How Much Is Amazon Prime Video?
How Much Does Amazon Prime Video Really Cost? A Detailed Pricing Breakdown
Amazon Prime and Amazon Prime Video have become ubiquitous in the streaming and entertainment world. With more movies, TV series, music and other digital content than any competing platforms, it‘s no wonder over 200 million subscribers are signed up to Amazon‘s premium service bundles globally.
But how much does all that acclaimed video entertainment really cost you? The answer is more complicated than you may think. Read on for a detailed breakdown of Amazon Prime and Prime Video pricing plans, channels and features to understand exactly what your money gets you.
Overview of Amazon Prime and Amazon Prime Video
First, let‘s quickly define what we mean by Amazon Prime and Amazon Prime Video.
Amazon Prime is Amazon‘s premium subscription plan. For an annual or monthly fee, you get various benefits like free expedited shipping on eligible products, access to exclusive deals, Prime Music and of course, Amazon Prime Video.
Amazon Prime Video, also referred to simply as Prime Video, is the on-demand video streaming component of Amazon Prime. It allows unlimited streaming of Amazon‘s vast catalog of movies, TV series, sports, documentaries and more.
Prime Video comes bundled with a full Amazon Prime membership. But you also have the option to purchase a standalone Prime Video subscription without the other Prime benefits.
Some key features and benefits of Amazon Prime Video include:
- Over 30,000 movies and TV shows – an extensive catalog rivaling competitors like Netflix and Disney+. Includes popular licensed content as well as Amazon Originals.
- 4K/UHD and HDR streaming – watch select titles in ultra high-definition 4K for the best picture quality.
- Download for offline viewing – download movies and episodes onto your mobile device to watch offline when wifi/data is unavailable.
- Share with family – add up to two children or household members to your account to share Prime benefits and Prime Video access.
- Browse by personalized recommendations, popular shows, recently added and more – find your next favorite series easily with extensive browsing and sorting options.
Now that you understand the basics of Prime and Prime Video, let‘s analyze the pricing and value.
Amazon Prime Membership Pricing
An Amazon Prime membership includes full access to Prime Video along with all the other Prime shipping and entertainment benefits. Here are the current membership pricing options:
- $14.99 per month – you can opt to pay monthly instead of the annual fee.
- $139 per year – or pay annually for roughly the cost 12 monthly payments. Includes 30 day free trial for new members.
- 18% discount for qualifying customers – customers who have an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) or Medicaid card can pay $6.99 per month.
- 50% discount for students – enrolled college students pay $7.49 per month or $69 per year with valid student email address. Includes 6 month free trial.
As you can see, paying annually nets you roughly two months free compared to paying monthly. Students enjoy an even more generous discount.
Amazon frequently offers promotional discounts on Prime memberships too, especially around the holidays. It pays to keep an eye out for deals before signing up at the regular price.
International pricing varies slightly:
- UK: £8.99/month, £95/year
- Canada: $9.99/month, $99/year
- Australia: AU$6.99/month, AU$59/year
- Euro countries: €5.99 – €9.99/month, €49 – €89.90/year
Overall the pricing is quite reasonable given everything that‘s included. Competitors like Walmart+ only offer free shipping benefits at a similar $12.95 monthly cost. And standalone video streaming plans like Netflix are priced in the same ballpark while offering far less content and features.
Next let‘s break down the Prime Video-only membership option.
Standalone Prime Video Pricing
Don‘t care about the free shipping and other Prime extras? You can subscribe to Prime Video as a standalone service in the US for:
- $9.99 per month after a 30-day free trial
- $99 per year paid annually
This optional plan gives you unlimited access to stream all the same movies, series, Amazon Originals and more as paying Prime members.
The only difference is you don‘t qualify for Prime shipping benefits, Kindle ebook credits, Amazon Music and other Prime-exclusive perks.
But paying $10/month for Prime Video alone could be worthwhile if you just want the video library access. That‘s especially true compared to plans like:
- Netflix ($9.99 – $19.99/month)
- HBO Max ($9.99 – $14.99/month)
- Hulu ($7.99 – $14.99/month)
- Disney+ ($7.99/month)
Prime Video actually offers significantly more titles than most competitors at a very comparable standalone pricing.
Next up, what about adding extra content channels on top of your base Prime Video/Prime access?
