What Amazon Prime Benefits cover

Amazon Prime is a membership program that bundles together shipping, video streaming, music, and other services into one annual or monthly fee. The core benefit most people know about is free two-day shipping on may be able to access items ordered through Amazon.com. But the membership also includes video streaming through Prime Video, music streaming through Prime Music, photo storage through Amazon Photos, and access to Prime Reading, which lets you borrow books and magazines each month.

The exact benefits and their details can vary depending on whether you have a standard Prime membership, Prime Student (for college students), or Prime Video-only. Some benefits are included automatically with membership; others require you to set up them or use them through a specific app or website. The cost of membership also varies — standard Prime membership costs one amount per month or year, while Prime Student costs less and Prime Video-only costs the least.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon Prime includes free two-day shipping on may be able to access items, Prime Video streaming, Prime Music, Amazon Photos storage, and Prime Reading access to rotate through books and magazines.
  • You set up most benefits through your Amazon account or by downloading the Prime Video, Prime Music, or Kindle apps — they do not turn on automatically.
  • Prime membership costs vary by plan type: standard Prime (monthly or annual), Prime Student (lower cost for college students), and Prime Video-only (streaming only, no shipping).
  • Shipping speed, video library, music catalog, and reading selection all differ based on your region and membership tier.
  • Some Prime benefits like Prime Day shopping events and exclusive deals are only available during certain times of the year or to members in specific countries.

Shipping and delivery through Prime

The most commonly used Prime benefit is free two-day shipping on items marked as "Prime may be able to access" when you order through Amazon.com. This means the item will arrive within two business days at no extra charge. Some items also may have access to for faster delivery — one-day or same-day shipping — depending on your location and the item's availability. You do not need to pay extra for these faster options if they are offered; they are included with your membership.

Not every item on Amazon qualifies for Prime shipping. The product page will clearly show whether an item is Prime may be able to access before you add it to your cart. Items sold by third-party sellers (not Amazon itself) may or may not be Prime may be able to access, even if they appear in search results. If you order multiple items, each one ships according to its own Prime may be able to access — some may arrive in two days while others take longer.

Prime shipping covers delivery to your address in the United States and certain other countries where Amazon operates. If you move or want to change your delivery address, you can update it in your account settings. Shipping to addresses outside the countries where Prime operates is not covered by the membership.

Prime Video and entertainment streaming

Prime Video is a streaming service included with your Prime membership that lets you watch movies, TV shows, and original series on demand. You access it through the Prime Video app on your phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV, or through the website primevideo.com. The video library includes thousands of titles, though the exact selection changes and varies by country.

Some content on Prime Video is included with your membership at no extra cost. Other content — newer movies, certain TV seasons, or premium channels — requires an additional rental or purchase fee, or a separate subscription to add-on services like Paramount+ or Starz. The app clearly labels which content is included and which costs extra before you click to watch.

You can create multiple profiles within one Prime account so different household members have their own watch history and recommendations. You can also read videos to watch offline on the Prime Video app, which is useful for travel or when you do not have internet access.

Music, photos, and reading through Prime

Prime Music gives you access to millions of songs and thousands of playlists through the Amazon Music app or website. Unlike some music services, Prime Music does not let you choose any song on demand — instead, you listen to curated playlists or create stations based on artists or genres. If you want the ability to play any song you want, Amazon offers a separate paid tier called Amazon Music Unlimited.

Amazon Photos provides unlimited photo storage for Prime members. You can upload photos from your phone, computer, or camera, and access them from any device. Videos are also stored but count toward a separate 100 GB limit. This is different from Prime Reading and Prime Music because it does not require you to use an app — you can upload and view photos through your Amazon account on any web browser.

Prime Reading lets you borrow a rotating selection of books, magazines, and newspapers each month at no extra cost. You can have up to ten titles checked out at once. The selection changes regularly and is smaller than what you would find in a full library or bookstore, but it includes popular titles across many genres. You read Prime Reading content through the Kindle app or on a Kindle device.

Prime Day and exclusive deals

Prime members get early or exclusive access to certain shopping events and deals throughout the year. The biggest is Prime Day, which Amazon holds once or twice per year (usually in summer and sometimes in fall). During Prime Day, thousands of items go on sale, and Prime members can shop these deals before non-members. Prime members also get exclusive discounts on select items year-round through the "Deals" section of the Amazon app and website.

These deals and events are only available to active Prime members in countries where Amazon runs them. The dates, participating products, and discount amounts change each year. You do not need to do anything special to see these deals — they appear in your Amazon account if you are a member — but you do need to be logged in to your Prime account to access them.

How to set up and use Prime benefits

When you first sign up for Prime, your shipping benefit is active when ready. To use the other benefits, you may need to take a few steps. For Prime Video, read the Prime Video app or go to primevideo.com and sign in with your Amazon account. For Prime Music, read the Amazon Music app. For Prime Reading, use the Kindle app or visit the Prime Reading section of your Amazon account. For Amazon Photos, go to photos.amazon.com.

Each service remembers your login information, so you only need to set it up once. After that, you can start using the benefit right away. Some benefits, like Prime Reading, let you customize your preferences — for example, choosing which genres of books interest you — so the service can recommend titles you might enjoy.

If you have questions about a specific benefit or run into trouble accessing it, Amazon's customer service can help. You can contact them through your Amazon account, by phone, or through the chat feature in the Amazon app.

Prime membership costs and plan options

Standard Prime membership is available as a monthly subscription or an annual subscription. The annual option costs less per month than paying month-to-month, but requires paying the full year upfront. Both options include all the benefits described above.

Prime Student is a discounted membership for college and university students. It costs less than standard Prime and includes the same benefits, though the free trial period is longer. To sign up, you need to verify your student status through your school email or another method Amazon accepts.

Prime Video-only is a separate, lower-cost subscription that includes only Prime Video streaming — not shipping, music, photos, or reading. This option is useful if you want to watch Prime Video but do not need the other benefits.

Prices vary by country and change over time. You can see the current price for your region on Amazon's membership page. If you are not sure which plan fits your needs, you can start with a free trial period to explore the benefits before committing to a paid membership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use all the Prime benefits or can I just use shipping?

You can use only the benefits you want. Many people sign up for Prime mainly for the shipping and never use Prime Video or the other services. There is no requirement to set up or use every benefit included with your membership.

Can I share my Prime membership with family members?

Yes. You can add household members to your Prime account, and they can use the shipping benefit and access Prime Video, Music, Photos, and Reading from the same account. Each person can have their own profile for Prime Video and other services. The exact rules for household sharing vary by country.

What happens to my Prime benefits if I cancel my membership?

Once your membership ends, you lose access to free shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Reading. Any photos you uploaded to Amazon Photos remain stored, but you will only have access to the free storage tier (not unlimited). You can rejoin Prime at any time.

Is Prime Video available in all countries?

Prime Video is available in most countries where Amazon operates, but the movie and show selection varies by region. Some titles are only available in certain countries due to licensing agreements. You can see what is available in your country by opening the Prime Video app or website.

Can I watch Prime Video on multiple devices at the same time?

Yes, but the number of devices that can stream at the same time depends on your membership type. Standard Prime allows simultaneous streaming on multiple devices. Check your account settings or Amazon's help pages for the exact limit in your region.