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What is Amazon Prime? Everything you demand to know

If you lot're non a Prime number fellow member, y'all're probably wondering what is Amazon Prime or if it claim your money. Amazon Prime number is more than just expedited shipping. Information technology'due south a subscription service that gives members access to a multifariousness of Amazon perks. Benefits include fast shipping, access to sectional Prime Day deals, free movie streaming, and admission to other services.

For many shoppers, Amazon Prime is a no-brainer for the shipping perks lonely. However, Amazon recently raised its rates from $119 per year to $139 per twelvemonth. Calendar month-to-month rates as well increased from $12.99/calendar month to $14.99/month.

Then if you're hesitant to join the 200 million Amazon Prime members, we don't blame yous. To aid you brand an informed determination, we're breaking downwardly what is Amazon Prime and all the perks you lot get from being a member. From access to Amazon deals to fast shipping, here'southward everything you need to know if yous're wondering what is Amazon Prime number.

What is Amazon Prime?

Amazon Prime number is a paid subscription service that costs $139 per twelvemonth or $14.99 per month. Prime number members receive a wide variety of perks. The biggest perk, however, is complimentary one- or two-day aircraft on about items sold by Amazon. Last year, the company revealed it has over 200 meg paid Prime members worldwide. So if you've e'er wondered what is Amazon Prime number — this should reply your question.

Practice Prime number members go access to Memorial Day deals?

Heads up! Memorial Mean solar day sales are now live. While Amazon generally doesn't offer exclusive Md deals to its Prime members, subscribers may become exclusive access to specific Lightning deals. Also, Prime members could go sectional access to any Memorial Day restocks. Make sure to follow our coverage of the all-time Amazon Memorial Mean solar day sales for the month's best discounts.

Amazon Prime number Gaming

Heads upwards, gamers! Amazon appear a new benefit for its 150 million Amazon Prime members. Amazon Prime Gaming is the latest freebie in Amazon Prime's suite of digital perks. Prime number Gaming is substantially a rebranding of Twitch Prime. (Amazon purchased the alive video-game-streaming site for $970 1000000 back in 2014). That means you get the aforementioned exclusive in-game loot, free monthly games (that are yours to go along forever), and a free monthly Twitch subscription. To claim all of your gaming freebies and benefits, Prime members simply need to log into their account and visit the new Prime Gaming landing folio (opens in new tab).

PS5 and Amazon Prime

PS5 — (Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

If you're hunting for PS5 restock, being a Prime number fellow member could help. Last September, Amazon held its first Prime member just PS5 restock. This past December, Amazon held both PS5 and Xbox Series X drops for its Prime number members. (They sold out within minutes). Another PS5 drop occurred in March and again on April nineteen. All of the drops were exclusive for Prime number members.

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is 1 of the biggest perks of being an Amazon Prime member. Prime number Video offers unlimited streaming of movies and Telly episodes for paid or free trial members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Yous can as well add together video subscriptions to services similar Showtime, Starz, A&East, AMC and many other streaming entertainment channels. In fact, Prime members tin can now get a xxx-day free trial of Paramount Plus (opens in new tab). Amazon is constantly expanding its Prime Video library with new content. For more information, go to About Prime number Video (opens in new tab).

If you recollect you'll be heading abroad, though, Amazon will limit your viewing. In that case, it's worth getting an Amazon Prime VPN so y'all can change your location and spotter everything you lot pay for, wherever you lot are.

Amazon Prime vs. Walmart Plus

Amazon's biggest competitor has launched a new membership service of its own. Walmart Plus is Walmart's answer to Amazon Prime. The $98-year service offers speedy delivery of items purchased on Walmart along with early access to deals, half-dozen free months of Spotify Premium, and discounts on fuel at Walmart gas stations.

Amazon Prime vs. Best Buy Totaltech

Best Purchase Totaltech is a new subscription service designed to take on Amazon Prime. Priced at $199.99 per yr, All-time Buy's service offers unlimited costless shipping, 24/seven tech support, gratis in-home installation of select devices, and two-yr warranty protection on well-nigh purchases at Best Buy. (The latter includes Apple Intendance on Apple purchases). The pilot plan is only available in select cities, so it'southward as well early to tell what kind of impact information technology will have on Prime number members. However, its pricier admission fee may make it a difficult sell for current Prime members.

Prime number members have a new perk. Amazon's digital assistant tin can now notify Prime number members of upcoming deals on products they wish to runway. You'll need to take a newer generation Echo smart speaker or smart display. Yet, information technology could exist a cool perk for existing Prime members. Here's how to have Alexa notify you of upcoming deals.

