What you get with each Amazon video service

Amazon offers three separate video services, and they work differently enough that you need to know which one you are paying for. Prime Video is included free with an Amazon Prime membership. Amazon Freevee is a free, ad-supported streaming service. Amazon Prime Video with ads is a cheaper tier of Prime Video that shows advertisements. Each one has a different catalog of movies and TV shows, and each one costs a different amount — or nothing at all.

The confusion happens because the names overlap and because Amazon bundles them in different ways. If you pay for Prime membership, you already have Prime Video. If you want Prime Video without ads, you cannot downgrade to a cheaper tier — you either pay the full Prime price or you switch to the ad-supported version. Understanding which service you actually have, and what it will cost to change, takes a few minutes upfront but saves money later.

Key Takeaways

  • Prime Video is included free with Amazon Prime membership, which costs either a monthly or annual fee depending on which plan you choose.
  • Prime Video with ads costs less per month than full Prime Video but shows advertisements during playback and is only available as a standalone purchase.
  • Amazon Freevee is completely free and ad-supported, with a smaller catalog than Prime Video but no subscription cost.
  • You can watch Prime Video on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs, but the number of devices that can stream at the same time depends on your membership tier.

Prime Video pricing and what is included

If you have an Amazon Prime membership, Prime Video comes with it at no extra charge. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year as of 2024, though these prices vary by region and Amazon updates them periodically. The annual plan works out to about $11.58 per month if you pay upfront, so it saves money if you plan to keep the membership for the full year.

Prime Video with ads is a separate tier that costs $6.99 per month as a standalone purchase. You do not need an Amazon Prime membership to buy this tier — it stands alone. The trade-off is clear: you pay less, but you see ads before and during shows and movies. The number of simultaneous streams is the same as the ad-free version, but the catalog may differ slightly because some content is only available on the ad-free tier.

With either Prime Video tier, you can stream on up to three devices at the same time. If you try to start a fourth stream, the oldest one will stop. This limit applies across all your devices — phone, tablet, computer, and TV all count toward the same three-stream cap.

Amazon Freevee and other free options

Amazon Freevee is a free, ad-supported streaming service that you can watch through the Prime Video app or through a separate Freevee app. You do not need a Prime membership or any paid subscription to use it. The catalog is smaller than Prime Video — mostly older movies, some TV series, and licensed content — but the price is zero. Ads play before and during content, similar to Prime Video with ads.

Freevee is useful if you want to try Amazon's streaming service without paying, or if you are looking for specific older films or shows that happen to be available there. However, new releases and popular current shows are typically on Prime Video, not Freevee. If you already have Prime Video, Freevee is just an additional option within the same app — you are not choosing between them, you have access to both.

How to change your subscription or cancel

If you have a Prime membership and want to switch to Prime Video with ads, you cannot do that directly. Prime Video with ads is only sold as a standalone subscription, separate from Prime. To use it, you would need to cancel your Prime membership first, then buy Prime Video with ads. Most people find this not worth the hassle unless they are canceling Prime anyway.

To cancel Prime Video with ads, go to your Amazon account settings, find "Memberships and subscriptions," and select Prime Video. You will see an option to cancel the subscription. Your access ends at the end of your current billing cycle — you are not charged again, but you can still watch until that date passes.

If you have a full Prime membership and want to cancel it, the process is the same: go to Memberships and subscriptions, select Prime, and choose Cancel membership. Amazon will ask you why you are leaving and may offer you a discount to stay. If you decline, your membership ends at the end of your current billing period.

Simultaneous streams, downloads, and device limits

Prime Video allows three simultaneous streams on three different devices. This means you, your spouse, and one child can each watch something different at the same time. A fourth person starting a stream will cause the oldest stream to stop. The limit resets when that stream ends, so it is not a permanent block — just a real-time cap.

You can read shows and movies to your phone or tablet for offline viewing. Downloaded content stays on your device for a set period — usually 30 days, or 48 hours after you start watching, whichever comes first. This is useful for travel or for watching on a commute without using data.

Prime Video with ads has the same three-stream limit and the same read feature. The main difference is the ads and the slightly smaller catalog. Freevee also allows downloads, but the content available to read is limited compared to Prime Video.

Regional differences and content availability

The movies and shows available on Prime Video vary by country. If you travel internationally or move to a different country, your access to certain content may change. Some shows are only available in specific regions due to licensing agreements. If you read content before traveling, you can usually watch it offline in other countries, but streaming may be blocked depending on where the content is licensed.

Pricing also varies by region. The $14.99 monthly and $139 annual prices for Prime are U.S. rates. Other countries have different prices in their local currency. If you have questions about pricing or availability in your specific location, you can check your Amazon account settings or contact Amazon customer service for your region.

Comparing Prime Video to other streaming services

Prime Video competes with Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and other services, but it works differently than most of them. Prime Video is bundled with Amazon Prime, which includes free shipping on Amazon purchases and other benefits beyond video. If you already use Prime for shopping, the video service is essentially free. If you only want video streaming, you might find a dedicated service cheaper.

Prime Video with ads at $6.99 per month is cheaper than most competitors' ad-free tiers, but more expensive than some competitors' ad-supported tiers. Netflix with ads costs $6.99 per month. Disney+ with ads costs $7.99 per month. The choice depends on which shows and movies matter to you — each service has different exclusive content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Prime Video password with family members who live in a different house?

Amazon's terms of service say Prime Video is for personal, non-commercial use within your household. Sharing passwords with people outside your home technically violates the terms, though Amazon does not actively police this. If you want to give family members their own access, they can buy their own Prime membership or Prime Video with ads subscription.

What happens if I cancel Prime but want to keep Prime Video?

You cannot keep Prime Video if you cancel Prime membership — they are bundled together. Your only option is to cancel Prime and then buy Prime Video with ads as a separate subscription. This costs $6.99 per month instead of $14.99, but you lose all other Prime benefits like free shipping.

Do I need to pay extra to remove ads from Prime Video with ads?

No. Prime Video with ads is a separate tier from full Prime Video. If you want to remove ads, you must cancel Prime Video with ads and buy a full Prime membership instead, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. There is no upgrade option — you have to cancel and repurchase.

Can I watch Prime Video on my smart TV?

Yes. Prime Video is available on most smart TVs, including Samsung, LG, Roku, Fire TV, and others. You can also connect a Fire TV device to an older TV that does not have built-in apps. The three-stream limit applies across all your devices, including your TV.

Is there a free trial for Prime Video?

Amazon occasionally offers free trials for new Prime members, but this varies by region and changes over time. Check your Amazon account or contact Amazon customer service to see if a trial is currently available in your area. Free trials typically last 30 days, after which you are charged the regular membership fee.