home or office after they're delivered. 

Amazon Prime Benefits: Shopping

The second most-mentioned benefit of the Amazon Prime membership is exclusive shopping perks reserved for Prime members.

• Prime Early Access: Members can access Amazon Lightning Deals 30 minutes before everyone else.
• Amazon Elements: Members get exclusive access to Amazon's private line of essential everyday products, developed with a focus on top-quality ingredients and full disclosure of ingredients used. Initial products include vitamin and mineral supplements and baby wipes, with additional products in development.

Amazon Prime Benefits: Listening

Amazon Prime members have free access to some audio services for music and audiobooks.

• Prime Music: Amazon’s streaming music service, Prime Music, is available for members ad-free and with unlimited access to more than a million songs, hundreds of Prime playlists, and self-created playlists. The service includes unlimited skips, and members can download songs to the Amazon Music app to listen offline for free. But, the app doesn’t allow users to export music elsewhere.

• Audible Channels for Prime: Members get free unlimited access to Audible Channels, featuring original audio series, playlists organized by topic of interest, and other content. Members also get free access to listen to best-selling titles, favorite classics, and family-focused audiobooks with Prime Exclusive Audiobooks. Prime members can log into the Audible app with their Amazon Prime account to use these benefits.

Amazon Prime Benefits: Reading

As the creator of the Kindle e-reader, it’s no surprise Amazon Prime members have exclusive benefits for those who love literature.

• Prime Reading: Prime members have exclusive access to the Prime Reading Catalog. Digitally borrow books, magazines, and more to read on Kindle devices, Fire tablets, Fire phones, or the Kindle app for iOS and Android.
• Amazon First Reads: Members get pre-publication access to download one new free (or deeply discounted) book monthly from the six picks on Amazon First Read’s list.

Amazon Prime Benefits: Watching

Amazon Prime members receive unlimited streaming of many TV shows and movies. They can also purchase discounted subscriptions to premium channels and content.

• Prime Video: Members enjoy unlimited streaming for TV shows and movies included in Prime Video. Look for the Amazon Prime logo or “Watch now with Amazon Prime” in the video details to find titles to watch. The availability of titles changes periodically, but members can create a watch list, and the service alerts you when something on the list is about to expire.

• Video Add-On Subscriptions: Prime members can opt to purchase discounted subscriptions or movie rentals to add-on to their viewing options, including new releases and premium television channels, such as Starz and Showtime.

Amazon Prime Benefit: Photo Storage

Prime Photos: Prime members receive unlimited digital storage for all their photos in Amazon Photos. Prime Photos also allows members to organize, search, and share pictures.

Amazon Prime Benefit: Gaming

Twitch Prime: Members can link their Twitch.tv accounts with their Amazon Prime accounts for special discounts on pre-orders of physical games and new releases. Members also get ad-free viewing and a new free Twitch channel subscription each month. Twitch Prime grants access to exclusive free games and game content as well.

Amazon Prime Benefits: Eating

Members can use Amazon Prime services to eat cheaper or easier with delivery services, including the Whole Foods discounts for Prime members.

• Amazon Restaurants: In eligible zip codes, Prime members can order from popular area restaurants and have their meals delivered to their door.
• AmazonFresh: AmazonFresh is a grocery delivery/pick-up add-on service option for Amazon Prime members. In select areas, members can pay an additional membership fee to receive free delivery on AmazonFresh orders over $50 or a flat delivery rate for orders under $50.
• Whole Foods Market Discounts: Amazon Prime members receive additional discounts on Whole Foods Market items they purchase through AmazonFresh, Prime Now, and the Amazon.com website. Prime members also receive special discounts when shopping at Whole Foods Market locations.

Amazon Prime Benefits: Rewards and Sharing

Amazon Prime members are eligible for cash back rewards and special discount programs on specific categories of items. They can also share some benefits with other members of their household.

• Prime Rewards: Prime members earn 5 percent back on Amazon purchases made with their Amazon Prime Rewards Visa or Amazon Prime Store card. They can also opt to connect their checking account to a gift card through Amazon Prime Reload for 2 percent cash back.
• Amazon Family: Members can earn discounts on diapers, baby food, baby registry items, and other baby needs by signing up for Amazon Family’s Subscribe & Save program.
• Amazon Household: Members can share certain benefits with Amazon Household. Amazon Household allows two adult accounts, up to fourteen profiles, and four child profiles. Family Library lets members share Kindle books, games, apps, and audiobooks with their Amazon Household.
• Prime Day: Prime Day is a one-day mega sales event exclusively for Amazon Prime Members. Part Cyber-Monday-in-July, part thank you discount for Prime members, Prime Day features special deals, exclusive items, special Lightning Deals only for Prime members, and more.

Canceling Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime Members can cancel at any time. However, if you paid the discounted yearly rate and used any of your Prime member benefits, including free two-day shipping, you're not eligible for a refund. If you're on the fence about how much you will use the various benefits of an Amazon Prime Membership, it may make sense to consider the monthly membership option instead of the yearly membership.

To cancel your Amazon Prime Membership, log into the Amazon website and go to Your Account > Prime Membership > Manage Membership > Update. When the Prime membership management page loads, select the End Membership link. The site takes you through a couple of pages to verify you do want to cancel before your cancellation is processed. If you cancel during your initial 30-day Amazon Prime trial, select the Do Not Continue link on the Prime membership management page to cancel your membership.

Is Amazon Prime Worth It?

For frequent Amazon shoppers, a Prime membership could likely pay for itself with the savings on shipping costs alone. Those who don't order from Amazon as frequently can still find the membership worth the price by considering the following:

• How often do you shop at Whole Foods Market? With in-store discounts exclusively for Amazon Prime members, savings on your everyday purchases at your local Whole Foods may soon offset the membership cost.
• How often do you buy or rent access to movies or TV shows through Amazon? Many films and shows, including Amazon Originals, can be streamed free with your Prime membership. Two or three movies each month can easily offset the cost of a Prime membership.
• How often do you buy books or magazines to read on a Kindle or Fire device or your smartphone's Kindle app? Amazon Prime members have free access to an extensive catalog of books, magazines, audiobooks, comic books, and more. For avid readers, a Prime membership may be less expensive than your monthly Kindle content purchases.