What Amazon Prime costs and what you get

Amazon Prime is a paid membership that costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year if you pay upfront. Students pay $7.49 per month or $69 per year with a valid .edu email address. The membership includes free two-day shipping on millions of items, access to Prime Video (movies and TV shows), Prime Music (ad-free streaming), and Prime Reading (rotating selection of books and magazines).

You do not need Prime to shop on Amazon, but non-members pay shipping on most orders or wait longer for delivery. Prime members also get early access to Lightning Deals during sales events and can use Prime Day shopping events. The membership renews automatically each month or year depending on which plan you chose.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, with a discounted student rate of $7.49 per month or $69 per year.
  • You sign up directly through Amazon.com by adding a payment method to your account and confirming the membership plan.
  • Your membership starts when ready after you confirm, and you can cancel anytime without penalty if you signed up monthly.
  • Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Reading are included with your membership at no extra cost.
  • If you have an Amazon Household, you can share Prime benefits with up to one adult and four teens or children on the same account.

How to sign up on Amazon.com

Go to amazon.com and sign in to your account. If you do not have an Amazon account, create one by entering your email address, creating a password, and confirming your name and address. Once you are signed in, click on the account menu (usually in the top right corner) and select "Prime membership" or navigate directly to amazon.com/prime.

Choose between the monthly plan ($14.99) or annual plan ($139). If you are a student, select the student plan and enter your .edu email address to verify may be able to access. Add or confirm a payment method — Amazon accepts credit cards, debit cards, and some other payment options depending on your location. Review the membership details and click the button to confirm. Your membership becomes active when ready.

Student and family discount options

Students with a valid .edu email address can join Prime Student for $7.49 per month or $69 per year. You will need to verify your student status through SheerID, a third-party verification service. The process takes a few minutes and requires your .edu email address or a photo of your student ID. Prime Student includes all the same benefits as regular Prime.

If you share an Amazon account with family members, you can set up an Amazon Household to share Prime benefits. One adult can invite another adult, and you can add up to four teens or children. Each person gets their own login and sees their own recommendations, but all household members share the Prime shipping and video benefits. Set this up in your account settings under "Household and Family Library."

What happens after you sign up

Your membership is active when ready. You can start using Prime shipping on may be able to access items right away — look for the Prime badge on product listings. Two-day shipping is the standard, but many items in major cities ship faster. You can also start watching Prime Video by going to primevideo.com or using the Prime Video app on your phone, tablet, or smart TV.

Your payment method will be charged on the same day each month (for monthly plans) or on your annual renewal date (for yearly plans). Amazon sends you a reminder email a few days before each charge. If you want to cancel, you can do so anytime through your account settings — you will keep access until your current billing period ends.

Canceling or pausing your membership

To cancel Prime, go to your account settings and find "Manage Prime Membership." Click "End membership" and choose your reason. Amazon may offer you a discount to stay, but you can decline. If you cancel a monthly membership, you lose access at the end of that billing month. If you cancel an annual membership, you lose access at the end of that year.

Amazon does not offer a pause option, but you can cancel and rejoin later without losing any information. If you cancel within the first 30 days, Amazon may refund your membership fee depending on how much you have used Prime shipping. After 30 days, cancellations are not refunded, but you keep access until your billing period ends.

Prime benefits beyond shipping

Prime Video includes thousands of movies and TV shows. Some content is included with membership; other titles are available to rent or buy separately. You can watch on up to three devices at the same time and read shows to watch offline on the Prime Video app.

Prime Music is an ad-free music streaming service with over two million songs. It is more limited than services like Spotify or Apple Music but is included at no extra cost. Prime Reading gives you access to a rotating selection of ebooks, magazines, and newspapers. Prime Gaming (formerly Twitch Prime) includes free games each month, in-game content, and a free Twitch channel subscription if you watch live streams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I try Prime for free before paying?

Amazon occasionally offers a free trial period for new members, usually 30 days, but this is not always available. Check amazon.com/prime to see if a trial is currently offered in your region. If a trial is available, you will see the option during signup. Your payment method will be charged when the trial ends unless you cancel beforehand.

What if I only want Prime shipping and not the video service?

Prime is a bundle — you cannot separate the services. However, you can ignore Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Reading if you only want the shipping benefit. There is no option to pay less for shipping alone.

Does Prime membership work internationally?

Prime membership is country-specific. A US Prime membership works on amazon.com and includes shipping within the United States. If you travel or move to another country, you would need a membership in that country's Amazon store. Some benefits like Prime Video may work in certain countries, but shipping benefits do not cross borders.

Can I change my payment method after I sign up?

Yes. Go to your account settings, find "Payment options" or "Manage payment methods," and add or update your card. You can also change your payment method through "Manage Prime Membership" if you want to use a different card specifically for your Prime charges.

What if I forget to cancel and get charged?

Contact Amazon Customer Service through your account or by phone. If you were charged within the last 48 hours, you can request a refund when ready. For charges older than that, Amazon may refund you depending on your account history and reason for the request. The refund process typically takes three to five business days.