Amazon Prime Benefits

Although the toll of access isn't cheap, there are many perks associated with an Amazon Prime membership. For instance, Prime members go 10 per centum off on select Whole Foods purchases. Amazon has been doubling down on Whole Foods discounts with new weekly price cuts that save shoppers an average of 20 percent on in-flavour produce, meat, seafood, and other products.

Last October, Amazon announced that Prime members would get free Amazon Fresh deliveries (opens in new tab) on orders of $35 or more than. Amazon Fresh previously required that Prime number members pay an extra $14.99/month. However, Amazon announced that Fresh would now exist free for Prime members who accept previously used the service. (Members who haven't used the service must inquire to exist invited to Amazon Fresh before taking reward of the free delivery).

Prime members also get discounts on digital services like FreeTime Unlimited (opens in new tab), which costs $2.99/month for Prime members or $4.99/month for non-members. And should y'all receive an Amazon Prime number delivery late, Amazon volition try to rectify its mistake.

Students can too benefit from Amazon Prime. If you're a 2- or four-year college student with a valid .edu email, you can get a complimentary six-month trial of Amazon Prime Student (opens in new tab), which gets you all of the benefits of Prime in improver to special student-specific deals and coupons. Subsequently your trial ends, Prime Student will cost you half the price of a regular Prime membership for up to four years or until you lot graduate, whichever comes commencement.

Prime Student membership now comes (opens in new tab) with a deal on Music Unlimited, the paid streaming service that typically costs $seven.99 per month for Prime members. Those college students will get the pick to add the 50-meg rail library of Unlimited (which beats Prime Music's 2 meg count) for $0.99 extra.

Those are just a few of the many features of Amazon Prime. But Prime membership goes beyond just deals. Below are the answers to all of your questions concerning Prime number membership. Too, here's how to cancel an Amazon order.

A.: Amazon lists a variety of reasons why customers who frequent its website may want a Prime subscription. Beneath yous'll notice a few.

Shipping

Gratis two-day shipping on eligible items to addresses in the contiguous U.Southward. and other shipping benefits. For more data, get to Amazon Prime Shipping Benefits (opens in new tab).
Free aforementioned-day delivery in eligible Cipher codes. For more than data, go to Order with Prime Complimentary Same-Mean solar day Delivery (opens in new tab).
Amazon Fresh: Now that Prime Pantry has been suspended, Amazon Fresh is one of the e-tailer'due south main food/grocery delivery services. Amazon Fresh lets Prime members shop groceries, everyday essentials, household items, and more. The service is gratis for Prime members and available in select cities merely. You tin request an invitation here (opens in new tab).
Same-Day Delivery: In select cities, Amazon offers one-hour delivery on tens of thousands of products from local stores. For instance, in New York City you can get commitment of beer, vino and spirits from Westside Market, Union Foursquare Wines, or Vintage Grape. In August 2021, Amazon expanded same-solar day delivery (opens in new tab) to 6 new cities including Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Tampa, Charlotte, and Houston.

Amazon Prime savings

Deals and Discounts, Compliments of Amazon Family: These include 20 percentage off diapers through Subscribe & Save and fifteen percent off eligible products from your infant registry. For more than information, get to Get twenty% off Diaper Subscriptions (opens in new tab) or About the Completion Discount (opens in new tab).
Prime Early Admission: Go thirty-minute early on access to Lightning Deals on Amazon.com and new events on MyHabit.com. For more data, go to About Prime Early Access (opens in new tab).
Video Games: Amazon at present gives Prime number members $10 credits on pre-orders of select video games. Previously, Amazon offered 20 percentage off new, concrete video games during pre-order stages.
Kindle First: Early access for members in the U.S. to download a new volume for free every calendar month from the Kindle Offset picks. For more information, go to Kindle First (opens in new tab).
FreeTime Unlimited: Parents will enjoy savings on FreeTime Unlimited, which brings tons of child-friendly content to your account. Prime members pay $2.99 per calendar month, while non-Prime members pay $4.99.
Whole Foods: Prime members tin savour exclusive savings at Whole Foods locations nationwide. Prime number members also go free 2-hour Whole Foods deliveries via the company'southward Prime Now (opens in new tab) service. Deliveries are available in select cities only. Still, keep in mind Amazon is at present charging a $x service fee in select cities.
Amazon Rewards Visa Card: Prime members with an Amazon Rewards Visa Card (opens in new tab) can earn 5 percent on Amazon.com purchases, 2 percent at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1 percent back on all other purchases. Plus, you lot can get five percent back on your Whole Foods purchases. (Non-Prime number members will get iii percent dorsum). Amazon menu holders can likewise get up to 20% back on select purchases. For example, the retailer is currently offer x% off select Sony TVs (opens in new tab).
But for Prime: Amazon has a special section on its website called Just for Prime number. Here you'll find exclusive deals that only Prime member can enjoy. The deals range from electronics to domicile and kitchen devices. You tin can browse some of the deals here (opens in new tab).

