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What Amazon Prime Costs (and Everything It Gets You)

Amazon Prime costs $14.99 monthly or $139 annually in the U.S., with delivery, streaming, music, photo storage, and other benefits. Several popular services—including ad-free video, One Medical, and RxPass—cost extra, so the value depends on what you use.
From TheFinanceBase Team8 min to read
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Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year for the standard U.S. plan. Paying annually saves $40.88 compared with 12 monthly payments, before tax. Amazon’s Prime membership page lists these prices. But the membership is no longer just a shipping program: it combines delivery, streaming, music, cloud storage, shopping deals, grocery perks, gaming, and several discounts.

The value depends on which benefits you actually use. Prime Video includes ads in the U.S., grocery delivery is not universally free, and services such as Kindle Unlimited, Amazon Music Unlimited, RxPass, and One Medical still cost extra.

Amazon Prime prices

Plan Price Who can qualify
Regular Prime $14.99/month or $139/year Eligible U.S. customers
Prime for Young Adults $7.49/month or $69/year People ages 18–24; higher-education students of any age may also qualify
Prime Access $6.99/month Qualifying government-assistance recipients and income-verified customers, including eligible SNAP EBT and Medicaid recipients

Prices and eligibility are listed by Amazon Prime, Prime for Young Adults, and Prime Access. New eligible customers may receive a 30-day trial. Eligible Prime for Young Adults members may receive a six-month trial. Amazon can limit trial eligibility if you have used a qualifying Prime trial or membership before.

Monthly versus annual Prime

The annual plan costs $139. Twelve months on the monthly plan cost $179.88, so the annual option saves $40.88 per year. The annual plan becomes cheaper after roughly 9.3 months of membership. If you expect to use Prime for at least 10 months, paying annually is generally the lower-cost choice. These comparisons use the prices listed on Amazon Prime.

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  • Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
  • No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.

What shipping benefits does Prime include?

Prime provides free delivery on more than 300 million eligible items in the U.S., according to Amazon’s Prime benefits guide. Depending on the product, your address, inventory, and order timing, the delivery choices may include:

  • Same-Day Delivery
  • One-Day Delivery
  • Two-Day Delivery
  • Standard Prime delivery
  • Amazon Day delivery, where available

Prime does not make every Amazon shipment free or guarantee two-day delivery on every product. Marketplace sellers, oversized or restricted items, remote locations, and some delivery addresses can have different rules. Check the product page and checkout screen for the actual Prime badge and promised date.

Prime benefits can also be used on participating non-Amazon websites through Buy with Prime. That only applies when the merchant offers Buy with Prime and you complete checkout through that service; it is not a blanket free-shipping benefit for all online stores. See Buy with Prime’s writing guidelines.

Prime Video: included content, but ads by default

Prime includes access to a rotating selection of movies, television shows, Amazon MGM Originals, licensed programming, and some live sports through Prime Video. Look for the Included with Prime label. Other titles may require a rental, purchase, or separate subscription.

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In the U.S., regular Prime Video includes limited ads. Ad-free viewing is not automatically part of Prime. Amazon’s current ad-free upgrade is Prime Video Ultra, which costs an additional $4.99 per month and includes:

  • Ad-free viewing
  • Up to five concurrent streams
  • Up to 100 downloads
  • Exclusive 4K/UHD access

These Ultra price and feature details are from Amazon’s Prime Video Ultra announcement. Prime Video Channels, premium networks, and other streaming services offered inside Prime Video are separate paid subscriptions. A Prime membership also does not include every sport or live sporting event.

Amazon Music Prime

Prime includes Amazon Music Prime, which offers 100 million songs with no ads, along with ad-free podcasts, playlists, stations, and other listening features. You can shuffle any artist, album, or playlist from the expanded catalog. Selected All-Access Playlists support on-demand playback and offline listening. These details are listed in Amazon Music’s FAQ.

