Amazon Prime has expanded a lot since its inception. While speedy one- and two-day shipping remains the core of the service, it now offers many more benefits.
For example, Prime members get access to free Kindle books and movies through the Kindle Lending Library. Additionally, Amazon Prime offers unlimited photo storage through Amazon Photos.
Free Two-Day Shipping
Getting free two-day shipping is the big draw for Prime. The service has become so popular that many consumers have come to expect fast delivery from their online purchases, even when they’re ordering items from non-Prime retailers.
The shipping benefits of Amazon Prime aren’t just about speed, however. The company has begun to add extra requirements to its shipping policy, such as minimum order amounts and the requirement to use a certain kind of box for certain kinds of deliveries. This slow dilution of the promise that got so many people to sign up in the first place may be part of a strategy to cut back on shipping costs.
Another benefit of Amazon Prime is access to the company’s streaming video service, Prime Video. Like competitors Netflix and Hulu, Prime Video offers unlimited streaming for a library of movies and TV shows. Amazon has its own original programming, too, including hits such as Mozart in the Jungle and Transparent. Members can also add premium channels such as Showtime and Lionsgate Plus for an additional monthly fee.
Amazon Prime members also get early access to “Lightning Deals,” one-off highly discounted offers that are available for 30 minutes only. These deals can be for anything from electronics to home and kitchen products. Whether or not Prime’s other perks make up for its $139 annual membership fee depends on which ones are most important to the individual user.
Free Instant Video Streaming
One of the main draws of Amazon Prime is its library of ad-free on-demand video. While it may not have as many big hits as Netflix or Disney Plus, there are still plenty of original shows and movies to keep you busy.
The selection of available titles changes constantly as Amazon renews contracts and new films arrive. It also offers a good mix of licensed programming, from classic crime dramas to modern comedies. You can stream on your laptop, tablet, phone or TV via the Amazon Prime app. Some titles are also available in advanced formats like Dolby Atmos, though the availability depends on your devices and whether your internet connection can support it.
Amazon also allows subscribers to add Amazon channels, paid extras for a monthly fee that give you on-demand or live streaming access to specific content from providers such as Showtime and Starz. You can find a full list of channels on Amazon’s website.
If you’re not already an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up for a free trial that lasts 30 days. Note that once the trial period ends, you’ll automatically be charged for a recurring subscription unless you cancel. Students and select government assistance recipients can get discounts on the subscription rate. You can add up to four family members to your account so everyone gets the same benefits, including free two-day shipping.
Free Music Streaming
Prime members also have access to a full-fledged music streaming service called Amazon Music, which is separate from the free tiers of services like Spotify. The subscription includes access to over two million songs, playlists and stations that are curated by Amazon’s music experts. You can stream music online or download it for offline use, and you’ll get personalized recommendations based on what you listen to.
The membership also entitles you to free, unlimited photo storage on Amazon Drive, which allows you to save and share files across any of your devices. There are apps available for iOS and Android, and you can set up automatic uploads to ensure that every picture you take is saved to the cloud. Amazon Drive also offers 5GB of video storage, which you can access when you login to the Amazon website or the mobile app.
Amazon Prime has a number of other benefits that vary depending on where you live. For example, in some cities, Amazon offers a premium same-day delivery service known as Prime Now. Prime members can also receive discounts at Whole Foods markets and access exclusive limited-time Lightning Deals. The membership is $139 per year, but you can try it out for 30 days for free. If you decide to continue the membership, the price will be automatically charged to your credit card or Amazon account. If you cancel within 30 days, you’ll retain the perks but lose the free two-day shipping and other video and music streaming services.
Access to Amazon’s Library of Movies & TV Shows
In addition to free expedited shipping, Prime members have access to Amazon’s burgeoning library of original TV shows and movies. You can stream Prime Video content from your computer, tablet or mobile device or through a smart TV with an Amazon Fire Stick or Roku Streaming Stick attached. You can even add “Prime Video Channels,” like Showtime and Lionsgate Plus, to bolster your streaming options for an additional monthly fee (though this may not be worth the extra cost if you already have access to those channels through a cable subscription).
You can also download Prime video shows and movies to keep them in your Library for as long as you want. And if you’re a parent, you can use the Prime Family membership to access kid-friendly Prime Originals like Pete the Cat and Clifford the Big Red Dog, along with licensed kids’ TV and movie content.
As an added bonus, Prime members can also choose to receive exclusive limited-time discounts on select items during the annual Prime Day sale event. That’s in addition to the regular discounts and sales that Prime members get year-round on Amazon.
If you’re an avid shopper, you may find Amazon Prime’s perks make it worthwhile. However, if you don’t shop much online or plan to take advantage of many of the other perks, it’s not worth paying the membership fee. If you’re curious, you can sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial to test out the service.
Exclusive Amazon Deals
Amazon Prime offers many benefits, including same-day shipping, grocery delivery and exclusive limited-time discounts. Prime members also get free access to Amazon’s catalog of books, audiobooks and Kindle content, which can be enjoyed on a Kindle device or the company’s Kindle app.
For those who enjoy gaming, Prime also provides access to a variety of free PC games. These titles include Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space, Soccer Brawl and Sengoku 2. Additionally, members get unlimited photo storage with Amazon Photos so that they can free up space on their computers or devices.
Another perk that isn’t talked about as often as it should be is Amazon Prime Early Access to Lightning Deals. This is a weekly sales event where Amazon provides exclusive one- or two-day deals to Prime members only. This is a great way to save money on new releases like video games, electronics or clothing.
If you have a Kindle device, you’ll also enjoy Prime First Reads, which is Amazon’s pre-publication book streaming service that gives you the opportunity to download six free (or deeply discounted) books each month. Prime members can also enjoy Amazon Prime Video, which allows them to stream a large selection of movies and TV shows. Prime also includes ad-free music streaming with Amazon Music and gaming with Twitch Prime. All of these services are included with your yearly membership. This is a great benefit if you use these services frequently and want to save money by not paying for them separately.
Free Kindle Books
As an Amazon Prime member, you get free access to the Kindle Books library. This is a great benefit for avid readers who want to be able to read their favorite titles on their Kindle device or Kindle app. Prime members can borrow one title per month and keep it for 14 days.
Other benefits include free same-day delivery on more than 1 million items (if you live in a qualifying city) and access to the Prime Video streaming service, which offers a wide selection of movies and TV shows for members to watch and download onto their devices. Prime Photos offers unlimited photo storage on Amazon Cloud Drive so you can save and back up your images. And Amazon Music for Prime, the middle tier of its own music streaming service that offers ad-free access to 100 million songs, is also available for members.
Amazon Prime also gives members a variety of unique discounts and benefits, including an extra 10 percent off at Whole Foods Markets and release-day delivery for new video games. And recently, the company partnered with buy-now, pay-later credit provider Affirm to let customers split the total cost of eligible purchases into monthly payments at checkout. Prime members can take advantage of this feature by shopping for products marked “Buy with Prime” in merchants’ online stores. They can then shop with confidence knowing they’ll receive fast, free shipping and easy returns.
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