Entertainment: Prime Video, Music and Photos and more

Prime Video: Unlimited streaming of movies and Television receiver episodes for paid or free trial members in the U.South. and Puerto Rico. You lot can also add together video subscriptions to Showtime, Starz, A&E, AMC and many other streaming amusement channels. Amazon is constantly expanding its Prime Video library with new content. For more information, go to About Prime Video (opens in new tab).
Prime Music: Unlimited, advert-free access to hundreds of Prime Playlists and more than a million songs for members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. For more information, go to About Prime Music (opens in new tab). Did you as well know you can get Amazon Music gratis on your Echo?
Prime Photos: Secure unlimited photo storage in Amazon Cloud Drive. For more data, go to About Prime number Photos. If you can look until the holidays, you tin usually discover a deal that gets you a $10 Amazon credit for uploading photos to the Amazon cloud.
Kindle Owners' Lending Library: Accessible to members in the U.S. For more than information, get to Kindle Owners' Lending Library.
Video Add-On Subscriptions: You can social club tertiary-party streaming apps through Amazon Prime to keep all your video content in one place. For case, you can add together Kickoff Someday and HBO Go to your account.
Complimentary Games with Prime Gaming: Amazon offers a selection of free games and in-game loot with Prime Gaming, formerly Twitch Prime. Prime number members likewise get free in-game content for select mobile games like PUBG Mobile.

Other Prime member bonuses

Amazon Elements: Access to Amazon Elements (opens in new tab) products, Amazon'southward ain line of everyday essentials.
Membership Sharing: Ii adults living in the aforementioned household tin create an Amazon Household to share certain Amazon Prime benefits. For more data, go to Nigh Amazon Households (opens in new tab).

Q.: Do I get exclusive admission to deals?

A.: Yes. Amazon frequently makes deals available for for Prime members only. Similarly, a few years ago when Amazon restocked its Nintendo Switch inventory, the console was only bachelor for Prime number members. This may be a sign of things to come where Amazon becomes more like Costco or Walmart, requiring membership before you lot can shop.

Also, Amazon's Elements (opens in new tab) line of products are only available to Prime number members. The product line ranges from infant wipes to vitamins. The thought is that Amazon goes the extra mile of telling you lot exactly where the product came from. (In the example of those wipes, I can tell yous liquid within is 97.nine percent pharmaceutical-class purified water from the White Lick Creek Aquifer in Moorseville, Indiana).

Information technology's worth noting that if you opt for gratis, no-rush shipping (which can take five to vii days), you tin earn money toward music, video and due east-volume purchases. Also, if a Prime number-eligible package arrives after the two-day aircraft guarantee and you reach out to customer service, Amazon may extend your Prime membership past a calendar month.

More: fifteen Best Amazon Prime Perks

Q.: How much does Amazon Prime number price?

A.: Now that you know what is Amazon Prime — information technology's time to look at the costs. The membership fee for Amazon Prime is $119 per twelvemonth or $12.99 per month. The first xxx days of the almanac subscription are complimentary, and you lot tin cancel anytime.

Students can get a generous price break, however. Amazon Educatee accounts go many of the same Prime benefits, and it's free for the first six months. After that, yous volition need to subscribe to Prime, only at a 50 pct discount. During the six-month trial, students can go gratis shipping merely will not exist able to access streaming video and music, or borrow Kindle books. Even so, they will receive full Prime benefits if they cull to subscribe at the discounted price afterward. They'll also become access to exclusive deals, such as specials on video game pre-orders.

Q.: Can I give Amazon Prime as a gift?

A.: Yes. Simply visit Amazon Prime's gifting page (opens in new tab), add it to your cart and follow the instructions to find out how y'all can give a yearlong subscription to a friend or family member. In your cart, earlier you check out, just make sure that the box reading "This particular is a gift" is checked off, and you can fill in the rest of the information when yous pay.

Q.: What is Prime Day?

