Amazon Prime membership costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month

Amazon Prime is a paid subscription that bundles shipping, streaming, and shopping perks into one membership. The annual plan costs $139 and saves you money if you use it regularly; the monthly plan costs $14.99 and has no commitment. Students pay $69 per year through Prime Student, which includes the same benefits but lasts only four years after enrollment.

The core benefit is free two-day shipping on millions of items sold by Amazon itself. Many items ship faster — same-day or next-day delivery is available in most metro areas for an additional fee, or included with Prime on certain products. You also get free shipping on items sold by third-party sellers who participate in the Fulfillment by Amazon program.

Beyond shipping, Prime includes Prime Video (streaming movies and TV shows), Prime Music (ad-free music streaming), Prime Reading (rotating selection of books and magazines), and Prime Photos (unlimited photo storage). These are bundled into the single membership price; you cannot buy them separately through Amazon.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon Prime costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month, with no price difference between new and existing members.
  • The membership includes free two-day shipping on most Amazon-sold items, plus Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Reading, and Prime Photos.
  • Students can join Prime Student for $69 per year and receive the same benefits for up to four years.
  • You can cancel anytime if you pay monthly; annual memberships do not automatically renew if you cancel before the renewal date.
  • Prime Video and Prime Music are included with membership but have separate apps; you do not need to use all features to keep your membership.

What shipping speeds actually come with Prime

Free two-day shipping applies to items marked "Prime may be able to access" on the product page. This means the item ships from an Amazon warehouse and arrives within two business days (not counting weekends or holidays). In practice, many items arrive faster, but Amazon does not may provide next-day or same-day delivery unless the product page specifically says so.

Same-day and next-day delivery are available in most major cities but cost extra — usually $3.99 to $9.99 per order depending on your location and the item. Some Prime members see these options included on certain products at no additional charge, but this varies by zip code and inventory. Check the product page to see what speeds are available to you before you order.

Free one-day shipping on Prime Day (an annual sale event in July) and during the holiday season is sometimes advertised, but this is a limited-time promotion, not a permanent benefit. Standard two-day shipping remains the baseline year-round.

Prime Video, Music, Reading, and Photos explained

Prime Video is a streaming service included with membership. You can watch thousands of movies and TV shows through the Prime Video app on your phone, tablet, TV, or web browser. Some content is included with Prime; other titles require an additional rental or purchase fee. You can also add premium channels like HBO Max or Paramount+ through Prime Video for an extra monthly cost.

Prime Music gives you ad-free access to over two million songs through the Amazon Music app. This is different from Amazon Music Unlimited, which costs $10.99 per month (or $119 per year) and includes a larger catalog and offline downloads. Prime Music is more limited but comes with your membership at no extra cost.

Prime Reading rotates a selection of books, magazines, and newspapers that you can read through the Kindle app or web browser. The selection changes monthly and is smaller than a full library subscription, but it costs nothing beyond your Prime membership. You can read one title at a time.

Prime Photos gives you unlimited storage for photos (in original quality) and 5 GB of storage for videos and other files. This is useful if you take many photos and want a backup, but it does not replace a full cloud storage service like Google Drive or OneDrive.

How to manage or cancel your membership

You can view your membership status and manage your subscription through your Amazon account settings. Go to "Your Account," then "Memberships and Subscriptions," then "Prime Membership." From there you can see your renewal date, upgrade from monthly to annual (or vice versa), or cancel.

If you cancel before your renewal date, your membership stays active until that date. You will not be charged again. If you cancel after your renewal date has passed, you lose access immediately. Amazon will show you the exact date your membership renews before you confirm any changes.

If you signed up through a third-party service (like a wireless carrier or bank that offers Prime as a perk), you may need to cancel through that service instead of directly through Amazon. Check your account with that provider to confirm where your subscription is managed.

Prime membership versus Prime Video alone

Amazon offers Prime Video as a standalone subscription for $14.99 per month or $139 per year. This gives you access to Prime Video only — no shipping benefits, no Prime Music, no Prime Reading, and no Prime Photos. The annual price is the same as a full Prime membership, so a full Prime membership is a better value if you want any of the other benefits.

Prime Video standalone makes sense only if you want to watch Prime Video content but do not care about shipping or the other perks. Most people who want Prime Video should buy the full Prime membership instead, since the price is identical.

What does not come with Prime

Prime membership does not include free shipping on items sold by third-party sellers unless they use Fulfillment by Amazon. If a seller ships items themselves, you pay their shipping cost even as a Prime member. The product page will show you who the seller is and what shipping options are available.

Prime does not cover shipping on items from other retailers — only Amazon and third-party sellers using Amazon's warehouses. Whole Foods grocery delivery (Amazon Fresh) requires a separate subscription or membership, though Prime members sometimes receive discounts.

Prime does not include Amazon Music Unlimited (the larger music catalog), Kindle Unlimited (unlimited e-book reading), or AWS (Amazon Web Services for developers). These are separate paid subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Prime membership with family members?

Amazon allows you to add up to four family members to your Prime membership through Amazon Household. Each person gets their own account and can use Prime Video, Prime Music, and free shipping. You manage this through your account settings under "Household Profile." Family members do not need to live with you.

Do I have to use Prime Video to keep my Prime membership?

No. You can have a Prime membership and never use Prime Video, Prime Music, or any of the other perks. You are paying for the bundle, but you only use the parts that matter to you. Canceling one perk does not cancel your entire membership.

What happens to my Prime membership if I move?

Your membership stays active and follows you. Shipping speeds and delivery options may change based on your new zip code, but your subscription itself does not change. Update your address in your Amazon account so orders ship to the correct location.

Is Prime Student the same price as regular Prime?

Prime Student costs $69 per year, which is less than the $139 annual Prime membership. You must have a valid .edu email address or be enrolled in a school that participates in the Prime Student program. The membership lasts four years from enrollment, then converts to regular Prime at full price unless you cancel.

Can I get a refund if I cancel Prime mid-year?

Amazon does not refund the unused portion of an annual membership if you cancel. If you paid for a full year and cancel three months in, you lose the remaining nine months. Monthly memberships can be canceled anytime without penalty, so if you are unsure about long-term use, the monthly plan is safer.