What Amazon Prime costs and what you get

Amazon Prime is a paid membership that gives you faster shipping on most items, access to Prime Video for movies and TV shows, Prime Music for ad-free streaming, and other benefits. The standard membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year if you pay upfront — the yearly option saves you about $40 compared to paying monthly.

Amazon also offers Prime Student for college students at $7.49 per month or $69 per year, which includes the same shipping and video benefits. If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or certain other government benefits, you may be able to get Prime for $5.99 per month through the Prime Access program.

When your membership starts, you get free two-day shipping on millions of items marked "Prime may be able to access." You also unlock same-day or next-day delivery in many areas for an additional fee per order, and free one-day shipping on select items. Prime Video lets you watch thousands of movies and TV shows without ads, and Prime Music gives you access to over 100 million songs.

Key Takeaways

  • You can sign up for Amazon Prime directly on Amazon.com using an existing Amazon account or by creating a new one.
  • Standard Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, with a free 30-day trial available for new members.
  • Prime Student costs half the price and is available to college students with a valid .edu email address.
  • You can cancel your membership at any time through your account settings, and you will not be charged again after your current billing period ends.
  • Prime Access offers the same benefits at $5.99 per month for people receiving SSI or SNAP benefits.

How to sign up on a computer or phone

Go to amazon.com and look for the "Prime" link at the top of the page. Click or tap it, then select "Start your free trial" or "Join Prime" depending on whether you are a new member. You will be taken to a page showing the membership options — choose between monthly ($14.99) or yearly ($139).

If you already have an Amazon account, you will be asked to confirm your password. If you do not have an account yet, you will need to create one by entering your email address, creating a password, and providing your name and address. Amazon will then ask for a payment method — a credit card, debit card, or Amazon gift card balance.

After you enter your payment information, your membership starts immediately. You will see a confirmation page and receive a confirmation email. Your free 30-day trial begins right away, and you will not be charged until the trial period ends.

Using the free 30-day trial

When you start a new Prime membership, you get 30 days free before your first charge. During this trial, you have full access to all Prime benefits — two-day shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, and everything else. You can use the trial period to test whether the membership is worth the cost for your household.

If you decide Prime is not for you, you can cancel before the 30 days end and you will not be charged. To cancel, go to Your Account on Amazon.com, select "Memberships and subscriptions," find Prime, and click "Cancel membership." You will be asked why you are canceling, but you do not have to answer — just confirm the cancellation.

If you do nothing during the trial period, Amazon will automatically charge you on day 31. Your membership will then continue on a monthly or yearly basis depending on which option you chose when you signed up.

Prime Student and Prime Access options

If you are a college student, you can sign up for Prime Student at amazon.com/student. You will need a valid .edu email address to verify your student status. Prime Student costs $7.49 per month or $69 per year and includes the same shipping and video benefits as standard Prime. The membership lasts for four years, after which it converts to standard Prime at full price unless you cancel.

Prime Access is available to people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or who are on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To sign up, go to amazon.com/primeaccess and follow the steps to verify your benefits. You will need to provide proof of your current SSI or SNAP enrollment. Prime Access costs $5.99 per month and includes the same benefits as standard Prime.

Managing your membership after you join

Once you are a member, you can manage your subscription through Your Account on Amazon.com. Select "Memberships and subscriptions," then "Prime membership" to see your current plan, billing date, and payment method. From this page you can update your payment information, switch between monthly and yearly billing, or cancel your membership.

If you want to pause your membership instead of canceling, Amazon does not offer a pause option — you either stay subscribed or cancel. However, you can cancel and rejoin later without losing any benefits or history on your account.

Prime membership is tied to your Amazon account, not to a specific device. You can use your Prime benefits on any device where you sign in with your Amazon account — your phone, tablet, computer, or Fire device. If you share your Amazon account with family members, they will also have access to Prime benefits.

What happens if you share an account

If multiple people in your household use the same Amazon account, you all get Prime benefits from a single membership. This works well for families who do not mind sharing a single account. However, Prime Video viewing history and recommendations will be mixed together for everyone on that account.

Amazon also offers Amazon Household, which lets you link up to two adult accounts and up to four teen or child accounts under one Prime membership. Each person gets their own account, recommendations, and viewing history while sharing the Prime benefits. To set up a Household, go to Your Account, select "Memberships and subscriptions," find Prime membership, and look for the Household option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I change my mind after being charged?

Amazon will refund your membership fee if you ask within a few days of being charged, especially if you have not used Prime benefits yet. Contact Amazon Customer Service through the Contact Us page on Amazon.com, explain that you want to cancel and receive a refund, and they will usually process it. After the refund, your membership ends immediately.

Does Prime membership include free shipping on everything?

No. Free two-day shipping only applies to items marked "Prime may be able to access." Most items are Prime may be able to access, but some are not — you can see which items may have access to before you add them to your cart. Same-day and next-day delivery cost extra per order, even for Prime members.

What is the difference between Prime Video and Prime Music?

Prime Video is a streaming service for movies and TV shows, similar to Netflix. Prime Music is a music streaming service with over 100 million songs, but with fewer features than Spotify or Apple Music. Both are included in your Prime membership at no extra cost.

Can I use Prime if I do not have an Amazon account?

No. You must have an Amazon account to join Prime. Creating an account is free and takes a few minutes — you just need an email address, a password, and your name and address. You can create an account at amazon.com without joining Prime first.

What happens to my Prime membership if I do not order anything for a long time?

Your membership stays active and you will continue to be charged on your billing date, even if you do not place any orders. If you are not using Prime, you can cancel at any time through Your Account. You will not be charged again after your current billing period ends.