What Is Amazon Prime?

We'll help you decide if the benefits worth the cost of Amazon’s membership

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. 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).

Amazon prime box
Shutterstock

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.

Not all paid Amazon Prime membership benefits are available during the free trial, mainly add-on services and subscriptions.

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.
  • Free Amazon Locker and Hub Delivery: Amazon Lockers and Hubs are 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: The company's streaming music service, Amazon Music, is available for members ad-free and with unlimited access to millions of 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.

Amazon has an additional music service called Music Unlimited. It's a paid service, but Prime members receive a monthly discount on its cost.

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 one new free book monthly from a selection picked out by Amazon's editors.

The Amazon First Reads program was previously called Kindle First.

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 “Watch with a Prime membership” 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.

Prime Video also includes all Amazon Original Series.

  • 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

Amazon Photos: Prime members receive unlimited digital storage for all their photos in Amazon Photos, plus 5 GB for video storage. Members can organize, search, and share files.

Amazon Prime Benefit: Gaming

Prime Gaming: Members can link their Twitch 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. Prime Gaming 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 Fresh: Amazon Fresh is a grocery delivery/pick-up option for all Amazon members. Prime subscribers can get same-day delivery and free pickup and some locations, and they might also get discounted delivery fees.
  • Whole Foods Market Discounts: Prime members receive special discounts when shopping at Whole Foods Market locations. This includes an extra 10 percent off sale items, 2-hour delivery and free 1-hour pickup in some US cities, special seasonal discounts, and 5 percent back with the Prime Visa Card.

Prime Pantry and Amazon Restaurants have been discontinued.

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.

  • Card Rewards: Prime members earn 5 percent back on Amazon purchases made with their Prime Visa or Prime Store card.
  • Amazon Household: Members can share certain benefits with Amazon Household. It allows two adult accounts, four teen accounts, 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 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.

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.

Amazon offers a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime so that you can take it for a test drive. If you feel it's not for you, cancel before your 30 days are up.

FAQ
  • What should you watch on Amazon Prime?

    If you're looking for suggestions, Lifewire has guides to what's new on Amazon Prime, the best movies, the best TV shows, and the best family-friendly movies.

  • How do you link your Amazon Prime and Twitch accounts?

    To link Prime and Twitch accounts, go to Prime Gaming and select the Connect a Twitch Account option. Then, log in with your Twitch account and follow the on-screen prompts to link to your Prime account.

  • How do you contact Amazon Prime customer support by phone?

    Amazon's customer service number is 1 (888) 280-4331. It's available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Was this page helpful?