Amazon Prime Video is a streaming service you can buy on its own or as part of Amazon Prime membership

You have two ways to watch Prime Video. You can pay for Prime Video by itself — currently $14.99 per month or $139 per year in the United States — or you can get it included in an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year and includes free shipping, Prime Music, Prime Reading, and other Amazon benefits. The standalone Prime Video subscription does not include those other Prime perks. Both options let you stream the same movies and TV shows.

Prime Video's library includes original series like The Boys and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, licensed TV shows and movies, and sports events like Thursday Night Football. What's available changes monthly as licensing agreements expire and new content arrives. The service works on phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and streaming devices like Roku and Fire Stick.

Key Takeaways

  • Prime Video costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year as a standalone subscription, or comes included with Amazon Prime membership at the same price.
  • You can watch on multiple devices at once, but the number of simultaneous streams depends on your account type and the content you're watching.
  • Prime Video offers a free tier with ads and a paid tier without ads; the paid tier is what most people think of as the standard subscription.
  • You can share your account with household members, though Amazon has begun enforcing restrictions on password sharing outside your home.
  • Canceling is straightforward through your Amazon account settings and takes effect at the end of your current billing period.

How many people can watch at the same time

Prime Video lets multiple people stream at once, but the exact number depends on what you're watching. For most content, you can run up to three simultaneous streams on different devices. For some licensed movies and shows, the limit drops to two streams. A small number of titles allow only one stream at a time.

If someone tries to start a fourth stream while three are already running, they'll get a message saying the limit has been reached. They can either wait for someone else to stop watching or start a different title that allows more simultaneous streams. This is different from Netflix, which ties simultaneous streams to your plan tier rather than to individual titles.

Ad-supported versus ad-free viewing

Amazon offers Prime Video in two versions. The standard paid subscription ($14.99 per month or $139 per year) includes no ads. A cheaper ad-supported tier costs $6.99 per month and shows ads before and during shows and movies, similar to traditional television. You cannot upgrade within a billing period — you choose one or the other when you sign up or change your plan.

The ad-supported tier has the same content library as the ad-free version. The difference is purely the presence of commercials. If you already pay for Prime membership, you get the ad-free version included; there is no ad-supported Prime membership option.

Sharing your account and password restrictions

Amazon allows you to share your Prime Video account with people in your household. You can create separate profiles for each person so recommendations and watch history stay separate. Each profile can have its own parental controls and content restrictions.

Amazon has begun enforcing limits on password sharing outside your household. If you share your login with someone who doesn't live with you, you may see a message asking you to verify your home address or add them as a household member. Adding someone as a household member requires them to confirm their address and may involve sharing payment information. The exact enforcement varies by region and has changed over time, so the restrictions you see depend on when and where you're using the service.

How to cancel Prime Video

To cancel Prime Video, go to your Amazon account, select "Your Account," then "Memberships and Subscriptions," and find Prime Video in the list. Click "Manage Membership" and then "Cancel Membership." Amazon will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discounted rate to stay. Your cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period — you keep access until that date.

If you have a standalone Prime Video subscription, canceling it does not affect any other Amazon Prime benefits. If Prime Video is part of your Amazon Prime membership and you cancel Prime Video specifically, you lose video streaming but keep free shipping and other Prime perks. To cancel your entire Prime membership, you follow the same steps but choose to cancel Prime rather than just Prime Video.

Devices and apps where Prime Video works

Prime Video has apps for iOS and Android phones and tablets, and you can watch through a web browser on any computer. For TV viewing, Amazon offers the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Cube, which plug into your television. Prime Video also works on most smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, and other manufacturers, as well as on Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, and gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox.

You can download episodes and movies to your phone or tablet to watch offline, which is useful for travel. Downloaded content expires after a set period — usually 30 days, though some titles have different windows. The download feature is not available on all devices or for all content.

What happens to your account if you don't pay

If your payment method fails, Amazon will attempt to charge you again over the next few days. If payment continues to fail, your subscription will pause. You'll receive an email asking you to update your payment information. During this time, you cannot watch Prime Video, but your account and watch history remain saved.

Once you update your payment method, your subscription resumes immediately and you regain access. There is no penalty or fee for a failed payment — Amazon simply stops the service until the payment goes through. If you intentionally let your subscription lapse and then resubscribe later, your profiles and watch history are still there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Prime Video on more than one TV at the same time?

Yes, as long as you don't exceed the simultaneous stream limit for that content. You can watch on your living room TV and someone else can watch on a bedroom TV at the same time, as long as you're not exceeding three streams (or two for some licensed content). Each device counts as one stream.

Do I get Prime Video if I have Amazon Prime?

Yes. Amazon Prime membership includes Prime Video at no extra cost. You get the ad-free version. If you only want Prime Video and don't want the other Prime benefits like free shipping, you can buy Prime Video as a standalone subscription instead.

Can I change from ad-supported to ad-free without waiting for my billing cycle to end?

No. You choose one version or the other, and the change takes effect on your next billing date. If you want to switch immediately, you would need to cancel your current plan and start a new one, which may result in losing a few days of service depending on your billing date.

What if I share my password and Amazon locks my account?

Amazon doesn't lock your account, but it may ask you to verify your home address or add the other person as a household member. If you're sharing with someone outside your home, you may need to confirm your primary residence. The exact steps depend on Amazon's current enforcement in your region.

Do I lose my watch history if I cancel?

No. Your watch history, profiles, and preferences are saved to your Amazon account. If you resubscribe later, everything is still there. You only lose access to watch new content while your subscription is inactive.