What you get with each Amazon subscription
Amazon offers several separate subscriptions, and they do not all bundle together. Amazon Prime is the main membership — it costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year and includes free two-day shipping on most items, Prime Video streaming, Prime Music, and Prime Reading. You can also pay $7.99 per month for Prime Video alone if you only want the movies and TV shows, without shipping or the other perks.
Prime Video as a standalone subscription gives you access to thousands of movies and TV series, plus live sports events and original shows that Amazon produces. It does not include shipping or music. If you already have full Prime membership, Prime Video is included at no extra cost.
Amazon also sells subscriptions to specific services through Prime Video Channels — these are add-ons like Paramount+, MGM+, and Starz that you can layer on top of Prime Video or buy separately. Each channel costs between $2.99 and $11.99 per month depending on which one you choose.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Prime at $139 per year includes shipping, Prime Video, music, and reading, while Prime Video alone costs $7.99 per month for streaming only.
- You can add individual streaming channels like Paramount+ or Starz to Prime Video for $2.99 to $11.99 per month each.
- Amazon Music Unlimited is a separate $11.99 per month subscription for unlimited song streaming, different from the included Prime Music.
- Student Prime costs $7.49 per month and includes the same benefits as regular Prime, with a six-month free trial available.
- You can cancel any Amazon subscription at any time through your account settings, and your access stops at the end of your current billing period.
Amazon Prime membership tiers and pricing
The standard Amazon Prime membership costs $139 per year when you pay upfront, or $14.99 per month if you pay monthly. Both give you identical benefits — the yearly option just saves you money if you plan to stay subscribed for the full year. You can switch between monthly and yearly billing at any time, though the change takes effect on your next renewal date.
Amazon also offers Prime Student for people with a valid .edu email address or a student ID from a participating school. Prime Student costs $7.49 per month or $69 per year and includes all the same benefits as regular Prime. New Prime Student members get a six-month free trial before the paid subscription begins.
If you live in a rural area where two-day shipping is not available, Amazon offers a discounted Prime membership at a lower rate. You can check whether you may have access to by entering your zip code on Amazon's Prime page.
What Prime Video includes and how to add channels
Prime Video comes with your Prime membership or as a $7.99 per month standalone subscription. The service includes movies, TV series, documentaries, and live sports — the exact catalog changes monthly as Amazon adds and removes titles. You can watch on any device with the Prime Video app: phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and streaming devices like Roku or Fire Stick.
If you want additional streaming services, you can add Prime Video Channels directly through your Prime Video account. These are third-party subscriptions that bill through Amazon instead of requiring a separate account. Common channels include Paramount+ ($5.99 to $11.99 per month), MGM+ ($5.99 per month), Starz ($8.99 per month), and Showtime ($10.99 per month). You can add or remove channels at any time, and they cancel when ready when you remove them.
Prime Video also offers a free tier with ads — you can watch a limited selection of movies and shows at no cost, though you will see advertisements during playback. This is separate from Prime membership and does not require payment.
Amazon Music and other included benefits
Prime membership includes Prime Music, which lets you stream over two million songs ad-free. This is different from Amazon Music Unlimited, which is a separate subscription costing $11.99 per month for individuals or $14.99 per month for a family plan. Music Unlimited gives you access to over 100 million songs and higher audio quality, but it is not included with Prime.
Prime membership also includes Prime Reading, which gives you access to a rotating selection of ebooks, magazines, and newspapers at no extra cost. You can read one title at a time on any device with the Kindle app or on a Kindle e-reader. This is different from Kindle Unlimited, which costs $11.99 per month and lets you read unlimited ebooks from a larger catalog.
Prime members also receive Prime Photos, which offers unlimited photo storage in the cloud for full-resolution photos. This is included with Prime membership and does not count against your Amazon Drive storage limit.
How to manage and cancel subscriptions
To view all your active Amazon subscriptions, go to Your Account on Amazon.com, select "Memberships and subscriptions," and then click "Manage subscriptions." This page shows every subscription you have through Amazon, including Prime, Prime Video Channels, and any other services you have added.
To cancel Prime membership, go to Memberships and subscriptions, find Amazon Prime, and select "Cancel membership." Amazon will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to stay — you can accept or decline. Your Prime benefits stop at the end of your current billing period, not when ready. If you paid for a full year upfront and cancel early, Amazon does not refund the unused portion.
To remove a Prime Video Channel, go to Prime Video, select "Your memberships," find the channel you want to remove, and click "Cancel channel." The channel stops when ready, and you will not be charged again. You can add it back at any time.
Comparing Amazon subscriptions to similar services
If you only want streaming video without shipping, Prime Video at $7.99 per month is cheaper than most standalone streaming services. Netflix Standard (with ads) costs $6.99 per month, while Netflix Standard without ads costs $15.49 per month. Disney+ costs $7.99 per month with ads or $13.99 without ads. Hulu costs $7.99 per month with ads or $14.99 without ads.
If you want shipping benefits plus streaming, full Prime membership at $139 per year works out to about $11.58 per month. Whether that is worth it depends on how often you order from Amazon and whether you use Prime Video regularly. If you rarely order and do not watch Prime Video, a standalone streaming service might be cheaper.
Amazon Music Unlimited at $11.99 per month is comparable to Spotify Premium ($11.99 per month), Apple Music ($11.99 per month), and YouTube Music Premium ($11.99 per month). The main difference is which devices integrate best with each service and which songs are available in each catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a free trial of Amazon Prime?
Amazon does not currently offer a free trial of Prime membership for new members. However, Prime Student members get a six-month free trial before their paid subscription begins. If you have an may be able to access .edu email address, you can sign up for Prime Student to test the service before paying.
Does Prime membership include Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods discounts?
Prime membership includes discounts on Whole Foods purchases and free delivery on Amazon Fresh orders in select areas. The availability of Amazon Fresh varies by location — you can check whether it is available in your zip code on Amazon's website. Whole Foods discounts are available to all Prime members nationwide.
What happens to my Prime membership if I do not use it for a while?
Your Prime membership stays active as long as you keep paying. Amazon does not cancel memberships for inactivity. If you want to stop paying, you must manually cancel through your account settings.
Can I share my Prime membership with family members?
Yes, you can add up to four adults and unlimited children to your Prime membership through Amazon Household. Each adult has their own account and can use Prime benefits independently. Children have limited access and cannot make purchases without permission.
Do I have to watch ads on Prime Video?
Prime Video included with Prime membership is ad-free. The free tier of Prime Video (which does not require Prime membership) includes ads. If you pay for Prime Video as a standalone subscription, you get ad-free viewing.