Amazon Prime costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month as of 2024
Amazon Prime's annual membership is $139 per year if you pay upfront, or $14.99 per month if you prefer monthly payments. Students pay half that — $69 per year through Prime Student, which includes the same shipping and video benefits but lasts only four years after enrollment. If you sign up for a monthly plan, you can cancel anytime without penalty.
The price has risen several times over the past decade. Amazon raised the annual rate from $99 to $119 in 2022, then to $139 in 2024. Monthly pricing went from $12.99 to $14.99 in the same period. These increases affect new members and existing members when their membership renews, not retroactively mid-year.
Some people get Prime through other memberships. If you have Amazon Household set up, up to six family members can share one Prime account without each paying separately. Whole Foods shoppers sometimes receive Prime discounts as part of their loyalty program, though this varies by location and does not replace a full Prime membership.
Key Takeaways
- Annual Prime membership costs $139 per year; monthly costs $14.99 per month, and you can cancel monthly plans without penalty.
- Prime Student members pay $69 per year and get the same shipping and video benefits, but the membership expires after four years.
- The annual price has increased twice in recent years — from $99 to $119 in 2022, then to $139 in 2024.
- Up to six household members can share one Prime account, so the per-person cost drops if you split it with family.
What's included in your Prime membership
Prime membership includes two-day shipping on millions of items, one-day shipping on many popular products in major cities, and same-day delivery in some areas. You also get Prime Video, which streams movies and TV shows at no extra cost, and Prime Music, a music streaming service with a limited catalog compared to Spotify or Apple Music.
Other perks vary by region and change over time. Prime members typically receive early access to Lightning Deals during Amazon sales events, discounts on Amazon Fresh grocery delivery, and free cloud storage for photos through Amazon Photos. Some regions offer Prime Reading, which lets you borrow books and magazines from a rotating library.
The shipping benefit is the core reason most people keep Prime. If you order fewer than two or three items per month, the membership may not pay for itself. If you order weekly or more, the shipping savings alone often exceed the annual cost.
How monthly and annual plans compare
| Plan Type | Cost | Commitment | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $139/year | One year | Regular shoppers who want the lowest per-month cost |
| Monthly | $14.99/month | Cancel anytime | People testing Prime or using it seasonally |
| Prime Student | $69/year | Four years maximum | Full-time students at accredited institutions |
The annual plan works out to about $11.58 per month if you divide the cost evenly. The monthly plan costs $14.99, so you pay roughly $3.41 more per month for the flexibility to cancel. If you think you'll use Prime for at least ten months, the annual plan saves money.
Monthly memberships renew automatically on the same date each month unless you cancel. You can cancel through your Amazon account settings at any time, and you'll keep access through the end of the current billing period. There's no refund for unused time if you cancel mid-month.
Prime membership for households and families
Amazon Household lets you link up to six accounts to one Prime membership. Each person keeps their own Amazon account, login, and purchase history, but they all share the Prime shipping and video benefits. You designate one adult as the account holder and can add up to one other adult and up to four teens or children.
If you split the $139 annual cost among six people, each person's share is roughly $23 per year. In practice, most households split it between two adults, bringing the per-person cost to about $70 per year. Setting up Household takes a few minutes through your Amazon account settings and requires the other person's email address.
Household members can't see each other's purchase history or wish lists unless they choose to share them. Each person's recommendations and deals are separate. If someone leaves the household, they lose Prime access immediately unless they have their own membership.
When Prime membership price increases take effect
Amazon typically announces price increases a few weeks before they take effect. New members pay the current price immediately. Existing members with annual memberships see the new price when their membership renews — not in the middle of their current year. Monthly members see the increase on their next billing date after the change goes into effect.
You receive an email notification before a price increase applies to your account. If you have an annual membership expiring soon, you can renew at the old price before the increase date if you act before your renewal date. This window is usually only a few days, so the savings are modest.
Amazon has not announced any price changes beyond the 2024 increase to $139 annually, but the company reviews pricing periodically. If you're on a monthly plan and concerned about future increases, switching to annual payment locks in the current rate for twelve months.
Alternatives if Prime doesn't fit your budget
If you shop on Amazon occasionally but don't want to pay for Prime, you can still order items without membership — they just take longer to arrive and may have higher shipping costs. Some items ship free regardless of Prime status, particularly books and items sold directly by Amazon.
Other retailers offer their own membership programs with free shipping. Walmart+ costs $98 per year and includes free shipping on many items, grocery delivery, and fuel discounts. Target Circle is free and offers some shipping benefits, though not as comprehensive as Prime. eBay Plus costs $7.95 per month and covers eBay purchases.
If you use Prime primarily for video streaming, you might cancel Prime and subscribe to individual services like Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu instead. Prime Video alone is not sold separately, but the video content is included in the full Prime membership. Some people keep Prime for shipping and treat the video access as a bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I cancel Prime mid-year?
Amazon does not refund unused time on annual memberships. If you cancel a monthly membership, you keep access through the end of that billing period but receive no refund for the days remaining. If you cancel an annual membership within days of purchase, contact Amazon customer service — they sometimes issue refunds for recent purchases.
Does Prime membership cost more in certain states?
No, Prime costs the same nationwide. Sales tax may apply depending on your state and Amazon's tax policies there, but the base membership price is identical everywhere in the United States. International Prime memberships (UK, Canada, etc.) have different prices set by Amazon in those countries.
What happens to Prime if I'm part of Amazon Household?
All household members share the same Prime benefits as long as they're linked to the account. If the primary account holder cancels Prime, all members lose access immediately. If a member leaves the household, they lose Prime unless they have their own separate membership.
Is Prime Student the same price after graduation?
Prime Student memberships last up to four years from enrollment. After that period ends, your account converts to a regular Prime membership at the full annual price ($139). Amazon sends a notification before the conversion happens, giving you time to decide whether to continue.