Amazon Prime Video is a streaming service you can buy on its own or as part of an 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 buy an Amazon Prime membership, which includes Prime Video along with free shipping, Prime Music, Prime Reading, and other benefits. The all-in Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. If you only want the video service and nothing else, the standalone option saves you money.

Prime Video works on most devices: phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, streaming devices like Roku or Fire Stick, and gaming consoles. You can watch on up to three devices at the same time if you have a Prime Video membership, though only one stream can play in 4K resolution. The service includes thousands of movies and TV shows, plus original series and films made by Amazon Studios.

Both the standalone Prime Video subscription and the full Prime membership come with a free trial period — usually 30 days for Prime Video alone and 30 days for the full membership. You can cancel anytime during or after the trial without paying anything.

Key Takeaways

  • Prime Video costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year as a standalone subscription, or the same price as part of a full Amazon Prime membership that includes shipping and other services.
  • You can stream on up to three devices at once, though 4K playback is limited to one stream at a time.
  • A 30-day free trial comes with both the standalone service and the full Prime membership, and you can cancel during the trial period without being charged.
  • Prime Video works on phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, Roku, Fire Stick, and gaming consoles.
  • The service includes thousands of movies and shows, plus original content produced by Amazon Studios.

Standalone Prime Video versus the full Prime membership

If you only want to watch movies and TV shows, the standalone Prime Video subscription is the cheaper option — you pay $14.99 per month or $139 per year and get nothing else. If you also use Amazon for shopping, the full Prime membership at the same price adds free two-day shipping (or faster in many areas), Prime Music for streaming songs, Prime Reading for magazines and books, and other perks like early access to deals and discounts on Whole Foods purchases.

The math depends on how much you shop. If you order from Amazon regularly and would otherwise pay for shipping, the membership often pays for itself. If you rarely buy from Amazon, the standalone Prime Video subscription makes more sense. You can switch between them anytime — if you start with standalone and later want the full membership, you can upgrade and pay only the difference.

How to start a Prime Video subscription

Go to primevideo.com or open the Prime Video app on your device. If you already have an Amazon account, sign in with your email and password. If you don't have an Amazon account, you'll need to create one — this takes a few minutes and requires an email address and password.

Choose whether you want the standalone Prime Video subscription or the full Prime membership. Enter a payment method (credit card, debit card, or other options depending on your region). Amazon will charge you immediately, but you'll enter the free trial period first — you won't be charged again until the trial ends, usually 30 days later. You can start watching right away.

If you want to cancel before the trial ends, go to your account settings, find the Prime Video or Prime membership section, and select "Cancel Membership" or "End Trial." You'll be asked to confirm, and then your access will end on the date the trial would have ended anyway — you won't lose access mid-trial.

What content is included and what costs extra

Your Prime Video subscription includes thousands of movies and TV shows at no additional cost. This includes original series like The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Rings of Power, plus licensed movies and shows from studios and networks. The library changes regularly — some titles leave and new ones arrive.

Prime Video also offers add-on channels you can subscribe to separately. These include services like Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, and others. Each add-on costs extra per month, but you can turn them on and off anytime. You can also rent or buy individual movies and shows that aren't included with your subscription — these appear with a price tag when you search.

Some content is free with ads, while other content is ad-free. As of 2024, Amazon introduced an ad-supported tier for Prime Video at a lower price point, though the exact details vary by region. Check your account settings to see which tier you're on.

Sharing your Prime Video account with family

You can stream Prime Video on up to three devices at the same time, which means family members in different rooms can watch different shows. However, Amazon's terms of service say the account is for personal use by the person who paid for it and people in their household.

If you want to share with people outside your household, Amazon offers Prime Video Watch Party — a feature that lets you watch the same show or movie together in real time with friends online, even if they don't have a Prime Video subscription. You start the watch party from the app, send them a link, and you can chat while you watch.

For family members who live with you, you can set up user profiles within your account so each person has their own watchlist and recommendations. This doesn't give them a separate subscription — they're using your account — but it keeps their viewing separate from yours.

Pausing or canceling your subscription

If you want to pause your subscription temporarily without canceling, Amazon doesn't offer a formal pause feature. Your options are to cancel and restart later, or to let the subscription continue. When you cancel, your access ends on the date your current billing period ends — if you paid for a month, you keep access through the end of that month.

To cancel, go to your Amazon account, find the Prime Video or Prime membership section, and select "Cancel Membership." You'll see the date your access will end. If you change your mind, you can restart your subscription anytime, and you'll get another free trial period if you're restarting after a break of at least 12 months.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you can't sign in, make sure you're using the email address and password associated with your Amazon account. If you've forgotten your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the sign-in page to reset it. If you're trying to sign in on a device like a Fire Stick or smart TV, you may need to use a different method — the app will usually give you a code to enter on a web browser instead of typing your password on the device.

If a show or movie won't play, try closing the app and opening it again. If that doesn't work, check your internet connection — streaming requires a stable connection. If the problem continues, restart the device itself. If you're trying to watch on multiple devices and one won't play, remember that you can only stream on three devices at once, and only one can play in 4K — if you're at your limit, stop playback on another device first.

If you're charged but don't think you should be, check your account to confirm your subscription status and billing date. If you canceled during the trial period, you shouldn't be charged at all. If you see a charge after canceling, contact Amazon customer service through your account — they can review the charge and issue a refund if there was an error.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Prime Video on multiple devices at the same time?

Yes, you can stream on up to three devices at once. However, only one stream can play in 4K resolution at a time. If you're at your three-device limit and want to watch on a fourth device, you need to stop playback on one of the others first.

What happens to my account if I cancel during the free trial?

Your access ends on the date the trial period ends — you don't lose access immediately. You won't be charged anything. If you want to restart your subscription later, you'll get another free trial period if at least 12 months have passed since you canceled.

Is Prime Video the same as Amazon Prime?

Prime Video is one part of Amazon Prime. The full Prime membership includes Prime Video plus free shipping, Prime Music, Prime Reading, and other benefits. You can buy Prime Video alone if you only want the streaming service, or buy the full membership if you want everything together.

Can I share my Prime Video password with friends who don't live with me?

Amazon's terms say the account is for personal use by the subscriber and people in their household. For friends outside your household, you can use Prime Video Watch Party to watch the same show together online in real time — they don't need their own subscription to join.

Why is my Prime Video showing ads if I'm paying for it?

Amazon introduced an ad-supported tier for Prime Video at a lower price. Depending on your region and when you subscribed, you may be on this tier. Check your account settings to see your subscription type. You can usually upgrade to an ad-free tier for a higher monthly price.