A.: Prime number Day began in 2015 as a manner for Amazon to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The sale was such a success, that it became an annual summertime event for Amazon. In 2018, Amazon extended the sale to a full 36 hours, making it the longest Prime number Day always. This year, Prime Solar day 2019 lasted 48 hours and Amazon said it sold more than than 175 million items worldwide, which surpasses Amazon's Blackness Fri and Cyber Mon sales combined. Cheque out our Amazon Prime Day page for a recap of the summer sale.

The best Kindle

Q.: What are Amazon Households?

A.: Amazon Households allow two adults and up to four children to share digital Amazon content. Two adults in the same household can share a number of Amazon Prime benefits, including 2-day shipping, streaming video and access to the Kindle Lending Library. To add yourself to — or remove yourself from — a household, follow the instructions on the Amazon help website (opens in new tab).

Q.: Which items get costless ii-day shipping with Amazon Prime?

A.: The vast majority of items that Amazon sells qualify for free ii-solar day shipping with Amazon Prime. Oversize items, such as treadmills and basketball hoops, get free standard aircraft instead. Even so, items sold through 3rd parties (via Amazon Marketplace) are ineligible for any kind of free shipping, unless the seller happens to offer information technology.

More: How to Save Coin on Amazon

Q.: Which Kindle books are bachelor to borrow?

A.: Amazon states that in that location are more than 1 one thousand thousand books available in the Kindle Lending Library. To run across if a volume you want to read qualifies, simply search for it on your Kindle device, Kindle app or the Amazon website, and see if the Prime logo appears side by side to information technology. If and then, a Prime subscription lets you borrow it for one month. If not, yous'll have to pay for it the one-time-fashioned mode.

Q.: What is Amazon Prime number Music?

A.: Amazon Prime Music (opens in new tab) is a streaming music service, like to Spotify or Pandora. Users can choose albums or songs to stream, or let Amazon to create a customized contour to suit their tastes and do it for them. Currently, the service offers more than 2 million songs, merely its selection all the same pales in comparison to those of Spotify and Pandora. Amazon Prime members tin can too download these songs and listen to them online (as long as their Prime number membership remains active). Its newer service, Music Unlimited (opens in new tab), gives you access to "tens of millions" of songs and weekly new releases. If you own an Amazon Echo, y'all can pay $3.99/month for this service, but yous'll only be able to stream on your Repeat device. For $vii.99/month, you'll be able to stream on all of your devices.

Q.: What is Twitch Prime?

A.: Nearly gamers are already familiar with Twitch, the popular game-stream broadcast service, simply may not know about Twitch Prime. Amazon Prime users also get access to Twitch Prime, which allows them to watch Twitch streams completely advert-gratuitous. Monthly in-game bonuses and "Gratuitous Games With Prime" — a selection of free titles for Prime members — are other perks go along. Most recently, Amazon announced that Prime number members will get complimentary in-game content for select mobile games (opens in new tab) starting with in-game items for PUBG Mobile. The in-game content will work with popular titles from EA, Moonton, Netmarble, Wargaming Mobile, and more.

Q.: What is Prime Now?

A.: Prime number Now (opens in new tab) is an app for iOS and Android devices and a website (opens in new tab) that promises free delivery of select items within 2 hours. At the outset, the service was only available in select cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and Phoenix, but the programme has added new cities on a regular basis.

The goods offered are more often than not groceries, toiletries and small gifts, but this should change as Amazon gains additional local partners. You can too order nutrient delivery from some of your favorite restaurants. For case, in New York Metropolis, Eataly, Westside Market, Gourmet Garage, Vintage Grape Wine & Spirits and Baton'due south Baker are amidst the participating businesses. You tin can opt for one-hour delivery if you're in a hurry, merely that will cost you lot an extra $seven.99. To see if your area is within Prime Now'south commitment range, check the Prime Now website. (opens in new tab)

Q.: What is Amazon Prime Video?

A.: Amazon Prime Video is the streaming-video component of Amazon Prime. Like Netflix and Hulu, Amazon Prime offers unlimited streaming of tens of thousands of movies and TV shows. Unlike its ii competitors, withal, Amazon Prime number also allows à la carte rentals and purchases of its content. You can also chose to subscribe to Prime Video only for $8.99/month.

Amazon Prime hosts a number of original series, including hits like Mozart in the Jungle, Transparent, and The Man In The Loftier Castle. Users can also stream older HBO shows, such as The Sopranos, Eastbound & Down and the first season of Veep. Like Netflix, new shows are added continually.

With a Prime membership, you as well get access to the ala bill of fare Amazon Channels subscriptions, where you tin pick and choose the networks you desire, and not pay for annihilation you don't watch. Subscriptions include HBO, Starz, Showtime, PSS Masterpiece, Magnolia Selects, Britbox and Acorn TV.

