--- source_url: "https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/should-you-pay-for-amazon-prime-to-shop-prime-day-2026" title: "Should You Pay for Amazon Prime to Shop Prime Day 2026? | PCMag" mirrored_at: 2026-08-26T01:00:59.804Z host: www.pcmag.com cited_in_42a: true mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/www.pcmag.com/explainers/should-you-pay-for-amazon-prime-to-shop-prime-day-2026" --- > **Original source:** https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/should-you-pay-for-amazon-prime-to-shop-prime-day-2026 Over twenty years ago, Amazon rolled out a simple subscription for [free shipping](https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/legit-ways-to-get-amazon-prime-perks-without-paying-139-dollars) that has since evolved into a full-fledged membership program with over 200 million members. It's also the best way to shop [Prime Day](https://www.pcmag.com/events/amazon-prime-day), Amazon's biggest shopping event of the year. But is it worth the hefty price tag in 2026? If you're a Prime Day member, you'll get access to shipping benefits, exclusive discounts, and multiple Amazon-owned services like [Prime Video](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-prime-video) and Amazon Music. It also grants access to savings during the company's big shopping events, like Prime Day and Black Friday. If you're considering signing up for Amazon Prime, here's how much it costs, plus everything the membership program gets you. * * * ## How Much Is Amazon Prime in 2026? The cost of an Amazon Prime membership depends on how you pay. Since [February 2022](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-prime-gets-20-price-hike-to-139-per-year), it costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, which saves you $40 over the full year. We've seen a few price hikes over the years as e-commerce exploded and Amazon added more perks: From $79 to $99 in 2014 and then to $119 in 2018, before reaching its current price. Prices across Europe have also [increased by up to 43%](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-prime-price-increases-by-up-to-43-across-europe). If $139 is too much, there are ways to [avoid paying full price](https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/legit-ways-to-get-amazon-prime-perks-without-paying-139-dollars) for shipping. First-time subscribers can sign up for a free 30-day trial. The company has rebranded Prime Student as [Prime for Young Adults](https://zdcs.link/Q453ym "(Opens in a new tab)"), which costs $7.49 per month or $69 for the full year and offers 5% [cash back rewards](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/?ie=UTF8&nodeId=TR9uI2cb3KdJvPC2jq "(Opens in a new tab)"). First-time subscribers get six months free. Those who qualify for [government assistance](https://zdcs.link/oNKbg "(Opens in a new tab)"), such as EBT or Medicaid, can get Prime for $6.99 a month for up to four years. [image] (Credit: PCMag / Amazon) If you want Prime just for the free shipping, you can get free delivery in 5-8 business days by spending $35 or more on eligible items. Or [subscribe to specific items](https://zdcs.link/aB8OgN "(Opens in a new tab)") if you buy something regularly. This will knock 15% off the final price and qualify you for free delivery. [image] ### Get a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime - Get a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime at Amazon [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Famazonprime&template=article-page&module=product-cards&element=product-card&item=buy-button&position=1&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Fexplainers%2Fshould-you-pay-for-amazon-prime-to-shop-prime-day-2026&page_type=article&page_uuid=05qp7E8Z6G2lM79Y6Epl0tl&object_type=article&object_uuid=05qp7E8Z6G2lM79Y6Epl0tl&product_uuid=01HiOYPJSZRZTC3OvO1yQDX "(Opens in a new tab)") * * * ## What Benefits Does a Prime Membership Include? The biggest benefit of an Amazon Prime membership is free shipping, but you also get unlimited access to many Amazon-owned services, such as [Prime Video](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-prime-video) and [Amazon Music](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-prime-music), and extras are added all the time. Here's a (non-exhaustive) list of what you get: [image] (Credit: Bob Al-Greene / Amazon) ### Free Delivery - Free two-day shipping on eligible items. - Free one-day shipping with no minimum purchase on select items. - Free same-day shipping on orders $25 and over in eligible ZIP codes (or a $2.99 fee for orders under the minimum). - Free release-date shipping for eligible pre-order items. - Free no-rush shipping. - Free [Amazon Day Delivery](https://zdcs.link/kv836 "(Opens in a new tab)"), where all your weekly Amazon orders are delivered on the same day each week. - Free in-garage delivery through the [Amazon Key](https://zdcs.link/r8xZ1 "(Opens in a new tab)") service on your Amazon Day Delivery (a $1.99 fee [on any other day](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-adds-fee-for-in-garage-delivery-unless-you-do-this)), a great way to [protect your front door deliveries](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/protect-your-front-door-deliveries). ### Shopping Perks - **Prime Day/Big Deal Days:** Prime members get access to special deals on [Prime Day and Big Deal Days](https://www.pcmag.com/events/amazon-prime-day) events, as well as Black Friday. The next event is starts on June 23, 2026. - **Whole Foods:** Prime members get exclusive discounts when shopping at Amazon-owned [Whole Foods](https://zdcs.link/qLj8G "(Opens in a new tab)"). Two-hour delivery is also available in select cities. - **Amazon Fresh:** [Amazon Fresh](https://zdcs.link/Qp6ggo "(Opens in a new tab)") offers 1-hour pickup or 2-hour