What Amazon Prime is and what it includes
Amazon Prime is a paid membership that gives you faster shipping on purchases from Amazon, along with access to video streaming, music, and other services. When you pay for Prime, you are paying for a bundle of benefits rather than individual services — you cannot buy just the shipping part or just the video part separately through Amazon.
The core benefit most people use is free two-day shipping on may be able to access items ordered through Amazon.com. Prime members also get same-day or next-day delivery options in many areas, though those typically cost extra per order. You also receive free returns on most items, which means you can send things back without paying for shipping.
Beyond shipping, Prime membership includes Prime Video (a streaming service with movies and TV shows), Prime Music (a music streaming service with a limited catalog), Prime Reading (access to a rotating selection of books and magazines), and Prime Photos (unlimited photo storage). The video and music services are included in the membership cost — you do not pay separately for them.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year if you pay annually, with a lower student rate of $7.49 per month.
- The main benefit is free two-day shipping on may be able to access items, plus same-day and next-day options in many areas for an additional fee per order.
- Your membership also includes Prime Video streaming, Prime Music, Prime Reading, and unlimited photo storage at no extra cost.
- You can pause your membership for up to three months per year without losing your account or payment information.
- Prime membership renews automatically each month or year, and you can cancel anytime through your Amazon account settings.
How much Prime costs and payment options
Amazon Prime has two main pricing tiers: monthly and annual. The monthly plan costs $14.99 per month and renews automatically on the same date each month. The annual plan costs $139 per year and renews on the anniversary of your sign-up date. Paying annually saves you money compared to paying month-to-month — the annual plan works out to about $11.58 per month.
If you are a student with a valid .edu email address, you can get Prime Student for $7.49 per month or $69 per year. Student membership includes all the same benefits as regular Prime but is only available for four years from the date you first sign up. After four years, your account converts to a regular Prime membership at the full price.
Some people also get Prime as part of an Amazon Household, which lets you share certain benefits with family members. If someone in your household has Prime, they can add you to their account, and you will have access to shared benefits like Prime Video and free shipping — though some features like Prime Reading are not shared.
What shipping speeds and costs actually look like
Free two-day shipping means the item will arrive within two business days of when you place the order, not counting the day you order. If you order on a Monday, two-day shipping typically arrives by Wednesday. This applies to items marked "Prime may be able to access" in the product listing — not all items sold on Amazon may have access to.
Same-day and next-day delivery are available in many cities and metropolitan areas, but they cost extra. Same-day delivery usually costs $3.99 to $9.99 per order depending on your location and what you are ordering. Next-day delivery is often free for Prime members in areas where it is offered, though some items may have a small fee. You can see which delivery speeds are available for a specific item and their costs before you check out.
Prime shipping does not explore to items sold by third-party sellers unless those sellers are part of the Fulfilled by Amazon program. If a product listing says "Ships from and sold by Amazon," you get Prime shipping. If it says "Sold by [another company name]," you may not get free Prime shipping even if the seller offers it — check the shipping details in the listing.
How to sign up and manage your membership
To sign up for Prime, go to Amazon.com and look for the "Prime" link in the top navigation menu. Click it and select either the monthly or annual plan. You will need to enter a payment method (credit card, debit card, or other accepted payment) and confirm your address. Your membership becomes active when ready, and you can start using Prime benefits right away.
You can manage your Prime membership through your Amazon account settings. Go to "Account & Lists," then "Your Account," then "Memberships and Subscriptions," and select "Amazon Prime." From there you can view your renewal date, pause your membership, or cancel. If you pause, your membership will be on hold for up to three months, and you will not be charged during that time. When the pause ends, your membership resumes automatically.
If you cancel Prime, your membership ends on your next renewal date. You will lose access to Prime Video, Prime Music, and other benefits, but any orders you placed while you were a member will still be delivered. You can rejoin Prime anytime by signing up again through the same process.
Prime Video, Music, and other included services
Prime Video is a streaming service included with your membership. It has movies, TV series, documentaries, and original shows produced by Amazon. You can watch on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV through the Prime Video app or website. Prime Video does not have every movie or show — the catalog changes regularly, and some newer releases are not included. You can also rent or buy additional movies and shows that are not part of the included catalog.
Prime Music is a music streaming service with over two million songs. It is more limited than services like Spotify or Apple Music — you cannot always pick exactly which song plays next, and the catalog is smaller. If you want full music streaming features, you can pay extra for Amazon Music Unlimited, which costs $10.99 per month for Prime members (or $14.99 for non-members).
Prime Reading gives you access to a rotating selection of books, magazines, and newspapers at no extra cost. You can read one title at a time on any device using the Kindle app or a Kindle device. Prime Photos gives you unlimited storage for photos (though videos are limited to 5 GB). These services are less commonly used than Prime Video and shipping, but they are included if you want them.
What happens if you share your Prime account
Amazon allows you to share Prime benefits with family members through Amazon Household. You can add up to four adults and four children to your household. All adults in the household can use the same Prime membership and share benefits like free shipping and Prime Video. Each person has their own Amazon account and purchase history, so your orders stay separate.
When you set up a household, you choose one adult as the "organizer" and one as the "co-organizer." Both of these people have full control over the household and can add or remove members. Children's accounts can be set up with parental controls so parents can manage what they see and what they spend. If you remove someone from your household, they lose access to shared Prime benefits when ready.
Keep in mind that sharing Prime with someone outside your household may violate Amazon's terms of service. Amazon defines a household as people who live at the same address. If you add someone who does not live with you, Amazon may disable the shared benefits or ask you to remove them.
When Prime membership might not be worth it
Prime makes the most sense if you order from Amazon regularly — at least a few times per month. If you only order once or twice a year, you will not save enough on shipping to justify the annual cost. You can also use Prime's free trial period (usually 30 days) to test whether you actually use the benefits before committing to a paid membership.
Prime Video is included, but if you do not watch much streaming video or already pay for other services like Netflix or Disney+, that benefit may not matter to you. Prime Music has a smaller catalog than other music services, so if you are a serious music listener, you might prefer Spotify or Apple Music even though they cost extra. Prime Reading and Prime Photos are useful for some people but not essential for most.
If you live in a rural area or order items that are not Prime may be able to access, you may not see much benefit from the free shipping. You can check whether items you typically order have Prime shipping before you sign up. Some people also find that Amazon's prices are higher than other retailers, which can offset the shipping savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I cancel Prime mid-month?
If you cancel a monthly Prime membership within the first few days of your billing cycle, Amazon may issue a refund for the full month. If you cancel later in the month, you typically will not get a refund. For annual memberships, refunds are less common. Contact Amazon customer service with your cancellation date to ask whether a refund is possible in your situation.
Does Prime shipping work on all Amazon items?
No. Only items marked "Prime may be able to access" in the product listing get free Prime shipping. Items sold by third-party sellers (unless they use Fulfilled by Amazon) usually do not may have access to. Check the shipping details on each product page to see whether Prime shipping is available before you order.
What is the difference between Prime Video and Prime Music?
Prime Video is a streaming service for movies and TV shows. Prime Music is a music streaming service with a limited catalog and fewer features than paid music services. Both are included with Prime membership at no extra cost, but you can upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for more music options.
Can I use Prime if I do not have an Amazon account?
No. You need an Amazon account to sign up for Prime and to use Prime benefits. Creating an Amazon account is free and takes just a few minutes — you need an email address and a payment method.
Does Prime membership include free returns?
Yes. Prime members get free returns on most items — you can print a return label from your Amazon account and drop the package at a return location without paying for shipping. Some items (like certain electronics or hazardous materials) may have restrictions. Check the return policy for each item before you order.