Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, with a discounted rate of $6.99 per month for people on certain government benefits

Amazon Prime is a paid membership that bundles shipping, streaming, and shopping perks into one account. You pay upfront — either monthly or annually — and then use the benefits as much as you want during that period. The standard rate is $14.99 per month if you pay monthly, or $139 per year if you pay annually (which works out to about $11.58 per month). There is no trial period anymore; you start paying immediately when you sign up.

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or certain other government benefits, you may may have access to for Prime at $6.99 per month instead. This reduced rate is called Prime Access. You will need to verify your benefit status through Amazon's system, and the discount applies only to the monthly plan, not the annual one.

Key Takeaways

  • Standard Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year with no free trial period.
  • If you receive SSI or certain other government benefits, you can pay $6.99 per month through Prime Access after verifying your benefit status.
  • Prime includes two-day (or faster) shipping on most items, Prime Video streaming, Prime Music, and discounts at Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh.
  • You can cancel anytime, and if you paid for a full year, Amazon will refund the unused portion if you cancel within the first few days.
  • The membership is tied to one Amazon account and cannot be shared across multiple people, though household members can use the same account.

What Prime membership includes

The main benefit most people use is fast shipping. Prime members get free two-day shipping on millions of items sold by Amazon directly. Many items ship faster — one-day or same-day in some areas — at no extra charge. This applies only to items marked "Prime may be able to access" in the product listing; third-party sellers using Amazon's fulfillment network are usually Prime-may be able to access, but not all are.

Prime Video is a streaming service included with membership. You can watch movies, TV shows, and original series on any device with the Prime Video app or website. Some newer movies and shows require an additional rental or purchase fee, but the base membership includes thousands of titles at no extra cost.

Other included benefits are Prime Music (a music streaming service with over 2 million songs), Prime Reading (access to a rotating selection of books, magazines, and newspapers), and Amazon Photos (unlimited photo storage for Prime members). You also get discounts at Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh grocery delivery in some areas, and access to Lightning Deals that start earlier for Prime members than non-members.

How to sign up for standard Prime

Go to amazon.com and click "Try Prime" or "Start Your Membership" at the top of the page. You will need an Amazon account; if you do not have one, you can create it during the sign-up process. Enter your payment method (credit card, debit card, or other accepted payment), choose whether you want monthly or annual billing, and confirm. Your membership starts immediately and you will be charged right away.

Amazon will send you a confirmation email with your membership details. You do not need to do anything else to start using Prime benefits — they are active on your account as soon as the purchase goes through.

How to sign up for Prime Access (discounted rate for benefit recipients)

Prime Access is only available through a separate sign-up process. Go to amazon.com/primeaccess and select "Start Your Prime Access Membership." You will need to verify that you receive SSI, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or certain other government benefits. Amazon uses a third-party verification service to confirm your benefit status; you will be asked to provide information like your Social Security number or benefit case number.

The verification process usually takes a few minutes to a few hours. Once approved, you will pay $6.99 per month on a monthly plan only — there is no annual option for Prime Access. You can cancel anytime, and the discount continues as long as you remain on the program and your benefit status stays current.

If your benefit status changes or ends, you will lose the Prime Access discount and your membership will revert to the standard rate unless you cancel. Amazon will notify you before this happens.

How to cancel Prime membership

Log into your Amazon account and go to "Your Account" (usually in the top right corner). Select "Memberships and Subscriptions," then find "Prime Membership" and click "Manage Membership." You will see an option to "End Membership." Click it and confirm your cancellation.

Your membership will end immediately, and you will lose access to Prime benefits right away. If you paid for an annual membership and cancel within the first few days, Amazon will refund the full amount. After that window, no refund is issued for the remainder of the year. If you are on a monthly plan, you will not be charged again after the current month ends.

What happens if you cannot afford Prime

If the cost is too high and you do not may have access to for Prime Access, you have other options. You can use Amazon without Prime — shipping will take longer (usually 5 to 8 business days) and will cost money per order, but you can still shop. Some items are may be able to access for free standard shipping even without Prime.

If you need fast shipping specifically, check whether you may have access to for Prime Access through SSI or SNAP. If you do not, you might explore whether a family member or friend can share their Prime account with you (though Amazon's terms allow this only for household members). You can also wait for sales events like Prime Day to see if the annual membership goes on sale, though this is not may provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Prime membership with someone who does not live with me?

Amazon's terms allow household members to use the same Prime account, but not people in separate homes. If you share your login with someone outside your household, you are technically violating the terms of service, though Amazon does not actively police this. The safer option is to have that person sign up for their own membership or Prime Access if they may have access to.

Do I have to use Prime Video if I do not want it?

No. Prime Video is included in the membership, but you do not have to use it. You pay one price for the entire bundle of benefits, and you can ignore any part you do not want. You cannot pay a lower rate to exclude specific benefits.

What if I signed up for Prime and want to cancel within a few days?

If you paid for an annual membership and cancel within a few days (Amazon's window is typically around 7 to 14 days, though this can vary), you should receive a full refund. Contact Amazon customer service through your account to request the refund. If you are outside that window, no refund is issued for annual plans.

Does Prime Access cost the same as regular Prime, just cheaper?

No. Prime Access is a separate program with the same benefits as regular Prime, but at $6.99 per month instead of $14.99. It is only available to people who can verify they receive SSI, SNAP, or certain other government benefits. The discount is permanent as long as you remain on the program and your benefit status stays active.

Can I switch from monthly to annual billing or vice versa?

Yes. Log into your account, go to "Memberships and Subscriptions," find Prime, and select "Manage Membership." You can change your billing frequency. If you switch from annual to monthly mid-year, Amazon will prorate the refund for the unused portion of your annual payment.