Hey folks, you’ve most likely heard about Amazon Prime if you enjoy buying online, binge-watching shows, or simply searching for handy methods to have daily needs delivered. One of the most well-known subscription programs available today provides a lot of benefits beyond only free shipping.
I’m here to break it all down for you in an understandable manner whether your questions concern the cost, type of benefits you get, or even how to register or cancel. So back off, unwind, and let’s explore the universe of Amazon Prime membership!
The cost of Amazon Prime
Alright, let’s get numbers going. How you want to pay determines the price of an Amazon Prime subscription.
As of now, you’ve got two main options:
- Monthly:
You can pay $14.99 per month. It’s great if you don’t want to commit for a full year or if you’re just testing the waters. - Annually:
If you’re sure you’re in it for the long haul, the annual plan costs $139, which ends up saving you about $40 compared to the monthly payments. Not bad, right?
Prime has been around for some time, and the price has surely changed over years. Starting at just $79 annually, it makes sense why the price has risen given all the extra benefits Amazon continues introducing.
Just so you know, prices have also climbed elsewhere, including Europe, where certain nations have seen rises of up to 43%.
But if you’re feeling like $139 a year is a bit too much for your budget, don’t worry! Amazon offers some ways to make it more affordable:
- Free 30-Day Trial:
First-timers can try out Prime for free for 30 days. It’s a sweet deal if you want to test all the features without committing right away. - Prime Student:
If you’re a student, you get a great deal! It’s only $7.49 per month or $69 for a whole year. Plus, there are extra discounts and offers just for students. - Government Assistance:
If you qualify for programs like EBT or Medicaid, you can get Prime for just $6.99 per month for up to four years.
If you’re simply interested in free shipping but not ready to delve into the whole Prime experience, you can still enjoy free delivery if you spend $35 or more on certain items. For alternative, if you buy the same things on a regular basis, you can get free delivery and save 15% by subscription to specific items.
What Does a Prime Membership Include?
Alright, let’s discuss everything you receive with an Amazon Prime subscription; spoilers alert: it’s much more than just free shipping. Many individuals first join for the swift deliveries, but they soon find that Amazon Prime offers benefits in many other spheres, including entertainment and shopping as well as healthcare and beyond.
Let me thus guide you through all the benefits of becoming a Prime member so you may decide whether that monthly or annual subscription is worth it.
1. Free Delivery
One of the biggest reasons people sign up for Amazon Prime is for the free delivery benefits. It’s not just about getting your stuff quickly, but also about flexibility and convenience.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Free Two-Day Shipping:
This is the classic benefit that most people associate with Prime. For eligible items, you can expect them at your door in just two days. - Free One-Day Shipping:
In some cases, you don’t even have to wait two days. On select items, one-day shipping is available with no minimum purchase. - Free Same-Day Delivery:
If you live in an eligible ZIP code, orders over $25 can arrive the same day! If your order is under $25, it’s still available for just $2.99. - Release-Date Delivery:
Pre-ordered something you’re super excited about? Prime members get free release-date delivery on select pre-order items like video games or books. - No-Rush Shipping:
If you’re not in a hurry, you can choose no-rush shipping, which can sometimes come with a small reward or credit for future purchases. - Amazon Day Delivery:
Want all your packages delivered on the same day each week? Amazon Day Delivery allows you to schedule a day that works for you, helping you consolidate deliveries and reduce your carbon footprint. - In-Garage Delivery:
If you’re worried about porch pirates, Amazon has you covered. Through Amazon Key, you can get your orders delivered right into your garage.
It’s free on your designated Amazon Day but costs $1.99 on other days.
2. Shopping Perks
Being a Prime member also gives you access to exclusive shopping perks that can save you money and make your life easier.
- Prime Day/Big Deal Days:
You probably know about Prime Day, Amazon’s giant sales event. As a Prime member, you get exclusive access to these mega sales, where prices on tons of items are slashed. - Whole Foods Discounts:
Since Amazon owns Whole Foods, Prime members get exclusive discounts when shopping in-store. Plus, in select cities, you can get two-hour delivery on groceries. - Amazon Fresh:
Speaking of groceries, Amazon Fresh is another Prime perk where you can get 1-hour pickup or 2-hour delivery in over 2,000 U.S. cities and towns.
Prime members get free delivery on orders over $100, or if you pay an extra $9.99 per month, you can get unlimited grocery deliveries from Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and other local retailers on orders over $35. - Try Before You Buy:
This is an awesome perk for fashion lovers. You can try on clothes at home before deciding if you want to keep them. No pressure to buy! - Amazon Elements:
Prime members have access to Amazon Elements, a line of everyday essentials like vitamins and supplements, ensuring quality products at great prices. - Shopbop & Zappos:
If you love online shopping, you’ll enjoy free shipping and returns on Shopbop. Plus, you can link your Prime account with Zappos for free upgraded shipping on all orders. - Woot!:
Prime members also get free standard shipping on all Woot! orders, with free express shipping on shirts.