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  • No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.

Music Prime is not Amazon Music Unlimited. Unlimited provides broader on-demand access and additional features for a separate fee. The frequently repeated claim that Prime includes only 2 million songs is outdated.

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Alexa+ is now a Prime benefit

U.S. Prime members receive Alexa+ at no additional cost. Amazon lists the standalone price at $19.99 per month. Prime members receive unlimited access across supported Alexa devices, Alexa.com, and the Alexa app, although features and device availability vary. See Amazon’s Alexa+ availability and pricing information.

Older Prime benefit lists may omit Alexa+. It is a current benefit, subject to availability in your region and on your devices.

Reading and photo storage

Prime Reading

Prime Reading provides a rotating selection of e-books, digital magazines, comics, and other reading material. It is not the full Kindle catalog and does not include every Kindle Unlimited title.

Amazon Photos

Prime members receive:

  • Unlimited full-resolution photo storage
  • 5 GB of video storage

The unlimited allowance applies to photos, not videos. If you store more than 5 GB of video, you need another storage option or a paid upgrade. See Amazon’s Amazon Photos storage details.

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Gaming benefits

Prime includes changing gaming benefits through Amazon’s gaming ecosystem, including a rotating selection of games playable through Amazon Luna. The games and other offers change over time, so Prime should not be treated as a permanent fixed game library. See Amazon Games for current offers.

Grubhub+ access

U.S. Prime members can activate free Grubhub+ access while their Prime membership remains active and the offer is available. Potential benefits include $0 delivery fees on eligible orders that meet the applicable minimum, reduced service fees, exclusive offers, and 5% credit back on eligible pickup orders.

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  • No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.

You must activate and link the offer to a Grubhub account. Restaurant participation, order minimums, fees, and availability vary by location. The benefit ends when Prime ends; it does not automatically convert into a paid Grubhub+ plan. See Amazon’s Grubhub+ offer terms.

The common description that Prime includes a free one-year Grubhub+ membership is outdated. Current terms describe ongoing free access while eligible Prime remains active, subject to activation and offer terms.

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Grocery benefits and their limits

Prime grocery benefits vary substantially by location and service. They can include:

  • Free or discounted delivery on eligible Amazon grocery orders
  • Same-Day grocery delivery in supported areas
  • Prime member savings at Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh
  • Delivery windows for Whole Foods and other participating grocers

Prime does not make every grocery delivery free. Amazon offers a separate grocery delivery subscription for Prime members costing $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. It can provide unlimited free delivery on qualifying grocery orders over $25 in most areas. Whole Foods delivery may still have a fee without that add-on. See Amazon’s Prime benefits guide.

For Same-Day perishable groceries and essentials, Amazon lists free delivery on orders over $25 in most areas and a $2.99 fee for smaller orders. Check the delivery fee and minimum at checkout because location and service type matter. See Amazon’s grocery delivery information.

Prescription savings and healthcare offers

Prescription discounts

Prime members may receive prescription discounts of up to 80% on eligible prescriptions when paying without insurance at nearly 60,000 pharmacies, including Amazon Pharmacy. The actual price depends on the medication, pharmacy, location, and eligibility. These figures are from Amazon’s Prime benefits guide. A discount is not the same as insurance, and you should compare the cash price with your insurance copay.

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RxPass costs extra

RxPass is not included with Prime. It costs $5 per month for eligible generic medications. It is not insurance, cannot be combined with insurance for covered prescriptions, and does not cover every drug. See Amazon’s RxPass information.

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  • Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
  • Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
  • Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
  • Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
  • No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.

One Medical costs extra

One Medical is also not included. Prime members can buy a discounted membership for $99 per year for the first member and $66 per year for up to five additional members. Office visits and scheduled care can still result in insurance or self-pay charges. See Amazon One Medical for Prime members.

