What Amazon Prime is and who pays for it
Amazon Prime is a paid membership that gives you faster shipping on purchases from Amazon.com, along with access to video streaming, music, and other services. You pay Amazon a yearly or monthly fee — the amount varies depending on whether you choose annual or monthly billing, and whether you are a student or a regular member. Amazon charges your payment method on a set schedule until you cancel.
Prime is optional. You do not need it to shop on Amazon, but without it you pay per-item shipping fees or wait longer for delivery. With Prime, most items ship free and arrive in two business days or faster, depending on your location and the item.
The membership covers only you — the person whose name and payment method are on the account. If someone else in your household wants Prime benefits, they either need their own membership or you can add them as a household member on your existing account, which lets them use your Prime benefits without paying separately.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Prime costs less per month if you pay yearly upfront than if you pay month to month, and student memberships cost less than standard memberships.
- Prime includes free two-day shipping on most items, but some items ship slower and some do not may have access to for Prime shipping at all.
- You can add household members to your Prime account so they get the same shipping and streaming benefits without paying separately.
- Canceling Prime stops your charges when ready, but you lose access to Prime shipping and video streaming right away.
- Amazon offers a free trial period before your first charge, so you can test the service before committing to pay.
Prime membership tiers and what each one costs
Amazon offers three main Prime membership options. Standard Prime is the full membership with all benefits. Prime Student is for people currently enrolled in a four-year college or university, and costs less than standard Prime. Prime Video is a separate, cheaper option that gives you only the video streaming part of Prime, without the shipping benefits.
The cost of each tier depends on how you pay. If you pay for a full year upfront, the annual cost is lower per month than if you pay month to month. Month-to-month billing costs more because you are not committing to a full year. Student memberships last for four years from the date you sign up, then convert to standard Prime unless you renew your student status.
When you first sign up for Prime or Prime Student, Amazon gives you a free trial period — usually 30 days for standard Prime and 6 months for Prime Student — before your first charge. During the trial, you get full access to all Prime benefits. If you cancel before the trial ends, you are not charged.
What you get with a Prime membership
The main benefit is free shipping. Items marked "Prime" on Amazon.com ship free and arrive within two business days in most U.S. locations. Some items arrive faster — one-day or same-day delivery is available in many cities. Items not marked Prime do not may have access to for free shipping, even with a membership.
Prime Video is included with standard Prime. It is a streaming service with movies, TV shows, and original series you can watch on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV. You do not pay extra — it is part of your membership. Prime Video also includes the ability to rent or buy additional movies and shows that are not included in the standard catalog.
Prime also includes Prime Music, which lets you stream a limited catalog of songs, and Prime Reading, which gives you access to a rotating selection of e-books and magazines. Amazon Photos provides unlimited photo storage in the cloud for Prime members. These benefits are less commonly used than shipping and video, but they are included at no extra cost.
How to sign up and manage your membership
To sign up for Prime, go to amazon.com and look for the Prime membership option. Amazon will ask for your payment method and billing address. You choose whether to pay monthly or yearly, and whether you want the standard membership or Prime Student (if you are may be able to access). Then you enter your payment information and confirm.
Once you are signed up, you can manage your membership from your Amazon account settings. Go to "Your Account," then "Memberships and Subscriptions," then "Prime Membership." From there you can see your current plan, your next billing date, and the option to cancel or change your membership type.
If you add a household member, they sign into Amazon with their own account, and you authorize them as a household member from your account settings. They then get access to Prime shipping and video without needing their own membership. You can remove household members at any time.
Canceling Prime and what happens to your benefits
To cancel Prime, go to your account settings and select "End Membership" on the Prime Membership page. Amazon will ask you to confirm, and may offer you a discount to keep your membership. If you proceed with cancellation, your membership ends when ready and you stop being charged.
When you cancel, you lose access to Prime shipping right away — items no longer ship free, and you pay regular shipping fees. You also lose access to Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Reading. If you had a free trial active when you canceled, you are not charged at all.
If you cancel mid-month or mid-year, Amazon does not refund the portion of your membership you did not use. However, if you cancel during a free trial period, you are not charged anything.
Prime shipping: what qualifies and what does not
Not every item on Amazon qualifies for Prime free shipping. Items must be marked with the Prime badge — a small label that says "Prime" — to ship free. Most items sold directly by Amazon have the Prime badge. Items sold by third-party sellers sometimes have it and sometimes do not, depending on whether the seller uses Amazon's fulfillment service.
Even Prime items have shipping limits. Very large or heavy items may not may have access to for two-day delivery, though they may still ship free. Some items ship only to certain locations. Grocery items and fresh food usually do not may have access to for Prime shipping at all, even though Amazon offers grocery delivery through a separate service called Amazon Fresh.
If you order multiple Prime items, they may arrive in separate shipments depending on where Amazon's warehouses are located and when the items are in stock. Prime guarantees free shipping and two-day delivery for each item, not a single combined shipment.
Household members and sharing Prime benefits
Amazon allows you to add up to two household members to your Prime account. A household member is someone who lives at the same address as you. They sign into Amazon with their own account, and you authorize them as a household member from your account settings. Once authorized, they get the same Prime shipping and video benefits as you, without paying separately.
Each household member has their own order history and payment method, so they can order items independently. However, they all use the same Prime membership for shipping and video access. If you cancel Prime, all household members lose those benefits when ready.
You can remove a household member at any time from your account settings. When you do, they lose access to Prime shipping and video, but they keep their Amazon account and order history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pause my Prime membership instead of canceling it?
Amazon does not offer a pause option. You can only cancel your membership. If you want to stop paying temporarily, you must cancel and then sign up again later. If you cancel during a free trial, you can sign up again and get another trial period, though the length may vary.
What is the difference between Prime Video and standard Prime?
Prime Video is video streaming only — you get movies and TV shows but no free shipping. Standard Prime includes video streaming plus free two-day shipping, Prime Music, Prime Reading, and Amazon Photos. Prime Video costs less because it does not include the shipping benefits.
Do I have to use my Prime membership every month to keep it active?
No. Your membership stays active as long as you keep paying. You do not have to place orders or use Prime Video to maintain it. Your membership renews automatically on your billing date unless you cancel.
Can I change from monthly to yearly billing without losing my membership?
Yes. You can change your billing frequency from your account settings. If you switch from monthly to yearly, Amazon will charge you the yearly amount and adjust your next billing date. If you switch from yearly to monthly, your next charge will be the monthly amount on your annual renewal date.
What happens to my Prime membership if I move to a different address?
Your Prime membership stays active. You can update your address in your account settings. If you move outside the United States, your membership may no longer work, depending on where you move. Contact Amazon customer service if you are moving internationally.