3. Included Subscriptions and Services
Now, here’s where things get even better. Your Prime membership comes with a bunch of subscriptions and services that can keep you entertained and organized:
- Prime Video:
Prime Video is loaded with movies, TV shows, original content, live sports, and more. You get 4K and HDR streaming, and you can download content to watch offline.
Recently, they added an ad-supported tier, but for an extra $2.99 per month, you can remove ads and get premium features like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. - Amazon Music Prime:
Enjoy over 100 million songs with Amazon Music Prime. You’re limited to shuffle play, though, so if you want on-demand streaming, you’ll need to upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for $9.99 a month (or $5.99 for a single-device plan). - Prime Gaming:
Every month, Prime members get access to free PC games, in-game loot, and a selection of titles on Amazon Luna.
Plus, you get a free Twitch channel subscription, exclusive chat benefits, and extra storage for past broadcasts. - Prime Reading:
Bookworms will love this one. You can borrow thousands of books, magazines, and comics with Prime Reading.
You also get access to Amazon First Reads, which lets you snag one free eBook each month and gives you early access to new releases. - Amazon Photos:
Got tons of photos to store? Prime offers unlimited full-resolution photo storage and 5GB of video storage through Amazon Photos. - Amazon Kids+:
For $4.99 a month, you can get access to Amazon Kids+, which includes a vast library of kid-friendly content along with parental control options.
If you buy a Kids Edition device like an Echo Dot or Fire Tablet, you get a free year of Kids+.
4. Medical Care
Believe it or not, Prime also extends into the world of healthcare. Here’s how:
- Amazon Pharmacy:
Get your medications delivered with free two-day shipping or same-day delivery in select cities. Plus, you’ll enjoy exclusive discounts on medication. - RX Savings:
With RX Savings, Prime members can save up to 80% on prescriptions at participating pharmacies when paying without insurance. - RXPass:
For just $5 per month, Prime members can get access to all eligible medications through RXPass. - One Medical:
For an additional $9 per month (or $99 per year), Prime members can get access to One Medical, which includes in-office doctor visits and 24/7 virtual care.
You can also add family members for $6 per month each.
5. Food Delivery with Grubhub+
If you’re a fan of food delivery, Prime members get a sweet deal with Grubhub+. Normally costing $9.99 per month, this service is free for Prime members.
You’ll enjoy free delivery on orders over $12, plus exclusive in-app perks and rewards.
How to Sign Up for Amazon Prime
You then are ready to be part of the Prime family? fantastic! Sign-up is quick and quite simple. Here is a methodical guide to get you going:
- Visit the Amazon Prime page:
Visit the official Amazon website and search for the Prime membership sign-up area. - Sign in or Create an Account:
Just log in, if you already have an Amazon account. If not, it creates one in a few short minutes. It only requires your name, email address, and password. - Begin your 30-day free trial here:
You will find a Start your free 30-day trial option here. You are in when you click it. Though Amazon may request your financial information up front, be assured—they won’t charge you until the free trial time ends. Should you decide it is not for you, just cancel before the trial finishes to avoid being charged a dime.
Boom, you’re now a proud Amazon Prime member! From free shipping to unlimited Prime Video streaming, savor all the benefits that follow.
How to Cancel Amazon Prime
Alright, so perhaps you’re just not using it as much as you expected or maybe you tried Amazon Prime and found it’s not your cup of tea. Not a concern! Your membership is straightforward to cancel; you won’t have to jump through hoops.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Your Amazon Account:
Once logged in, go to the Account & Lists part located in the top right corner of the Amazon homepage. - Find Prime Membership:
Click your Prime Membership to get all the information of your subscription, including renewal date. - Manage Membership:
Update, Cancel, and More should all be choices available. Choose that and at the bottom will find End Membership. - Confirm Cancellation:
Amazon will probably want to keep you as a member by giving you choices to pause your membership or retain specific advantages. Should you be adamant about canceling, simply select Cancel My Benefits and then Continue to Cancel to validate your choice.
Until the conclusion of your current billing cycle, you will still have access to all the Prime features; thus, if you cancel midway through the month, you would still be able to use Prime until your next payment would have been due.
Conclusion
You now have it, folks! Beyond merely quick, free shipping, Amazon Prime comes loaded with advantages. There’s a little bit for everyone whether it’s access to exclusive offers, Prime Video streaming of your favorite shows and movies, or Amazon Fresh delivery of groceries right to your door.
Yes, the cost has increased over time, but given so many advantages, it’s clear why millions of consumers find Prime addictive. If you are unsure, I advise trying the free 30-day trial. All the features can be tested to see if they fit your way of living.
And canceling is easy if it’s not your thing. If you are like most of us, though, once you get in you will wonder how you ever managed without it.
