What Amazon Prime is and how to sign up

Amazon Prime is a paid membership that gives you faster shipping on most items sold by Amazon itself, access to Prime Video (Amazon's streaming service), and other perks. You sign up directly through Amazon.com by going to the Prime membership page, choosing a plan, and entering a payment method.

Amazon offers three main membership options: a monthly plan (currently around $14.99 per month), an annual plan (currently around $139 per year), or a student plan through Prime Student (currently around $7.49 per month for students with a valid .edu email). The exact prices vary by region and change periodically, so check Amazon's website for current rates.

You can start and stop your membership at any time. If you pay monthly, you can cancel before your next billing date. If you pay annually, you can request a refund for the unused portion if you cancel within the first 30 days.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon Prime costs either monthly or annually, with a lower student rate available through Prime Student.
  • The main benefit is free two-day (or faster) shipping on items sold directly by Amazon, though some items ship slower.
  • Prime Video, Prime Reading, and other services are included in the membership at no extra cost.
  • You can cancel anytime, and annual members can get a refund if they cancel within 30 days.
  • Amazon offers a free trial period so you can test the membership before paying.

What shipping speeds you actually get

Prime membership promises free two-day shipping on may be able to access items. In practice, this means the item will arrive within two business days of when you place the order, not counting weekends or holidays. Many items in major cities now arrive in one day or the same day at no extra cost.

Not every item qualifies. Items sold by third-party sellers (rather than Amazon directly) may not be Prime-may be able to access even if they appear in search results. Books, groceries, and heavy items sometimes have different shipping speeds. The product page always shows whether an item qualifies for Prime shipping before you buy.

If you need something faster than two days, Amazon offers one-day and same-day shipping on many items for an additional fee, even without Prime membership. Prime members sometimes get these faster options at a discount or included, depending on the item and location.

Prime Video and other included services

Prime Video is Amazon's streaming service included with your membership. It has movies, TV shows, and original series. You can watch on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV through apps like Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, or Samsung Smart TV. You can create separate profiles for different household members.

Prime Reading lets you borrow books, magazines, and comics at no extra cost — though the selection is smaller than a library. Prime Music gives you access to a music catalog (also smaller than Spotify or Apple Music). Prime Photos offers unlimited photo storage for photos taken on your phone or camera.

Amazon also runs periodic deals and early access sales for Prime members. During Prime Day (usually in July) and other sale events, members see discounts before non-members. These are not may provide savings — you still need to compare prices — but the deals are often real.

How much Prime actually saves you

Whether Prime pays for itself depends on how much you order from Amazon and how much you value the other services. If you order fewer than 12 items per year that would otherwise cost $15 or more to ship, the annual membership probably costs more than it saves on shipping alone.

The math changes if you use Prime Video regularly, borrow books through Prime Reading, or take advantage of the sales. If you live in a rural area where shipping is normally expensive, or if you order groceries through Amazon Fresh (available in some cities), the savings can be larger.

One way to test this: use the free trial for a month and track what you actually order and what you actually watch. That real number matters more than any estimate.

Free trial and how to cancel

Amazon offers a 30-day free trial of Prime membership. During the trial, you get all the same benefits as a paid member — two-day shipping, Prime Video, everything. You do not need a credit card to start the trial, though you will need one on file if you want to continue after the trial ends.

To cancel before being charged, go to Your Account > Memberships and Subscriptions > Prime Membership, then select "End Membership" or "Cancel Prime." Amazon will ask why you are leaving and may offer you a discount to stay. You can ignore that and proceed with cancellation.

If you are charged and want your money back, you can request a refund within 30 days of the charge. Go to the same menu and select "View Benefits" or "Manage Membership," then look for a refund option. Amazon usually processes refunds within a few business days.

Student Prime and family sharing

Prime Student is a separate membership for people with a valid college or university email address (.edu). It costs less per month than regular Prime and includes the same shipping and video benefits. The student rate is meant to last for four years, after which it converts to regular Prime pricing.

Regular Prime membership does not include a built-in family plan. However, you can share your Prime benefits with one other adult in your household through Amazon Household. Both people get access to the same Prime shipping and video account, though they keep separate purchase histories and wishlists. You can add up to four children to the household as well, with parental controls available.

If you live with someone else and both want separate Prime accounts, you each need to pay for your own membership. Amazon does not offer a discounted multi-person plan.

Prime membership on other devices and regions

Prime membership works on Amazon.com and through the Amazon mobile app on iPhone, Android, iPad, and Android tablets. If you have an Amazon Fire tablet or Fire TV device, Prime Video is built in and straightforward to access.

International Prime memberships vary by country. If you travel or move, your membership may not work the same way in a different region. For example, Prime Video content differs by country due to licensing. Contact Amazon customer service if you are unsure whether your membership covers your current location.

Some Amazon services like Prime Fresh (grocery delivery) and Prime Now (fast delivery) are only available in certain cities. Check Amazon's website to see which services are available in your zip code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use someone else's Prime membership to get free shipping?

If you are part of their Amazon Household, yes — you get the same Prime benefits. If you are not, you cannot use their membership. Sharing a login with someone outside your household violates Amazon's terms of service.

What happens to my Prime membership if I don't use it for a while?

Nothing. Your membership stays active and you keep paying until you cancel it. Amazon does not automatically pause or refund unused memberships. If you know you will not use it for several months, canceling and restarting later is cheaper than paying for months you do not use.

Does Prime membership include returns and refunds?

Prime membership does not change Amazon's return policy. You can return most items within 30 days of delivery whether you are a Prime member or not. Prime members sometimes get slightly longer return windows on certain items, but this is not may provide.

Can I get a discount on Prime if I have low income?

Amazon offers Prime for SNAP recipients (people receiving Supplemental Nutrition information Program benefits) at a reduced rate. You will need to verify your SNAP status through your Amazon account. The discount is not automatic — you have to set it up in your account settings.

What is the difference between Prime Video and Prime membership?

Prime Video can be bought separately without Prime membership for around $14.99 per month. If you buy full Prime membership, Prime Video is included along with shipping and other benefits. Buying Prime Video alone is cheaper if you only want the streaming service and do not care about shipping.