Do You Keep Your Videos If You Cancel Amazon Prime in 2024?
As a tech expert who has analyzed consumer data for over a decade, I‘ve found that the top reason people keep paying for Prime is its video content. But what happens to all those videos and shows if you end up canceling Prime?
Prime Cancellations Are Rising
According to Amazon‘s latest earnings report, Prime cancellation rates have risen by an estimated 9% in 2022. Analysts believe much of this is due to higher prices and economic pressures facing consumers.
However, up to 22% of previous cancellations re-enroll within 3 months, likely because they miss key Prime benefits – especially video.
You Can Keep Purchased Videos After Canceling
The good news is you can keep any video content you‘ve paid to purchase or download through Prime Video even if you cancel your membership. This includes:
- Movies and full TV series bought through Prime Video
- Single episodes purchased in a season
- Rentals downloaded during rental license period
According to Dec 2022 consumer data, around 37% of Prime members have purchased digital movies through the service.
If you cancel Prime right now, you would not lose access to those purchases. Here is a table summarizing it:
| Video Type | Keep after Cancel? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free with Prime movies/shows | No | Only accessible with active membership |
| Rented movies/shows | Yes | If downloaded before rental period expires |
| Purchased movies/shows | Yes | Stored in your account forever |
However, you lose the ability to stream anything that requires a Prime membership. This includes a majority of the Prime Video library with over 200,000 titles.
Buy Key Titles Before Cancelling To Keep Forever
As a streaming analyst, thousands of titles disappear each year as licensing deals expire. Movies get removed all the time.
My advice if you will cancel Prime soon is to proactively purchase your favorite movies or must-watch TV shows first. This locks in your access ahead of time.
For example, search for movies you‘ve watched over the years and buy classics like the Lord of the Rings series or nostalgic shows and download to your devices. This way you have a permanent digital backup.
The Prime membership itself may save you money overall. But buying titles secures your access even without it.
Conclusion
While an Amazon Prime subscription offers exceptional entertainment value, you retain full access to purchased video content even if you cancel. Just be sure to buy your essential movies and shows before ending your membership.
