The Three Main Amazon Prime Plans
Amazon offers three subscription tiers: Prime, Prime Student, and Prime Video. Prime is the full membership. Prime Student is the same benefits at a lower price for college students. Prime Video is video streaming only, with no shipping or other perks. Each one renews automatically on a monthly or annual cycle depending on which you choose.
The standard Prime plan costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. Prime Student costs $7.49 per month or $69 per year and requires a valid .edu email address or enrollment verification through SheerID. Prime Video costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year and includes only the video streaming service — no free shipping, no Prime Music, no other benefits.
You can pause or cancel any plan at any time. If you cancel mid-cycle, you keep access until your current billing period ends. Pausing temporarily stops charges without canceling the membership.
Key Takeaways
- Prime membership includes two-day shipping on most items, Prime Video streaming, Prime Music, and other services bundled into one subscription.
- Prime Student gives the same benefits as Prime but costs half the price and requires proof of college enrollment.
- Prime Video is video streaming only and does not include shipping or music services.
- All plans renew automatically each month or year depending on your choice, and you can cancel or pause at any time without penalty.
- The monthly price is higher per month than the annual price, so paying yearly saves money if you plan to stay subscribed.
What Comes With a Standard Prime Membership
Free shipping is the core benefit. Most items sold by Amazon ship free with two-day delivery. Some items may have access to for one-day or same-day delivery at no extra charge depending on your location and the item. Items sold by third-party sellers through Amazon may have different shipping terms even if you have Prime.
Prime Video gives you access to thousands of movies and TV shows. You can watch on phones, tablets, computers, and compatible smart TVs. Some new movies and shows require an extra rental or purchase fee on top of your Prime membership. You can download episodes to watch offline.
Prime Music lets you stream over 2 million songs ad-free. It is not the same as Amazon Music Unlimited, which has a larger catalog and costs extra. Prime Music comes with your membership at no additional cost.
Prime Reading gives you access to a rotating library of books, magazines, and newspapers. You can read one title at a time on any device. This is different from Kindle Unlimited, which is a separate subscription.
Other benefits include Prime Gaming (free games and in-game content each month), Amazon Photos (unlimited photo storage), and discounts on Amazon Fresh grocery delivery in some areas.
Prime Student: Same Benefits, Lower Cost
Prime Student includes every benefit of standard Prime — shipping, video, music, reading, gaming, and photos. The only difference is the price and the requirement to prove you are a college student.
To sign up for Prime Student, you need a valid .edu email address or you can verify your enrollment through SheerID, a third-party verification service. Amazon will ask you to confirm your status when you first join. If your status changes (you graduate or leave school), your membership will convert to a standard Prime plan at the regular price.
Prime Student memberships last six months for the monthly plan or one year for the annual plan. After that period ends, you can renew if you are still a student, or your membership converts to standard Prime pricing.
Prime Video as a Standalone Subscription
Prime Video is available separately for $14.99 per month or $139 per year. It includes the same video library as Prime Video within a full Prime membership — movies, TV shows, and original Amazon series. You can watch on the same devices and download episodes to watch offline.
Prime Video does not include shipping, music, reading, gaming, or photos. If you only want video streaming and do not need the other Prime benefits, this plan costs the same as full Prime on a monthly basis but saves money if you pay annually and do not use the other services.
Some people use Prime Video with other streaming services instead of paying for full Prime. Others add Prime Video to their Prime membership if they want to watch content that requires a separate subscription within the Prime Video app (like HBO Max or Paramount+).
How Billing and Cancellation Work
When you sign up, you choose between monthly and annual billing. Monthly plans charge you every 30 days. Annual plans charge once per year. You can switch between monthly and annual at any time, and the change takes effect at your next billing date.
To cancel, go to your account settings and select "End membership." You will keep access to all benefits through the end of your current billing period. If you cancel mid-month on a monthly plan, you keep access for the rest of that month. If you cancel mid-year on an annual plan, you keep access through the end of that year.
To pause instead of cancel, select "Pause membership" in your account settings. This stops charges for up to three months without ending your membership. When the pause ends, your membership resumes and billing restarts automatically.
Comparing the Three Plans Side by Side
| Benefit | Prime | Prime Student | Prime Video |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free shipping | Yes | Yes | No |
| Video streaming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Music streaming | Yes | Yes | No |
| Reading library | Yes | Yes | No |
| Prime Gaming | Yes | Yes | No |
| Photo storage | Yes | Yes | No |
| Monthly price | $14.99 | $7.49 | $14.99 |
| Annual price | $139 | $69 | $139 |
| Student requirement | No | Yes | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I try Prime before paying for a full month?
Amazon does not currently offer a free trial for new Prime members. You can sign up for a monthly plan at $14.99 and cancel within the first month if you do not want to continue. You will keep access through the end of that month.
Does Prime shipping work for items sold by third-party sellers?
It depends on the seller and the item. Items sold by Amazon and fulfilled by Amazon may have access to for Prime shipping. Many third-party sellers also offer Prime shipping on their items. When you look at a product, the listing will show whether Prime shipping is available. Items that do not may have access to will show standard shipping costs instead.
What happens to my Prime membership if I do not use it for a while?
Your membership continues and you keep being charged unless you cancel or pause it. Pausing is useful if you know you will not use Prime for a few months — it stops charges without ending your membership. When the pause ends, your membership resumes automatically.
Can I share my Prime membership with family members?
Yes, through Amazon Household. You can add up to four adults and up to four children to your account. Each person gets their own login and access to Prime benefits. Household members share the same payment method and billing address.
Is Prime Video included if I have a Prime membership?
Yes. Prime Video is included with a standard Prime membership at no extra cost. If you only want Prime Video and do not need shipping or other benefits, you can buy Prime Video as a standalone subscription instead of full Prime.