Amazon Prime membership has two main payment options: monthly or annual, with different prices depending on whether you use other Amazon services

Amazon Prime costs either $14.99 per month or $139 per year if you pay upfront. The annual plan works out to about $11.58 per month. Amazon also offers a discounted Prime membership at $6.99 per month for people who receive certain government benefits, though the may be able to access rules vary by state and change periodically. Students can get Prime for $7.49 per month through Prime Student, which includes a six-month free trial.

The membership gives you free two-day shipping on most items sold by Amazon directly (not all third-party sellers), access to Prime Video for streaming shows and movies, Prime Music for ad-free listening, and Prime Reading for borrowing books and magazines. You also get early access to Lightning Deals during sales events and discounts on Amazon Fresh grocery delivery in some areas. The exact services available depend on your location — Prime Video content varies by country, and Fresh is not available everywhere.

You can pause or cancel your membership at any time. If you cancel within the first 30 days, Amazon will refund your payment. After 30 days, you can still cancel but will not receive a refund for the current billing period.

Key Takeaways

  • Monthly Prime membership costs $14.99, or $139 per year if you pay upfront, with no long-term commitment required.
  • The membership includes free two-day shipping on items sold directly by Amazon, Prime Video streaming, Prime Music, and Prime Reading.
  • Discounted rates of $6.99 per month are available for people receiving certain government benefits, though may be able to access varies by state.
  • You can cancel anytime, but refunds only explore if you cancel within 30 days of your first payment.

What's included in a Prime membership

Prime Video is the streaming service bundled with membership. It includes thousands of movies and TV shows, though the exact catalog changes monthly and varies by country. Some newer movies and shows require an additional rental or purchase fee even with Prime. You can watch on up to four devices at once and read content to watch offline on phones and tablets.

Prime Music gives you access to over two million songs without ads, plus the ability to create playlists and listen offline. It is different from Music Unlimited, which is a separate subscription with a larger catalog. Prime Reading lets you borrow from a rotating selection of books, magazines, and comics at no extra cost — you can have up to 10 titles checked out at once, though you can only read one book at a time.

Shipping benefits explore to items marked "Prime may be able to access" in the Amazon store. Two-day shipping is standard, but some items offer faster delivery, and some orders may have access to for same-day or next-day delivery depending on your location and the seller. Third-party sellers can offer Prime shipping if they use Fulfillment by Amazon, but not all do. Items sold by third parties directly are not may provide to have Prime shipping.

Monthly versus annual payment and when each makes sense

The monthly plan ($14.99) costs more per month than the annual plan ($139 per year, or about $11.58 monthly), but it requires no upfront commitment. You pay only for the months you use it. The annual plan saves you about $40 per year compared to paying monthly, but you must pay the full $139 at once.

Choose monthly if you are unsure whether you will use Prime regularly, want to test the service before committing, or expect to cancel within a few months. Choose annual if you know you will use Prime year-round and want the lower per-month cost. If you pay annually and cancel within 30 days, you get a full refund, so there is no risk in trying the annual plan for a month.

Discounted Prime membership for government benefit recipients

Amazon offers Prime at $6.99 per month for people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary information for Needy Families (TANF), or SNAP benefits. This discounted rate includes the same shipping and streaming benefits as regular Prime. You must verify your benefit status through a third-party verification service when you sign up, and you will need to re-verify every year.

may be able to access rules and the verification process vary by state. Some states use an online verification system, while others require you to mail in documents. Contact Amazon directly or visit your state's SNAP or TANF office to learn the specific steps for your location. The discounted membership cannot be combined with Prime Student or other promotional offers.

Prime Student membership and how it differs

Prime Student costs $7.49 per month or $69 per year and is available to students with a valid .edu email address or through SheerID verification. New Prime Student members get a six-month free trial before the paid membership begins. After the trial ends, you are charged the regular Prime Student rate unless you cancel.

Prime Student includes all the same benefits as regular Prime — shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Reading. The main difference is the lower price and the free trial period. Prime Student membership is available until you graduate or are no longer enrolled as a full-time student. You can keep the membership after graduation by converting to a regular Prime account, which will charge you the standard monthly or annual rate.

How to manage, pause, or cancel your membership

You can view your membership status, change your payment method, and manage your subscription through the "Your Prime Membership" section of your Amazon account. To pause your membership, go to Account > Prime Membership > Manage Membership > Pause Membership. You can pause for up to three months at a time, and your membership will automatically resume after the pause period ends unless you cancel it.

To cancel, go to the same section and select "End Membership." Amazon will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to stay. If you cancel within 30 days of your first payment, you will receive a full refund to your original payment method. Cancellations after 30 days take effect at the end of your current billing period — you keep access to Prime benefits until that date, but you are not charged again.

If you are charged after canceling, or if you believe you were charged in error, you can request a refund through the "Contact Us" section of your Amazon account. Refund requests must be made within a reasonable time of the charge, though Amazon's exact policy on timing is not publicly specified.

Prime membership and taxes or additional fees

The advertised price of Prime ($14.99 monthly or $139 annually) is the total amount you pay — no sales tax is added in most states. Some states do not tax digital services or subscriptions, while others do, but Amazon typically includes any applicable tax in the advertised price rather than adding it at checkout.

Prime membership itself has no hidden fees, but some services bundled with Prime do have optional paid upgrades. Prime Video allows you to rent or buy movies and shows beyond what is included. Prime Music can be upgraded to Music Unlimited for a higher monthly cost. Prime Fresh grocery delivery may have delivery fees depending on your order size and location. These are all optional — the base membership includes the standard versions of each service at no extra charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Prime membership with family members?

Amazon allows you to share Prime benefits with one other adult through Amazon Household, which links two accounts and splits access to Prime shipping, Prime Video, and other benefits. Children can be added to a Household account as well. Both adults must agree to the arrangement, and either can remove the other at any time. Household members do not share payment methods or purchase history unless they choose to.

What happens to my Prime membership if I don't use it for a while?

Your membership continues until you cancel it. Amazon does not automatically cancel inactive accounts. If you want to stop paying but might use Prime again later, you can pause your membership for up to three months instead of canceling. After the pause ends, your membership resumes automatically unless you cancel it beforehand.

Does Prime membership include free returns?

Prime membership does not change Amazon's return policy. Most items sold by Amazon directly can be returned within 30 days for a refund, whether you have Prime or not. Prime does not extend the return window or waive restocking fees. Some items have different return policies regardless of Prime status.

Can I get a refund if I cancel Prime mid-month?

Refunds are only available if you cancel within 30 days of your first payment. After that, cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing period, and you do not receive a refund for the current month. If you were charged twice by mistake or believe there was an error, you can request a refund through your Amazon account.

Is Prime membership worth it if I only want to use Prime Video?

That depends on how much you use Prime Video and whether you value the other included services. Prime Video alone is not sold separately — it only comes as part of Prime membership. If you want to stream without Prime, you would need to rent or purchase individual titles. Compare the cost of Prime ($14.99 monthly) against what you would spend renting or buying shows and movies separately to decide if it makes sense for your situation.