MORE: Netflix vs. Amazon Prime Instant Video: Confront-Off

Q.: Can I use Amazon's streaming video services without an Amazon Prime subscription?

A.: Yes, but you will accept to purchase or rent each individual piece of content you want to watch. The prices on this content can vary dramatically, from $2 for private Idiot box episodes to $xxx or more for unabridged seasons. Or you lot can sign up for Prime number Video on a monthly basis for $8.99.

Q.: Will a Prime subscription give me access to every streaming video on Amazon?

A.: No. Amazon offers only sure Tv set shows and movies for unlimited streaming. For brand-new movies and recently broadcast episodes of Boob tube shows, for case, you'll have to dish out money for each individual slice of media. Amazon marks its unlimited streaming shows and movies with a Prime graphic beyond the tiptop of the box art; everything else is pay-as-you-go.

Q.: Where tin can I spotter Amazon Prime Video?

A.: Amazon Prime number Instant Video is available on PCs, Macs and Linux computers, equally well every bit all modern and last-gen game consoles. All iOS users tin download an Amazon Prime app, but Android users are not so fortunate. The only Android devices that support Amazon Video are Amazon's own Kindle Burn tablets and Fire TV devices.

The service is available for Roku set-pinnacle boxes, Apple tree Tv set, and about smart TVs, merely not for Google Chromecast. Amazon has also unveiled Fire TV Edition: a line of TVs that runs with the same interface as a Fire TV Cube or Fire TV Stick. An Amazon Prime membership isn't necessary to use the TVs, but could help users go the most out of i.

Q.: Is Amazon Prime Video better than Netflix/Hulu?

A.: The short answer is "no," just the longer answer depends on what you lot're looking for in a service. If you desire the gratis 2-solar day shipping and the free Kindle book, Amazon Prime'south streaming video is a squeamish bonus. The unlimited streaming options are more often than not non as robust equally those offered past Netflix and Hulu, just the cheaper price and extra Prime features may brand it worthwhile for Amazon fans — particularly those who own Kindle Fires or Fire TVs.

Q: What is Amazon Scout?

A.: Amazon is always looking for new means to get people to shop and its latest projection — called Amazon Scout (opens in new tab) — gives consumers product recommendations based on what products they similar or dislike on the Amazon Lookout man page. Currently, the site only features deals on habitation decor, kitchen, and women's shoes.

Q.: What is FreeTime Unlimited?

A.: Prime members save $2 per calendar month on this subscription service that offers thousands of books, movies, Idiot box shows, educational apps and games for children ages 3 to ten years quondam. Recently, Amazon expanded the ages, to likewise include specialty content for kids ages nine to 12. Owners of a new Fire Kids Tablet automatically receive one twelvemonth free. FreeTime Unlimited is accessible through Fire tablets, Fire Boob tube and Kindle east-readers. Parents can granularly sort and filter content based on their own judgement as to what'southward appropriate.

Q.: Why shouldn't I subscribe to Amazon Prime number?

A.: If you lot tend to brand exceptional Amazon purchases that exceed $25, the service is probably not for you. (Spending $25 or more volition get you free aircraft, even without a Prime number membership.) Also, if you lot get your e-books from Barnes & Noble, Apple or Kobo, the gratis Kindle book will non benefit you much. If you already subscribe to Netflix or Hulu, you have access to a wider option of unlimited streaming video than what Amazon Prime offers.

Q.: How can I sign up for Amazon Prime number?

A.: Visit Amazon Prime'southward Web folio (opens in new tab), and follow the instructions. You'll need a free Amazon account likewise as a credit card.

If you determine you want to cancel the subscription (opens in new tab) afterwards, go to your business relationship and select Manage Prime number Membership. Click End Membership if you're currently subscribed, or Do Not Go along if you're on a free trial and practise not wish to start a paid subscription.

Q.: What should I do if my delivery is late?

A.: Although Amazon prides itself on its speedy commitment, occasionally the retailer can drop the ball. There are a few things you can do to avoid an Amazon Prime delivery belatedly, merely Amazon will also rectify things with perks such equally an added gratuitous calendar month of Amazon Prime.

As deals editor at Tom'southward Guide, Louis is constantly looking for means to avert paying total cost for the latest gadgets. With over 10 years of deals-hunting feel, Louis toll checks confronting multiple retailers and searches loftier and low for the best deals to bring readers. A born-and-bred New Yorker, Louis is besides an avid swimmer and marathoner. His work has appeared on Gizmodo, CNET, and Time Out New York.