What Amazon Prime Video Is

Amazon Prime Video is a streaming service that comes with an Amazon Prime membership. When you pay for Prime, you get access to thousands of movies and TV shows to watch on demand — meaning you choose what to watch and when, without a broadcast schedule. You can watch on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV, and pause, rewind, or restart whenever you want.

Prime Video is not sold separately as a standalone product in most cases. It is bundled into the full Amazon Prime membership, which also includes free two-day shipping on may be able to access items, Prime Music (a music streaming service), and other benefits. Some countries offer Prime Video as a standalone subscription, but in the United States it is part of the Prime package.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon Prime Video comes as part of an Amazon Prime membership, which costs a monthly or annual fee and includes shipping benefits and other services.
  • You can watch on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs, and you can read some titles to watch offline.
  • Prime Video includes ads on some titles, but you can pay extra for an ad-free version.
  • You can create separate user profiles within one account so family members have their own watch history and recommendations.
  • Some movies and shows are included with Prime, while others require an additional rental or purchase fee.

How to Start Watching Prime Video

To watch Prime Video, you first need an Amazon Prime membership. You can sign up on Amazon.com or through the Prime Video app on your device. Amazon offers a monthly plan and an annual plan; the annual plan costs less per month if you commit for a year. You will need a valid payment method (credit card, debit card, or other option Amazon accepts in your region).

Once your membership is active, you can read the Prime Video app to your phone, tablet, or smart TV, or visit the Prime Video website on a computer. Sign in with your Amazon account, and your library of included titles will appear. You do not need to do anything extra to "turn on" Prime Video — it is automatically part of your membership.

What's Included vs. What Costs Extra

Your Prime membership includes thousands of movies and TV shows at no additional cost. These titles are labeled "Included with Prime" in the app. You can watch them as many times as you want, and new titles are added regularly while others rotate out.

Some content requires an extra payment. You may see a "Rent" or "Buy" button on a movie or show that is not included with Prime. Rentals let you watch for a set period (usually 24 to 48 hours), while purchases let you keep the title permanently in your library. Rental and purchase prices vary by title. You can also subscribe to add-on channels through Prime Video — services like Paramount+, Starz, or Showtime — which appear as separate subscriptions on your bill.

Ad-Supported vs. Ad-Free Viewing

Amazon Prime Video now includes ads on many included titles. If you want to watch without ads, you can pay an additional monthly fee for an ad-free experience. This is separate from your Prime membership cost and is optional. You can switch between the ad-supported and ad-free versions at any time.

The ad-free option does not remove ads from rental or purchase titles — only from the included library. If you choose the ad-free plan, you will still see ads on any content you rent or buy separately.

Watching on Multiple Devices and Profiles

You can watch Prime Video on as many devices as you own, as long as you sign in with the same Amazon account. You can watch on your phone while someone else watches on the TV at the same time. However, the number of people who can stream at once depends on your membership type — typically two streams at standard definition or one at higher quality, though this can vary.

Prime Video lets you create separate user profiles within one account. Each profile has its own watch history, recommendations, and watchlist. This is useful for families so that children's shows do not clutter an adult's recommendations, and vice versa. You can set parental controls on individual profiles to restrict content by rating.

Downloading and Watching Offline

Many titles in the Prime Video library can be downloaded to your phone or tablet through the Prime Video app. Once downloaded, you can watch without an internet connection — useful for travel or commuting. Downloaded titles expire after a set period, which varies by title, so you cannot keep them forever.

You can read to one device at a time per profile, and the number of titles you can have downloaded simultaneously may be limited. Check the app to see which titles offer the read option, as not all content can be downloaded.

Canceling Your Membership

You can cancel your Amazon Prime membership at any time through your Amazon account settings. If you cancel mid-month on a monthly plan, your access ends when ready and you do not receive a refund for the unused portion. If you cancel an annual plan, you lose access right away as well, with no refund unless Amazon made an error or you cancel within a specific window after purchase (which varies by region).

If you cancel, you lose access to Prime Video and all other Prime benefits. You can rejoin later by signing up again and paying the current membership fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Prime Video on my smart TV?

Yes. The Prime Video app is available on most smart TVs, including Samsung, LG, Sony, and others. You can also use a streaming device like a Fire Stick, Roku, Apple TV, or Chromecast to watch Prime Video on any TV with an HDMI port. Sign in with your Amazon account on the device, and your library appears on the big screen.

What happens if I share my password with someone outside my household?

Amazon's terms of service state that Prime memberships are for personal use within a household. Sharing passwords with people outside your home violates the terms. Amazon has begun sending notices to accounts that detect password sharing from different locations and may require additional verification or restrict access. To watch legally in a different household, that person needs their own Prime membership.

Can I watch Prime Video in other countries?

Prime Video is available in many countries, but the library of titles varies by region due to licensing agreements. If you travel, you can usually watch on your account, but some content may not be available outside your home country. Rental and purchase options also vary by location.

Do I have to pay for Prime Video if I only want shipping benefits?

No. In the United States, Prime Video is included with Prime membership — you cannot buy Prime shipping without also getting Prime Video. However, you can choose the ad-supported version of Prime Video at no extra cost, or pay extra for ad-free viewing if you prefer.

What's the difference between renting and buying a movie?

A rental gives you access to watch a movie for a limited time, usually 24 to 48 hours from when you start watching. After that time expires, you cannot watch it unless you rent again. A purchase lets you keep the movie in your library permanently and watch it as many times as you want. Purchases cost more than rentals.