What Amazon Prime costs and what you get

Amazon Prime is a paid membership that gives you faster shipping on most items sold by Amazon itself, access to Prime Video (movies and TV shows), Prime Music, and other perks. The 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.

The main benefit most people use is free two-day shipping on may be able to access items. Many items in major cities also may have access to for same-day or next-day delivery at no extra charge. Prime Video includes thousands of movies and shows, though some require an additional rental or purchase. Prime Music lets you stream over 100 million songs ad-free, and Prime Reading gives you access to a rotating selection of books, magazines, and newspapers.

If you are a student, Amazon offers Prime Student at $7.49 per month or $69 per year — half the regular price — for the first four years after you sign up. You need a valid .edu email address to start a Prime Student membership.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, with a student rate of $7.49 per month or $69 per year if you have a .edu email address.
  • You sign up directly on Amazon.com by going to the Prime membership page and choosing monthly or annual billing.
  • Your membership starts when ready after payment, and you can cancel anytime without penalty.
  • The main benefit is free two-day shipping on items sold by Amazon, plus access to Prime Video, Prime Music, and other services included in the membership.
  • Amazon offers a 30-day free trial so you can test the membership before you commit to paying.

How to sign up on Amazon.com

Go to amazon.com and click the "Prime" link in the top navigation menu. This takes you to the Prime membership page. If you do not have an Amazon account yet, you will need to create one by entering your email address, creating a password, and providing your name and address.

Once you are logged in, click "Start your 30-day free trial" or "Join Prime" depending on what the page shows. Amazon will ask you to enter or confirm a payment method — a credit card, debit card, or linked bank account. After you confirm your payment information, your membership becomes active when ready, and you can start using Prime benefits right away.

You do not have to enter a credit card to start the free trial, but Amazon does require a valid payment method on file. The trial lasts 30 days, and if you do not cancel before it ends, Amazon will charge you for your first month or year of membership depending on which billing option you chose.

Choosing between monthly and annual billing

Monthly billing charges you $14.99 each month and is easier to cancel if you decide Prime is not worth it for you. You can stop your membership anytime, and you will not be charged again after the current month ends. This option works well if you want to test Prime without a long commitment.

Annual billing costs $139 upfront and saves you about $40 per year compared to paying monthly. If you use Prime regularly — especially if you order from Amazon multiple times per month — the annual option usually pays for itself quickly. You can still cancel an annual membership anytime, and Amazon will refund the unused portion of your payment.

Students should choose the student plan at $7.49 per month or $69 per year. The student membership includes all the same benefits as regular Prime, and you can keep the student rate for four years as long as you remain a student with a valid .edu email address.

What happens after you sign up

Your Prime membership is active as soon as your payment goes through. You can when ready start using two-day shipping on may be able to access items — look for the "Prime" badge on product pages to see which items may have access to. Same-day and next-day delivery are available on many items in major cities at no extra cost.

Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Reading are available right away through your Amazon account. On the Amazon website or app, click "Account & Lists" and then "Your Prime Membership" to see all the benefits you have access to and manage your settings.

If you signed up for the free trial and want to cancel before it ends, go to "Account & Lists," select "Your Prime Membership," and click "End membership." You will keep your Prime benefits through the end of your trial period. If you cancel an annual membership, Amazon processes the refund within a few days.

Using Prime on different devices

Prime Video works on your web browser at primevideo.com, on the Amazon shopping app, and on most streaming devices including Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Chromecast. You can watch on up to three devices at the same time with one membership, though only one stream can play in 4K resolution.

Prime Music is available through the Amazon Music app on your phone, tablet, or computer, and through compatible smart speakers like Echo devices. Prime Reading works through the Kindle app on any device or through a web browser at amazon.com.

Your Prime shipping benefits work the same way everywhere — on the website, the mobile app, or through Alexa voice shopping on Echo devices. Just make sure you are logged into the account that has the Prime membership active.

Managing your membership and billing

You can change your billing method, switch between monthly and annual billing, or pause your membership temporarily through your account settings. Go to "Account & Lists," select "Your Prime Membership," and click "Manage membership." From there you can update your payment information, change your billing cycle, or cancel if you no longer want the membership.

Amazon will send you an email reminder a few days before your next billing date. If you want to cancel before you are charged, you have until the end of your current billing period to do so. Canceling does not affect any other Amazon services or your shopping account — you can still buy from Amazon after Prime ends, you just will not have the free shipping or video and music benefits.

If you have questions about your membership or charges, you can contact Amazon Customer Service through your account. Click "Account & Lists," then "Help," and search for your issue or start a chat with a representative.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, you need an Amazon account to sign up for Prime. Creating an account is free and takes a few minutes — you just need an email address, password, and delivery address. Once your account is set up, you can then join Prime through the membership page.

What if I do not want to use the free trial?

You can skip the trial and pay for a membership directly. On the Prime membership page, look for the option to "Join Prime" without the trial. You will still need to provide a payment method, and your membership will start when ready.

Can I share my Prime membership with family members?

Yes, through Amazon Household. You can link up to two adults and up to four children to one Prime membership, and everyone gets access to Prime shipping, Prime Video, and other benefits. Set this up in "Account & Lists" under "Your Household." Each person needs their own Amazon account.

What if I cancel Prime and want to rejoin later?

You can rejoin Prime anytime by going back to the membership page and signing up again. If you canceled an annual membership partway through, you will not get a refund for the unused time, but you can start a new membership whenever you want. The free trial is available again if enough time has passed since your last membership.

Does Prime membership include anything else besides shipping and video?

Prime includes Prime Music (ad-free streaming of over 100 million songs), Prime Reading (access to books, magazines, and newspapers), Prime Photos (unlimited photo storage), and exclusive deals during Prime Day and other sales events. Some benefits vary by country, so check your account to see what is available in your area.