What Amazon Fresh membership includes
Amazon Fresh is a grocery delivery service run by Amazon that requires a paid membership to use. The membership gives you access to same-day and next-day grocery delivery from Amazon Fresh stores and partner retailers in your area, plus discounts on thousands of items.
As of now, Amazon Fresh membership is included free with an Amazon Prime membership — you do not pay extra for it. If you have Prime, you already have Fresh. The service is available in select cities across the United States; Amazon's website shows which zip codes it covers.
Orders placed before a certain cutoff time (usually 10 a.m. or noon, depending on your location) arrive the same day. Orders placed after that cutoff arrive the next day. There is a minimum order amount, which varies by location but is typically $35 to $100.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Fresh membership comes free with Amazon Prime; there is no separate subscription cost if you already pay for Prime.
- Same-day and next-day delivery is available only in certain cities and zip codes, which you can check on Amazon's website before ordering.
- Most orders have a minimum purchase requirement, usually between $35 and $100, and orders after a daily cutoff time arrive the next day instead of the same day.
- Amazon Fresh prices are not always lower than traditional grocery stores, so comparing prices for items you buy regularly can help you decide if the membership saves you money.
How Amazon Prime and Fresh membership connect
Amazon Fresh is a benefit bundled into Amazon Prime, not a separate subscription you purchase on its own. If you pay for Prime — either the monthly or annual plan — you automatically have access to Fresh grocery delivery at no additional charge.
Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year as of this writing, though Amazon adjusts these prices periodically. Students can get Prime for $7.49 per month through Prime Student. If you do not have Prime, you cannot use Fresh, and there is no way to buy Fresh alone.
This means the cost of Fresh is really the cost of Prime itself. If you already use Prime for other reasons — video streaming, free shipping, music — then Fresh adds no new expense. If you would sign up for Prime only for Fresh, you are paying for the entire Prime membership to get grocery delivery.
Delivery fees and order minimums by location
Amazon Fresh does not charge a separate delivery fee for Prime members in most areas. However, your order must meet a minimum purchase amount to may have access to for free delivery. This minimum varies significantly by city and even by neighborhood within a city.
In some locations, the minimum is $35. In others, it is $50, $75, or $100. Amazon shows you the minimum for your zip code when you enter it on the Fresh website or app. If your order falls short of the minimum, you can either add items or pay a delivery fee to proceed.
Some areas also have "express" delivery windows (same-day delivery within a specific two-hour window) that may carry an additional fee, separate from the order minimum. Check your local delivery options when you search your zip code.
What you can order and price comparison
Amazon Fresh carries groceries, household items, and some prepared foods. The selection includes national brands, Amazon's own brands (like Amazon Basics and Whole Foods Market brand items), and some regional products depending on your location.
Prices on Fresh are not uniformly lower than traditional grocery stores. Some items cost more on Fresh than at nearby supermarkets or discount chains; others cost less. If you use Fresh mainly for convenience rather than savings, you may not see a reduction in your grocery bill. Readers who want to save money should compare prices for the items they buy most often before deciding whether Fresh membership (through Prime) makes financial sense.
Amazon Fresh also offers discounts to Prime members on select items each week, similar to a store's weekly sale. These deals change frequently and are shown in the app and website.
Availability and service area limitations
Amazon Fresh is not available everywhere in the United States. The service operates in major metropolitan areas and some surrounding suburbs, but rural areas and many smaller cities have no coverage.
To check whether Fresh delivers to your address, enter your zip code on Amazon's Fresh website or in the Amazon app. The system will tell you when ready whether delivery is available and show you the delivery windows and order minimums for your specific location. If Fresh is not available now, Amazon sometimes expands to new areas, so you can check back periodically.
Even within a city where Fresh operates, delivery times and minimums can differ by neighborhood. Two zip codes a few miles apart may have different cutoff times for same-day delivery or different minimum order amounts.
How Fresh compares to other grocery delivery options
Other services offer grocery delivery without requiring a Prime membership. Instacart works with many local supermarkets and charges per order (either a flat fee or a percentage of your order) or offers an Instacart+ membership for faster delivery. Walmart+ includes grocery delivery from Walmart stores and costs $12.98 per month or $98 per year. Target Circle offers same-day delivery from Target stores as part of a free membership tier.
The main difference is that Fresh requires Prime membership, which costs more upfront but includes other benefits beyond groceries. If you already use Prime for shipping, video, or music, Fresh adds no new cost. If you would buy Prime only for grocery delivery, comparing the annual cost of Prime ($139) to the cost of Instacart+ ($99 per year) or Walmart+ ($98 per year) may help you decide which service fits your budget and shopping habits.
Fresh also differs in that it delivers from Amazon Fresh stores and partner retailers, not from your local supermarket. This means the selection and prices may not match what you see at your neighborhood grocery store, even if that store is nearby.
Canceling or pausing Fresh membership
Because Fresh is part of Prime, you cannot cancel Fresh without canceling Prime. If you want to stop using Fresh but keep Prime, you straightforward stop ordering from Fresh — there is no separate cancellation step.
If you want to cancel Prime entirely, you can do so through your Amazon account settings. Amazon allows you to cancel at any time, and if you paid for an annual membership, you receive a refund for the unused portion of your subscription.
Some readers pause their use of Fresh seasonally or when they are not using it regularly, then resume ordering when they need it again. Since there is no separate Fresh subscription to manage, this requires no action on your part — you straightforward order when you want delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Prime to use Amazon Fresh?
Yes. Fresh is included only with an active Amazon Prime membership. There is no way to purchase Fresh as a standalone service. If you do not have Prime, you would need to sign up for it to use Fresh.
Is there a delivery fee on top of the order minimum?
No, not in most locations. Prime members receive free delivery once they meet the order minimum for their area. Some locations offer express delivery windows (same-day within a specific two-hour slot) that may charge an additional fee, but standard same-day and next-day delivery are free.
Can I use Fresh if I live outside a major city?
Fresh is available only in select cities and metropolitan areas. Enter your zip code on Amazon's Fresh website to see whether delivery is available at your address. If it is not available now, you can check back later, as Amazon occasionally expands to new areas.
Are Fresh prices cheaper than my local grocery store?
Not always. Some items on Fresh cost more than at nearby supermarkets, while others cost less. If saving money on groceries is your main goal, compare prices for items you buy regularly before deciding whether Fresh membership (through Prime) makes sense for your budget.
What happens to my Fresh access if I cancel Prime?
Your Fresh access ends when ready when your Prime membership ends. If you cancel Prime, you can no longer place Fresh orders. You can reactivate Prime at any time to restore Fresh access.