When Amazon Prime started in 2005, it was a membership that offered free two-day shipping on a wide range of things, from cat litter to chocolates; novels to beach towels. In this article, we’ll go deeper into what is Amazon Prime, the benefits, membership fee and why it is worth it.
Many say that if Prime had only a speedy, free shipping service, the $139 yearly fee (or less, depending on your circumstances) would be worth it based on how much money may be saved in shipping expenses.
However, Amazon Prime is now much more than a two-day shipping membership. It has evolved into a one-stop shop for entertainment, groceries, clothing, parenting supplies, and so much more.
Let’s go over the fundamentals to help you decide if an Amazon Prime subscription is good for you.
What is Amazon Prime?
What is Amazon Prime? Amazon Prime has always prioritized and will continue to prioritize rapid shipment. Members in the Continental United States (and many other countries) receive free two-day shipping on a wide range of Prime products. Members in some zip codes can obtain free one-day or even same-day delivery on orders over $35.
If you are not a Prime member, you must order at least $25 in eligible items to receive free shipping.
Aside from the convenience of speedy shipping, Prime members can enjoy a slew of other benefits, such as:
- Free two-hour grocery delivery: When members buy groceries and other necessities from Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods, they may have them delivered to their door in under two hours.
However, the availability of this service is contingent on a number of circumstances, including the city in which they live and whether their purchase satisfies the minimum expenditure threshold.
Members receive select pre-ordered items delivered to their doorstep for free on the day of release, rather than having to wait for them to be dispatched when they become available to the general public.
- Earn rewards with No-Rush Shipping: Members can choose No-Rushing Shipping to postpone their order by a few days in exchange for rewards that can be redeemed on future purchases.
- Unlimited movie and TV streaming: With Prime Video, you can watch thousands of movies, TV shows, and Amazon Originals.
Unlimited music streaming: Prime Music members have access to 2 million ad-free tracks, as well as a lower price on Amazon Music Unlimited, which has a larger collection of about 60 million songs.
Members can choose from hundreds of books, magazines, and comics to read for free with Prime Reading.
- Prime Day access: Prime members have access to Amazon’s annual two-day mega sale.
Prime Early Access members get a 30-minute head start on Amazon’s various Lightning Deals, which are exclusive deals that are only available for a limited time.
- Free gaming: Prime Gaming (previously Twitch Prime) provides subscribers with a slew of free games and expansions for popular titles to try each month, as well as a free Twitch subscription.
Free cloud storage: Members receive unlimited photo storage as part of their membership and an additional 5 GB of free video storage. Amazon also has annual cloud storage options available. These are priced at $19.99 per year for 100 GB and $59.99 per year for 1 TB.
- Exclusive discounts for families: Amazon Family lets parents save money on a variety of childcare necessities, including diapers, baby food, and child-proofing equipment, all for free.
The advantages listed above merely scrape the surface. Check out how to cancel an Amazon order for more information.
How much does Amazon Prime cost?
Amazon offers a 30-day free trial. Aside from that, the cost of Amazon Prime is determined by the plan you select:
Standard Amazon Prime membership: If you sign up for a full year, the annual charge is $139. You can also make a monthly payment of $14.99.
Amazon Prime Student subscription: If you’re a student with a valid school email address, you may save money on your Prime membership by paying $69 per year or $7.49 per month.
Discounted Prime membership for EBT and Medicaid cards. If you have an EBT or Medicaid card, you can get a reduced Prime subscription for $6.99 per month.
These options provide complete access to Amazon Prime. However, if you only want Prime Video as a separate membership, you’ll have to pay $8.99 per month.
Keep in mind that if you sample Amazon Prime for free for 30 days, the trial will automatically renew, and your credit card will be charged. Of course, you can prevent such fees by cancelling your Amazon Prime membership on time.
A quick tip: To sign up for the one-month free trial of Amazon Prime, go to Amazon and sign in. Then, hover your cursor over Prime in the top menu and select Try Prime FREE for 30 days.
How to share Amazon Prime benefits
It’s worth noting that Amazon Prime users can freely share their perks.
By signing up for Amazon Household, two adults with separate Amazon accounts can split their monthly or yearly bills in half.
Because the accounts are linked by address and payment methods, you should do this with someone you trust, such as a partner or roommate.
Is Amazon Prime worth it?
The value of an Amazon Prime membership is determined by your shopping habits, whether you’re purchasing for yourself or a family, and how much you use the aforementioned features.
The enticement of free shipping is enough for many consumers to justify the price. If you spend more than $139 per year on shipping alone, that may be enough to convince you to sign up.
If you’re still debating if Amazon Prime is worth the money, consider the streaming possibilities. Amazon Video, Music, and Gaming are all expanding services in the Amazon universe.
At the end of the day, an Amazon membership may not be for everyone, but those that feel it’s worthwhile will do so based on convenience, possible savings, and entertainment choices.
What is Amazon Prime FAQs
What is the price of Amazon Prime?
Now that you understand what Amazon Prime is, it’s time to look at the prices. The membership price of Amazon Prime is $119 annually or $12.99 monthly. Your subscription can be cancelled at any time within the first 30 days.
However, students can benefit from the reduced membership fee. For the first six months, a subscription is absolutely free, and many of the same Prime perks apply to Amazon Student accounts. Following that, you must subscribe to Prime, albeit at a 50% discount.
For the first six months, students can get free delivery, but they will be unable to gain access to streaming video and music or borrow Kindle books. They’ll also have access to exclusive promotions, such as pre-order discounts on video games.
Can Amazon Prime be sent as a gift?
Yes. Simply go to Amazon Prime’s gifting page (which opens in a new tab), add it to your cart, and follow the instructions to learn how to give a yearlong subscription to a friend or family member. Before you check out, just make sure the box that says “This purchase is a present” is checked in your cart, and you may fill in the rest of the information when you pay.
What exactly is Prime Day?
Amazon Prime Day debuted in 2015 as a way for the company to commemorate its 20th anniversary. Amazon increased the deal to 36 hours in 2018, making it the most extended Prime Day ever.
What exactly are Amazon Households?
Amazon households allow up to four children and two adults to share digital Amazon content. Two adults living in the same house can share Amazon Prime perks such as two-day shipping, streaming video, and access to the Kindle Lending Library. Follow the steps on the Amazon assistance website to add or delete oneself from a household.
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