delivery windows in more than 2,000 US cities and towns. Prime members can get free delivery on purchases [over $100](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-fresh-free-delivery-threshold-drops-to-100-this-week). - **Grocery delivery:** Separately, members in over 3,500 US locations can pay an additional [$9.99 per month](https://zdcs.link/aA80Oj "(Opens in a new tab)") to get [unlimited grocery delivery](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-launches-new-monthly-subscription-for-grocery-delivery) on orders over $35 from Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and other grocery and specialty retailers available on Amazon. You also get 1-hour delivery, unlimited 30-minute pickup, and priority access to Recurring Reservations. - **Amazon Elements:** Subscribers gain access to [Amazon Elements](https://zdcs.link/1gRkk "(Opens in a new tab)"), the company's line of everyday essentials, including vitamins and supplements. - **Shopbop:** Free shipping and free returns on all [Shopbop](https://www.shopbop.com/ "(Opens in a new tab)") orders. - **Woot!:** Free standard shipping on all [Woot!](https://www.woot.com/ "(Opens in a new tab)") orders and free express shipping on [shirt](https://zdcs.link/3q0J2 "(Opens in a new tab)") orders. - **Zappos:** Link your Prime account with [Zappos](https://www.zappos.com/c/prime-link "(Opens in a new tab)") to get free upgraded shipping on all orders. - **Gas Savings:** Prime members now [save $0.10 per gallon](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-gas-savings-prime "(Opens in a new tab)") at participating BP, Amoco, and ampm locations when they link their account with BP's Earnify app. ### Included Subscriptions and Services - **Prime Video:** Amazon's [Prime Video](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-prime-video) service includes HD and HDR streaming, original content, live sports, and [offline downloading](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-download-video-from-your-favorite-streaming-service). In 2025, the free offering was downgraded to an [ad-supported](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-rolling-out-ads-to-prime-video-on-jan-29) tier, and a [premium Ultra tier](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-hikes-price-of-ad-free-prime-video-drops-big-perk-from-lower-tier) was introduced in 2026. To eliminate ads again, and also gain additional downloads, concurrent streams, Dolby Atmos, and UHD/4K content, you'll need to pay an extra $4.99 per month. - **Music Prime:** Amazon [Music Prime](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-prime-music) lets subscribers stream more than 100 million songs from the company's music library, though you're limited to shuffle play. For on-demand music, you need [Amazon Music Unlimited](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-music-unlimited) for $11.99 per month (or $5.99 per month for a [single-device plan](https://zdcs.link/EyqqG "(Opens in a new tab)")). - **Prime Gaming:** Each month, [Prime Gaming](https://gaming.amazon.com/ "(Opens in a new tab)") gives subscribers free [PC games](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-pc-games) and in-game loot to claim, as well as a [selection of party games](https://www.pcmag.com/news/your-amazon-prime-subscription-will-soon-include-free-jackbox-like-party) and single-player titles to stream via [Amazon Luna](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-luna). Twitch benefits include one free channel sub, exclusive chat benefits, and extended storage for past broadcasts. - **Prime Reading:** Borrow thousands of books, magazines, and comics from Amazon's digital catalog for free with [Prime Reading](https://zdcs.link/Ow7YB "(Opens in a new tab)"). You also get [Amazon First Reads](https://zdcs.link/5LWEN "(Opens in a new tab)"), which gives you one free ebook each month and early access to select titles, and [Books with Audible Narration](https://zdcs.link/QmOm0j "(Opens in a new tab)"), accessible from the Kindle app and Audible's free listening app. - **Amazon Photos:** Prime includes unlimited full-resolution photo storage and up to 5GB of video storage through [Amazon Photos](https://zdcs.link/4qoNd "(Opens in a new tab)"). - **Amazon Kids+:** Members pay $5.99 per month ($48 per year) for access to age-appropriate content and parental control options on [Amazon Kids devices](https://zdcs.link/pr6wo "(Opens in a new tab)"). (Child-focused devices, like Echo Dot Kids and Amazon Fire tablet, come with a free year of Kids+.) - **Grubhub+:** Prime members get [Grubhub+](https://www.grubhub.com/plus "(Opens in a new tab)") for free, which normally costs $9.99 per month and gets you [unlimited free delivery](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-makes-grubhub-plus-perk-permanent-for-prime-members) on orders of $12 or more (before tax and tip), exclusive in-app perks and rewards, and more. - **Alexa+:** Amazon has developed a more conversational version of Alexa, powered by AI. Alexa+ is now [available for everyone](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazons-ai-powered-alexa-plus-now-available-to-everyone-heres-how-to-get), and members get it for free. ### Medical Care - **Amazon Pharmacy:** Get free two-day delivery and exclusive discounts on medication orders through [Amazon Pharmacy](https://zdcs.link/zEVE5M "(Opens in a new tab)"). Free same-day delivery is available in [select cities](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-pharmacy-expands-same-day-delivery-to-nyc-la). - **RX Savings:** Prime members can also get an [RX Savings card](https://zdcs.link/Ow7Yj "(Opens in a new tab)") that can help them save up to 80% on prescriptions at physical pharmacies when paying without insurance. - **RXPass:** Prime-exclusive [RXPass](https://zdcs.link/wrKOp "(Opens in a new tab)") gets you all your eligible medications for $5 per month. - **One Medical:** For an extra $99 per year, Prime members get access to [One Medical](https://health.amazon.com/onemedical "(Opens in a new tab)")'s healthcare services. While you [still need traditional health insurance](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-prime-adds-healthcare-perk-but-you-still-need-insurance), One Medical offers in-office doctor visits in eligible areas as well as 24/7 virtual on-demand care. Members can also add up to five family members for an additional $66 per year per person. * * * ## Is Amazon Prime Worth It? When it comes to subscription services, worth all comes down to how often you use what you're paying for. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month, but that comes down to $11.58 with the $139 annual Prime plan. Are you getting that money back in value each month? To answer that question, think about how often you make purchases on Amazon and get free shipping from Prime. Or consider how much you're paying for shipping without a membership and see if that number is higher than what you'd pay for a membership. Prime offers many perks that can make it feel worthwhile, but services like Prime Video and Music Prime sweeten the deal only as much as you watch movies and listen to music through those services. If you prefer Netflix, already pay for Spotify, and don't buy groceries online, a subscription may not be worth it to you. [image] (Credit: Vicky Leta) * * * ## How to Sign Up for Amazon Prime Ready to become an Amazon Prime member? Head over to the [Amazon Prime sign-up](https://zdcs.link/xwdgm "(Opens in a new tab)") page and click **Start your free 30-day trial**. Sign in with your existing Amazon account, or click **Create your Amazon account** if you don't already have one. You then simply add a Prime membership on top of your free Amazon account. If you're 18-24, or a student, you can separately sign up for [Prime for Young Adults](https://zdcs.link/QqRVe7 "(Opens in a new tab)"). Those who receive EBT, Medicaid, or other forms of government assistance can sign up for [Prime Access](https://zdcs.link/aeKNlJ "(Opens in a new tab)"). ### Recommended by Our Editors [image] (Credit: Amazon / PCMag) * * * Amazon has [ended its Invitee program](https://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-ends-legacy-prime-invitee-account-sharing-pushes-family-accounts) that allowed membership to share benefits with those outside of their immediate household, but that doesn't mean you have to get Amazon Prime for everyone in the house. Instead, set up an [Amazon Family](https://zdcs.link/QP8dNm "(Opens in a new tab)") (previously Amazon Household) to share your Prime account and all the benefits that come with it. You can add up to two adults (including yourself) and four children to a household. Creating an Amazon Family can come in handy when [adding multiple users](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/let-multiple-people-use-the-same-amazon-echo) to the same Echo device. You'll also be able to [manage your Family](https://zdcs.link/pPoN0 "(Opens in a new tab)") to add and remove members, share digital content, and link payment methods. It's worth noting that Prime for Young Adults cannot be shared. [image] (Credit: PCMag / Amazon) * * * ## How to Cancel Amazon Prime If you need to [cancel Amazon Prime](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-cancel-amazon-prime), open **Account & Lists > Account > Prime** and click **Update, cancel, and more** under the **Manage Membership** section. Select **End membership** at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Amazon will try to convince you to stay, so click **Cancel My Benefits** **\>** **Continue to Cancel** to follow through. [image] (Credit: PCMag / Amazon) ## About Our Expert ![Jason Cohen](https://i.pcmag.com/imagery/authors/03LibAUENeARxjL8iD8dIUC.fit_lim.size_100x100.v1723225881.png) Jason Cohen Senior Editor, Help & How To * * * Experience As PCMag's editor of how to content, I have to cover a wide variety of topics and also make our stories accessible to everyday users. Considering my history as a technical writer, copywriter, and all-around freelancer covering baseball, comics, and more at various outlets, I am used to making myself into an expert. I believe tech corporations are bad, but you might as well know how to use technology in everyday life. Want more how to content delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the [tips and tricks](https://www.pcmag.com/newsletter_manage) newsletter that I curate three times a week. My job as how-to guru means I use just about every gadget under the sun, so I can figure out how everything works. I work from a Lenovo ThinkPad running Windows 11, but also have a very large Dell Inspiron 17 3000 and Apple silicon MacBook. I have a Google Pixel 6a for personal use and use a Galaxy Z Flip 4 for additional Samsung-related testing. For iOS coverage, an iPhone 13 mini works like a charm, though it's already becoming a little long in the tooth. My desktop situation includes a dual monitor setup with a modest Acer monitor. I also use a Logitech vertical mouse (who can use these ThinkPad trackpads) and a Havit keyboard (my first mechanical keyboard; I love it but my wife hates it!). I'm a recent convert from wired headphones; I have Anker Soundcore Liberty Air wireless earbuds for personal use and have taken to the Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones for work. Whenever I have a second to myself, I'm probably gaming on my Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck, or Xbox Series S. I also still have a bunch of classic consoles lying around as well. Latest By Jason Cohen [Read Full Bio](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jason-cohen)