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Prime shopping events and deals

Prime members may receive access to:

  • Prime Day
  • Prime Big Deal Days and other Prime-exclusive events when offered
  • Prime-exclusive deals
  • Early access to some deals
  • Prime member discounts at participating grocery and retail services

These are opportunities, not guaranteed savings. Deal quantities, prices, eligibility, and availability vary. A Prime Day purchase is only a saving if you needed the item and the Prime price beats realistic alternatives. See Amazon’s Prime shopping benefits.

What Amazon Prime does not include

Not included automatically What you may pay for instead
Ad-free Prime Video Prime Video Ultra: $4.99/month
Prime Video Channels Separate channel subscriptions
Movie and TV rentals or purchases Individual rental or purchase prices
Amazon Music Unlimited Separate music subscription
Kindle Unlimited Separate e-book subscription
Audible Premium Plus Separate audiobook subscription
RxPass $5/month, if eligible
One Medical Discounted separate membership
Unlimited video storage Amazon Photos includes only 5 GB of video storage
Free grocery delivery on every order Fees or the optional grocery delivery subscription may apply
Every Amazon Luna game permanently Included games rotate

How to decide whether Prime is worth the price

  1. Add up delivery fees you would otherwise pay. Count only purchases you would make anyway, not impulse orders made to justify the membership.
  2. Value the services you already use. Prime Video, Music Prime, Alexa+, Amazon Photos, Prime Reading, and Grubhub+ may add value if they replace services you would otherwise pay for.
  3. Check your actual grocery location. Enter your address and compare delivery fees. The grocery benefit may be modest if your preferred stores or delivery windows are unavailable.
  4. Separate included benefits from add-ons. Do not count Prime Video Ultra, Music Unlimited, RxPass, One Medical, Kindle Unlimited, or a grocery subscription as part of the $139 price.
  5. Choose the billing cycle carefully. Use monthly billing if you are testing the service or expect to cancel within nine months. The annual plan is cheaper once you expect to stay for roughly 10 months or longer.

For example, someone who orders frequently, watches included Prime Video content, uses Music Prime and Amazon Photos, and activates Grubhub+ could get substantial value from one membership. Someone who rarely orders from Amazon, already pays for other streaming and music services, and does not use the storage or delivery perks may be better off paying individual shipping charges when needed.

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FAQ

How much is Amazon Prime per month?

The regular U.S. plan costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. Prime for Young Adults costs $7.49 per month or $69 per year for qualifying people ages 18–24 and eligible higher-education students. Prime Access costs $6.99 per month for qualifying customers. See Amazon Prime for current plan details.

Is Prime Video ad-free?

No. In the U.S., regular Prime Video includes limited ads. Ad-free viewing requires Prime Video Ultra, which costs an additional $4.99 per month and also adds up to five concurrent streams, up to 100 downloads, and exclusive 4K/UHD access.

Does Amazon Prime include free grocery delivery?

Not on every order. Grocery delivery fees, order minimums, service availability, and participating stores vary by location. Prime members can buy an optional grocery delivery subscription for $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, with qualifying orders generally requiring a $25 minimum.

What is not included with Amazon Prime?

Prime does not automatically include Music Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited, Audible Premium Plus, Prime Video Channels, rentals or purchases, RxPass, One Medical, unlimited video storage, or every grocery delivery. It also does not guarantee free shipping on every Amazon item.

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The Bottom Line

At $139 per year, Prime is easiest to justify when you regularly use eligible delivery, included Prime Video, Music Prime, Alexa+, Amazon Photos, Prime Reading, gaming benefits, or activated Grubhub+ access. Its value is weaker if you mainly want ad-free video, unlimited music, medical care, generic prescriptions, or grocery delivery—those benefits require separate payments or have important limits.

Before renewing, review your delivery history, subscriptions, grocery fees, and actual use of Prime features. Treat the included benefits as a bundle, but do not count add-ons as part of the base membership price.

Quick Recap

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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