Prime Day is rapidly approaching—it runs from July 8 through July 11, giving us four whole days to cash in on the savings. (In previous years, we only got two days, so this is kind of a big deal.) As Amazon’s biggest sale event of the year, Prime Day is known for rolling out incredible deals on everything from cooking gear to beauty products to high-end electronics and everything in between. But there’s one caveat: You need to be a Prime member to score the best savings.
So, if you’re curious about signing up for a Prime membership, you’ve come to the right place! Below, we lay out everything you need to know about signing up for Amazon Prime—and enjoying all the perks that come with it.
How to Sign Up for Amazon Prime
Before you sign up for an Amazon Prime membership, you’ll need to have an active Amazon account. (If you don’t already have one, you can click on the “Sign In” button on the Amazon homepage and follow the prompts to set one up. The process shouldn’t take more than a minute of your time.)
Once you’re logged in, signing up for Prime couldn’t be easier! Start by navigating to the Amazon Prime page, or click the “Join Prime” button on the homepage. From there, you’ll follow the prompts, including choosing your plan (more on this below) and entering your shipping and payment information. And voilà, you’ll be a Prime member!
What are the Amazon Prime Plans?
You’ll have a choice of four plans when you sign up: Prime Monthly, Prime Annual, Prime Access and Prime for Young Adults. With the monthly plan, you’ll pay $14.99 per month, and with the annual plan you’ll pay a lump sum of $139 once a year. While the annual membership is more money up front, it’ll actually save you money in the long run. (the total comes to around $11.58 per month, which shaves over $40 off the total cost of your annual membership.)
Prime Access, which is $6.99 per month, is for eligible government assistance recipients or income-verified customers. You’ll need to prove that you live in a household within 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline when signing up for this plan. And finally, Prime for Young Adults is available for college students and folks ages 18 to 24, and it’s $7.49 per month (or $69 per year). Similar to Prime Access, you’ll have to verify your age or student status in order to sign up for this plan.
Perks of a Prime Membership
Perhaps the most noteworthy perk of a Prime membership is the fast, free shipping you’ll get on millions of Amazon products. You can get one- and two-day delivery and even same-day delivery on select products, all complimentary with your subscription.
But there are plenty of other perks that come with it, including access to exclusive deals and savings (hello, Prime Day!), as well as the following:
- Access to popular movies and shows via Prime Video
- Unlimited storage via Amazon Photos
- Ad-free podcasts, albums and playlists via Amazon Music
- Free video games plus a Twitch channel subscription via Prime Gaming
- Discounted prescriptions at 60,000 pharmacies, including Walgreens and CVS, via Amazon Pharmacy
- Prime member deals at Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market
- Fuel savings of 10 cents per gallon at over 7,000 participating gas stations
- Free Grubhub+ subscription (which includes $0 delivery fees)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Prime membership cost?
You’ll have a choice of four Prime membership plans when signing up, each with a different price point. The Prime Monthly plan costs $14.99 per month, while the Prime Annual costs $139 per year. The Prime Access plan costs $6.99 per month, and the Prime for Young Adults plan costs $7.49 per month (or $69 per year). You’ll have to verify your eligibility before signing up for the latter two.
Can I try Prime for free?
You certainly can! When you first navigate to the Prime sign-up page, you’ll be given the option to start a free 30-day trial. (And if you’re signing up for the Prime for Young Adults plan, you’ll get a whopping 6-month free trial.) You’ll be asked to enter your payment info during the sign-up process, but you’ll only be billed once the free trial has ended. You can cancel your trial at any time before then.
Can I cancel my Prime membership if I don’t like it?
Yes! As Amazon states in its Prime FAQ page, “You may cancel your Prime membership at any time by visiting Your Account and adjusting your membership settings.”
Do I have to be a Prime member to shop on Prime Day?
While Amazon’s sitewide inventory is available for anyone to shop, only Prime members will have access to the exclusive deals during the event.
Do I get free delivery with Prime Day orders?
As long as you’re an Amazon Prime member, and the products you’re purchasing are included in the Prime Day deals, shipping is free!
Can I share my Prime benefits with anyone?
With most plans, you can! Members can share their Prime shipping benefits with another adult and up to four children in their Amazon Family household. (But you’ll first need to add these family members to your account; click here for information on how to do so.) The only exception is the Prime for Young Adults plan, which does not include sharing of Prime benefits.
How can I tell if an item is Prime eligible?
All Amazon Prime items will have the blue Prime logo next to them, and you can filter your search results to only include Prime products, taking out the guesswork.
What’s the difference between a Prime item and a “regular” item?
Aside from including the aforementioned free shipping, Prime items are all shipped by Amazon, and you can track the status of your delivery on these products through the Amazon app.
Is Amazon Prime worth it?
If you love having access to exclusive discounts, as well as free shipping on thousands of eligible items, then yes, it’s definitely worth it! Ultimately, though, whether or not a Prime membership is “worth it” will depend on how much you use it. If you only order from Amazon a few times a year, or if you don’t watch TV, play video games or listen to music very often, then the $14.99 monthly fee may not be a worthwhile investment. But you can sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime to see how you like it before you commit!
