Is Amazon Prime Worth It?
Membership comes with many perks to benefit shoppers. However, with the rising costs, is Amazon Prime worth it?
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 Big Deal Days 2026, happening on October 6 and 7.
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 and the perks an Amazon Prime membership offers.
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How much is Amazon Prime?
The monthly Prime membership fee is $14.99, or about $180 a year. Paying monthly can make sense for shoppers who only want Prime for a few months or want access to members-only sale events such as Prime Big Deal Days.
If you plan to keep Prime year-round, the annual membership costs $139, saving you about $41 compared with paying monthly for 12 months. You're charged upfront, and the membership automatically renews every 12 months.
Prime benefits include free Same-Day Delivery in eligible areas, as well as free One-Day and Two-Day Delivery on millions of items.
Members also get access to Prime Video, Amazon Music, unlimited photo storage with Amazon Photos, Prime Reading and discounts and delivery benefits at Whole Foods Market. Prime members can also save 10 cents per gallon at participating bp, Amoco, ampm and Thorntons locations.
If you haven't tried Prime before, Amazon offers eligible new members a free 30-day trial. That gives you a month to decide whether you'll use enough of the shipping, entertainment and other benefits to justify the membership cost.
Amazon also offers Prime Access, a discounted membership for qualifying government assistance recipients and income-verified customers. Eligible programs include SNAP EBT, TANF and Medicaid, among others.
Prime Access costs $6.99 a month, less than half the standard monthly Prime price, and includes the same core Prime benefits. Eligible new members can also get a free 30-day trial.
Is Amazon Prime worth it?
Amazon Prime has a range of benefits that help members save money and get more value. Here are some of the most notable perks included with a Prime membership:
- Free fast shipping: Prime members get free One-Day and Two-Day Delivery on millions of eligible items, plus free Same-Day Delivery on qualifying orders in eligible areas. For frequent Amazon shoppers, shipping savings alone can help offset the cost of membership.
- Prime Fuel Savings: Members can save up to 10 cents per gallon at more than 7,000 participating gas stations. Link your Prime account to the Earnify app to access discounts on gas.
- Grocery savings and delivery: Prime members get grocery delivery benefits through Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market in eligible areas. Frequent grocery shoppers can also subscribe to Amazon's Grocery Pass service for additional delivery benefits on qualifying orders.
- Amazon Pharmacy savings: Prime members can get discounts on eligible prescription medications when paying without insurance or subscribe to RxPass for access to eligible generic medications for $5 per month plus tax. Amazon says Prime prescription discounts can save members up to 80% on generic medications and up to 40% on brand-name prescriptions.
How much does Amazon Prime cost for students?
Amazon offers a discounted Prime membership for higher-education students and young adults ages 18 to 24. Called Prime for Young Adults, the program includes the benefits of a standard Prime membership for about half the price.
Eligible new members can try the service free for six months before paying $7.49 per month or $69 per year. Young adults can verify their age using a driver's license, passport or identity card, while eligible college students can sign up using a .edu email address.
Prime for Young Adults includes benefits such as fast, free shipping, Prime Video, Amazon Music, Prime Reading, Amazon Photos, free Grubhub+ membership and access to Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days.
Members can also earn 5% cash back on eligible purchases in select categories, with additional promotional savings available throughout the year.
For students and younger shoppers who regularly use Amazon, the lower membership price and six-month free trial make it easier to determine whether they'll use enough of the benefits to justify paying for Prime.
The cost of Amazon Prime since launch
- February 2005 to March 2014: $79 per year
- March 2014 to May 2018: $99 per year
- May 2018 to April 2022: $119 per year
- April 2022 to today: $139 per year
Amazon Prime has gotten considerably more expensive since its 2005 launch, but Amazon has also expanded what members get for their money.
Prime originally centered on free Two-Day Shipping, making it easier for shoppers to buy everything from household essentials and electronics to books and apparel online. Amazon has since added faster delivery options and a long list of shopping, grocery and entertainment benefits.
Amazon has also expanded the ways shoppers can look for lower prices, including overstock and clearance products through Amazon Outlet and used, pre-owned and open-box merchandise through Amazon Resale, formerly Amazon Warehouse.
Today, Amazon says it has more than 200 million paid Prime members worldwide. Whether the $139 annual fee makes financial sense, however, depends on how much value you get from the benefits you actually use.
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
- Barnes & Noble annual membership
- Target.com and Target Circle membership
- Spotify Premium
- Apple Music
- Ebay
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