What you get with Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is a streaming service included with an Amazon Prime membership, or you can pay for it separately. The membership gives you access to thousands of movies and TV shows to watch on demand, plus some live sports and events depending on your region. You watch through the Prime Video app on your phone, tablet, computer, or connected TV device.

The service works on most devices: smartphones and tablets running iOS or Android, computers with a web browser, Amazon Fire TV devices, Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and some gaming consoles. You can watch on up to three devices at the same time on the same account, though only one stream can play in 4K resolution.

Amazon also offers Prime Video Channels, which are add-on subscriptions you can layer on top of Prime Video. These are separate services like Paramount+, Starz, or Showtime that you pay extra for each month. You manage them all in one place through your Prime account.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon Prime Video costs $14.99 per month as a standalone subscription, or $139 per year if you bundle it with full Amazon Prime membership.
  • An Amazon Prime membership that includes Prime Video, free shipping, and other benefits costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month.
  • You can add premium channels like Paramount+, Starz, or Showtime for extra monthly fees through Prime Video Channels.
  • Prime Video works on phones, tablets, computers, and most streaming devices, with the ability to watch on up to three devices at once.
  • Some content requires an additional rental or purchase fee beyond your subscription, shown clearly before you play it.

Pricing for Prime Video alone versus full Prime membership

If you only want to watch Prime Video and do not care about Amazon's other benefits, you can pay $14.99 per month for Prime Video by itself. This gives you the streaming service only — no free shipping, no Prime Music, no Prime Reading, and no other Prime perks.

If you get a full Amazon Prime membership, the cost is $139 per year or $14.99 per month. This includes Prime Video plus free two-day shipping on most items, Prime Music (a music streaming service), Prime Reading (access to books and magazines), and other rotating benefits. The yearly option works out to about $11.58 per month if you pay the full amount upfront.

Amazon also offers a Prime membership for students through Prime Student, which costs $69 per year or $7.49 per month and includes Prime Video along with the same shipping and other benefits as regular Prime.

What costs extra beyond the subscription

Some movies and TV shows on Prime Video are included with your subscription, but others require you to rent or buy them separately. When you search for a title, the price appears clearly before you start watching — you will see "included with Prime" or a rental price like "$3.99" or a purchase price like "$14.99". You are never charged without seeing the price first.

Rentals typically let you watch for 24 to 48 hours depending on the title. Purchases stay in your account permanently. Both rental and purchase prices vary by title and sometimes by video quality (standard definition versus HD versus 4K).

Prime Video Channels are the other add-on cost. If you want to watch Paramount+, you pay an additional $5.99 to $11.99 per month depending on the plan you choose. Starz costs around $8.99 per month. Showtime costs around $10.99 per month. You can add or remove these channels anytime, and they bill separately from your Prime Video subscription.

How to start and manage your subscription

To get Prime Video, you create an Amazon account and choose either the Prime Video standalone subscription or a full Prime membership. You provide a payment method — a credit card, debit card, or other option Amazon accepts in your country. Your subscription renews automatically each month or year depending on which plan you chose.

You can cancel anytime through your Amazon account settings. Go to "Manage Your Prime Membership" or "Manage Your Prime Video Membership" depending on which you have, and select the option to cancel. Your access ends at the end of your current billing period — if you cancel mid-month on a monthly plan, you keep access until the next billing date.

To watch, read the Prime Video app or go to primevideo.com and sign in with your Amazon account. You can create a profile for yourself and separate profiles for other household members, each with their own watchlist and recommendations.

Differences between Prime Video and other streaming services

Prime Video's library is different from Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu. It includes some original shows and movies made by Amazon Studios, like The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. It also carries licensed content from studios and networks, though which titles are available changes regularly as licensing agreements expire and renew.

Unlike Netflix, which focuses only on streaming, Prime Video is bundled with other Amazon services if you get full Prime membership. Unlike Disney+, which is owned by Disney and focuses on Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars content, Prime Video carries a broader mix of studios and independent films.

Prime Video Channels let you add specific services without subscribing to them separately. For example, you can add Paramount+ through Prime Video Channels instead of going to Paramount's website and creating a separate account. The price is usually the same, but everything bills in one place.

Watching offline and video quality

You can read some titles from Prime Video to watch later without an internet connection. Not every title allows downloads — the option appears on the title's page if it is available. Downloaded content stays on your device for a set period, usually 30 days, though some titles have different expiration rules.

Prime Video streams in different video qualities depending on your internet speed and the device you are using. Standard definition (SD) works on most connections. HD requires a faster connection and is available on most devices. 4K Ultra HD requires the fastest connection and is only available on certain devices like Fire TV, some smart TVs, and some computers. Your subscription includes all quality levels — you do not pay extra for HD or 4K, but your internet speed and device determine what you actually get.

Sharing your account with household members

Amazon allows you to share your Prime Video subscription with people in your household. You can create separate profiles for family members, each with their own watchlist, recommendations, and viewing history. However, only three devices can stream at the same time on one account, and only one of those streams can play in 4K.

Amazon's terms say Prime membership is for personal use by the member and their household. Sharing with people outside your household or using the account in multiple locations may violate the terms, though Amazon has not enforced this strictly for casual sharing. If you share widely or use the account in ways Amazon considers commercial, your account could be suspended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a free trial of Prime Video?

Amazon occasionally offers free trial periods for new Prime members, but this varies by region and changes over time. Check Amazon's website to see if a trial is currently available in your area. If you sign up for a trial, it converts to a paid subscription automatically unless you cancel before the trial ends.

What happens if I cancel my Prime membership but want to keep Prime Video?

You can switch from a full Prime membership to Prime Video only. Go to your account settings and downgrade to Prime Video standalone. You will lose free shipping and other Prime benefits, but keep access to Prime Video at the lower monthly price.

Does Prime Video work outside the United States?

Prime Video is available in many countries, but the library of content, pricing, and features vary by location. If you travel outside your home country, you may not be able to watch all the same titles. Check Amazon's website for your specific country to see what is available.

Can I watch Prime Video on multiple TVs at the same time?

Yes, up to three devices can stream at once on one account. If a fourth device tries to play at the same time, one of the other streams will stop. Only one of the three simultaneous streams can play in 4K resolution.

Do I need Amazon Prime to watch Prime Video?

No. You can pay for Prime Video as a standalone subscription without buying full Prime membership. You get only the streaming service — no shipping benefits or other Prime perks. The standalone price is $14.99 per month.