Prime Video Channel Add-Ons and Pricing
Your base Prime or Prime Video membership automatically unlocks tens of thousands of titles to stream instantly. But Amazon offers additional "Prime Video Channels" you can tack onto your existing plan for more shows and movies:
Prime Video Channels available include:
- HBO Max ($14.99/month) – get HBO hits like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon and so much more.
- Paramount+ ($9.99/month) – huge library of Paramount movies & shows like Yellowstone, Star Trek Discovery and more
- Showtime ($10.99/month) – watch Dexter, Billions, Ray Donovan and other Showtime classics
- AMC+ ($6.99/month) – the network that brought you Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead+
- Noggin ($7.99/month or $59.99/year) – educational entertainment for young kids with popular Nick Jr. shows
- and MANY more! Like Discovery+, PBS Masterpiece, Lifetime Movie Club, History Vault, NBA League Pass and over 100 additional channels.
As you can see Prime Video channels range anywhere from $3-15 per month for full access. And you can subscribe to multiple channels simultaneously based on your interests.
Compare these Prime Video channel rates and titles directly to the cost of full cable or satellite packages which can easily exceed $100+ per month and most of the add-on content is still not on-demand.
Pros & Cons of Amazon Prime and Prime Video
To recap so far – here‘s a quick rundown of some clear pros to Amazon Prime and Prime Video memberships:
Pros
- Low monthly cost unlocked tens of thousands of titles to instantly stream
- Original & exclusive movies and series you can‘t watch anywhere else
- Option to download for offline viewing when wifi/data is unavailable
- 4K HDR streaming quality for select titles
- Extensive range of Prime Video channels to choose from a la carte
- One central hub for free shipping, music, video, books & more (with full Prime membership)
Of course no service offers literally endless upside without some tradeoffs. A few downsides to consider:
Cons
- 4K streaming and downloads limited only to select titles/devices
- Small number of iconic licensed movies missing compared to competitors
- Prime Video UI can feel a bit cluttered and overwhelming
- Individual channel add-ons quickly multiply costs
However, on the whole most reviewers and consumers agree the extensive Prime media benefits generally outweigh those cons for an overall great value.
Getting the Best Deal on Amazon Prime Memberships
Hopefully by this point, you have a complete sense of what Amazon Prime and Prime Video offer across the various membership tiers.
Here are some tips to lock in Amazon Prime or Prime Video access at the best possible rate for you:
- Take advantage of discounted multi-year Prime rates
- Try extending an existing subscription – loyal members may get a deal
- Look for seasonal sales around peak holidays
- Don‘t forget about the student discount if eligible
- Consider splitting costs with household members
- Take the 5 minute eligibility quiz for discounted EBT/Medicaid monthly pricing
- Start with the 30 day free trial and set a reminder to cancel if it‘s not for you!
Review all the plan features and available content before joining to ensure Prime meets your streaming needs.
With mobile downloads, original exclusives and add-on channels expanding all the time, chances are Amazon Prime Video has what you‘re looking to watch at a reasonable rate!
Summary
Here‘s a quick summary of Amazon Prime and Amazon Prime Video membership pricing and options covered in this guide:
- Amazon Prime Video: Included with $14.99/month or $139/year full Amazon Prime membership in the US. Roughly 30% cheaper in the first year with annual pricing.
- Standalone Prime Video: $9.99/month or $99/year without other Prime benefits.
- Prime Video Channels: Range from $2.99 – $14.99/month per channel like HBO Max, Showtime, etc.
- Discounts Available: 18% off for qualifying EBT/Medicaid cardholders, 50% off for students in the US. Plus limited time sales.
- Free Trial: 30 days free for new Prime or Prime Video subscribers. 6 months free for student plans.
Which plan looks most appealing to add Unlimited movies, hit series and more to your on-demand streaming library? With mobile access, high quality streaming in up to 4K Ultra HD and personalized recommendations to uncover your next binge, Amazon Prime Video goes toe-to-toe with any competing service.
Undecided if it‘s worth the investment? Take advantage of the lengthy free trial period to experience Prime Video for yourself. With new Amazon Original hits premiering all the time, you‘ll gain enough firsthand data to decide if the premium entertainment offering makes the cut.
Happy streaming!
