Is Amazon Prime Worth It?
Membership comes with many perks to benefit shoppers. However, with the rising costs, is Amazon Prime worth it?
Bob Niedt
There are many reasons to consider signing up for an Amazon Prime subscription. Among them are perks like free shipping, exclusive Prime Original movies and TV shows on Prime Video, millions of tunes via Prime Music, plus access to lots of deals and huge sale events like Amazon Prime Day.
Amazon is regularly finding new ways to draw in would-be subscribers, but all these extras come at a cost. There have been a few price hikes over the years, with the current price being $14.99 per month or $139.99 annually.
If you haven't joined Amazon Prime yet, or you are considering resubscribing for Prime Day, read on to learn more about the various plans on offer, and some of the great perks an Amazon Prime membership will get you.
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How much is Amazon Prime?
The monthly Prime membership fee is $14.99, for a total of about $180 a year. Paying monthly is a good option for shoppers who only want to sign up so they can get access to sale events like Prime Day.
If you're looking to save the most money possible, the annual Amazon Prime membership fee is $139, saving you $40 a year compared to the monthly option. You're charged upfront, and the annual membership auto-renews every 12 months.
Perks include free same-day (if offered in your area), one and two-day shipping, access to Prime Video, unlimited music streaming and photo storage, as well as access to Prime Reading (aka Kindle book and magazine downloads), Whole Foods discounts and delivery options, and much more.
If you haven't tried the service before, Amazon is offering a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime membership. So if you're not ready to commit to an annual membership, you can test the waters for free for one month before you buy in.
Amazon has also introduced Prime Access, a discounted membership available to qualifying recipients of government assistance programs like SNAP EBT, TANF and Medicaid (among others).
Prime Access costs just $6.99 a month (more than 50% off the standard monthly cost) but comes with all the benefits of a regular Prime membership. For the full list of eligible programs, head to the About Amazon page on Prime Access.
Is Amazon Prime worth it?
Beyond fast shipping and exclusive shopping events, Amazon Prime includes a range of benefits that can help members save money and get more value from the service throughout the year. Here are some of the most notable perks included with a Prime membership:
- Free same-day or next-day delivery on eligible items, with no order minimum.
- Prime Fuel Savings gives members up to 10 cents off per gallon at over 7,000 participating gas stations. All you have to do is link your Prime account to the earnify app to enjoy unlimited discounts on gas.
- Prime members can take advantage of grocery delivery perks through Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market in eligible areas. Frequent grocery shoppers can also subscribe to Amazon's Grocery Pass service for unlimited delivery benefits on qualifying orders.
- Amazon Pharmacy is a full-service online pharmacy that offers Prime members savings on many prescription medications. Members can use their insurance, pay without insurance using Prime prescription discounts or enroll in RxPass, which provides access to eligible generic medications for $5 per month plus tax. Amazon says Prime members can save up to 80% on generic medications and up to 40% on brand-name prescriptions when paying without insurance.
- Prime members in eligible areas can use Amazon Key to have certain packages delivered inside their garage rather than left at the front door. Availability and requirements vary by location.
- Prime Video includes access to a broad selection of movies, TV shows and Amazon Originals.
How much does Amazon Prime cost for students?
Amazon offers a discounted Prime membership for students and young adults ages 18 to 24. Called Prime Young Adult, the program includes all the benefits of a standard Prime membership for half the price. Eligible members can currently try the service free for six months before paying $7.49 per month or $69 per year.
To enroll, you'll need to verify either your age or your student status. Students can keep the discounted membership for up to four years or until graduation, while non-student members remain eligible until they age out of the program.
Prime Young Adult includes many of the same benefits as a standard Prime membership, including fast shipping, Prime Video, Prime Day access, Grubhub+ membership, Amazon Music Prime, Prime Reading, Amazon Photos and savings at Whole Foods Market. Members may also receive access to exclusive offers and discounts throughout the year.
This discounted membership can be a cost-effective option for college students and younger shoppers who want Prime's benefits without paying the full membership price.
The cost of Amazon Prime since launch
- February 2005 - March 2014: $79 per year
- March 2014 - May 2018: $99 per year
- May 2018 - April 2022: $119 per year
- April 2022 - to date: $139 per year
For many, the price increases don't matter, especially for shoppers who are too busy to visit multiple brick-and-mortar stores to pick up everything on their shopping lists; from groceries and gadgets to books and apparel.
The Amazon Prime subscription-based service has made buying these items online a whole lot easier — now offering overstock items from Amazon Outlet and second-hand items from Amazon Resale (formerly Amazon Warehouse).
The core benefit of Amazon Prime is free same-day or two-day shipping — that was there at the launch — but over the years, Amazon has added many other perks that have lured more than 200 million shoppers worldwide into ponying up for an annual or monthly Prime membership.
Alternatives to Amazon Prime
If the price of membership has you considering canceling Amazon Prime, you may be interested in exploring the alternatives to Amazon Prime. Many of these substitutes offer competitive benefits or discounts, but help you hone in on the deals that matter most to you. Some of those services are:
- Walmart Plus
- Newegg.com
- Scribd (audiobooks and e-Books)
- Barnes & Noble annual membership
- Target.com and Target Circle membership
- Spotify Premium
- Apple Music
- Ebay
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