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It's likely that you and nearly everyone you know have an Amazon Prime membership, or at least access to one. Statista estimates that more than 76.6 million households have an account, after all.
The popular subscription service costs $139 per year for annual members. Those paying for Prime on a monthly basis pay $14.99 per month, while those with Prime Student accounts pay $69 per year.
Having an Amazon Prime membership might seem like a rite of passage — or sometimes an absolute necessity — but is it really worth an extra line on your monthly or yearly budget?
Below, CNBC Select breaks down the rewards, benefits and perks of having an Amazon Prime account, plus a few things to keep in mind if you're on the fence about purchasing the service.
Is Amazon Prime worth it?
The subscription service is so well-received because of the many benefits it offers its members — most notably, perhaps, is its complimentary two-day (or sometimes faster) shipping perk. But as the cost of doing business continues to rise, companies including Amazon are also increasing their prices.
Amazon Prime pricing
All current Amazon Prime members will pay the following rates when their membership is up for renewal (they're already in effect for new members):
- $14.99 per month or $139 per year
- $8.99 per month for Prime Video
Those with Amazon Prime Student accounts can expect to pay the following rate:
- $7.49 per month or $69 per year
If you're currently on a government assistance program such as EBT or Medicaid, you may qualify for a discounted Amazon Prime Access membership of $6.99 per month — click here to find out more.
Amazon Prime benefits
No one can argue against the value that Amazon Prime delivers. JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth estimated the true value of an Amazon Prime membership to be worth around $1,000 if you were to fully price out each service.
Here's a peek at some of the perks that come with Amazon Prime — visit the website to view the entire list of available benefits.
- Expedited shipping and delivery: With Amazon Prime, you'll get faster shipping options, including complimentary two-day, one-day or same-day delivery, as well as two-hour delivery for groceries
- Video, music and game streaming + other digital services: You'll get access to a wide variety of digital services, including Prime Video, Amazon Music, Prime Gaming (including Amazon's new cloud gaming platform Luna), Amazon Photos (unlimited cloud photo storage) and discounts on Prime Video Channels, Amazon Music Unlimited and Amazon Kids+
- Shopping: You'll score Prime Member deals at Whole Foods Market, early access to Lightning Deals, an option for Prime Try Before You Buy (for clothing, shoes, jewelry and other accessories) and free shipping on Woot, among other benefits
- Food delivery: Amazon recently added a free one-year membership to Grubhub+ for Prime members, which gives unlimited $0 delivery fees on orders from eligible restaurants, exclusive discounts and donation matching
- Reading: Fans of digital books and audiobooks will get access to Prime Reading and Books with Audible Narration via Kindle and Audible and other perks like Amazon First Reads
- Other discounts: You'll score free two-day and next-day shipping at shopbop, free expedited shipping from Zappos and access to major savings as part of Prime Day
Delivery comparison
Prime membership comes with a seemingly never-ending list of benefits, but how does it really stack up against similar services? Unfortunately, there aren't too many 'true' competitors out there since Amazon Prime offers such a robust amount of perks, although that may not be the case for long as other retailers continue to launch and test their own subscription models. Here's how it holds up against Walmart+.
Amazon Prime vs. Walmart+
Walmart+ offers a similar subscription model where you can have orders delivered quickly to your door. Walmart+ members receive the following benefits:
- Free next-day and two-day shipping on items from Walmart.com (with no order minimums), although that excludes most Marketplace items, location & freight surcharges
- Free same-day grocery delivery from your store when you spend at least $35 (based on availability)
- Discounts on prescriptions and the ability to save five cents per gallon at Walmart and Murphy gas stations
- A nifty Scan & Go feature to use when shopping in the physical store
Walmart+ costs $12.95 per month or $98 per year, which is moderately less expensive compared to Amazon Prime. If you're the type of consumer who simply wants to receive your products as quickly as possible and prefers shopping at Walmart, without needing any of Prime's additional benefits, Walmart+ may be a better fit. However, Amazon Prime offers similar shipping services and a much more widespread list of benefits for about $40 more per year.
If you're unsure about whether or not Walmart+ is right for you, try signing up for a 30-day free trial. If you enjoy using the service and want to keep it for yourself, consider applying for the American Express Platinum Card®, which offers a monthly statement credit to cover the cost of Walmart+ (subject to auto-renewal). Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
How to save on an Amazon Prime subscription
There is no service out there quite like Amazon Prime, which could make it a difficult decision to part ways with it, especially if you're taking advantage of many of the benefits. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can save on your Amazon Prime subscription.
The simplest method is to split your subscription with friends and family. My family and I share the cost of our Prime account and use Venmo to pay one another. Instead of paying $139 per year, I end up paying only one-third of that since we are splitting the cost three ways. Amazon even has a guide on how you share your Prime benefits on its website.
You may also want to consider applying for one of the Amazon Prime credit cards, each of which comes with immediate Amazon credits that can help offset the cost of the membership and earn you additional rewards on your purchases.
Amazon Visa
Rewards
3% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market; 3% back on purchases made through Chase Travel; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $50 Gift Card instantly upon approval.
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
19.49%–28.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
4%, $5 minimum
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply. We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through Amazon links.
Pros
- Doesn't require an Amazon Prime membership
- No annual fee
Cons
- No intro APR offer
The Prime Visa is only available to Amazon Prime members ($139 for an annual membership and $14.99 for a monthly membership) but is very rewarding for Amazon purchases.
- High rate of return at Amazon and Whole Foods
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- Requires an Amazon Prime membership
- If you choose the promo APR you won't earn rewards on those purchases
Rewards
- Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
- Unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Who is Amazon Prime best for?
Amazon Prime can be appealing to many types of consumers, including those who live in either urban and rural areas. It's great for those who prefer shopping online rather than in person, those who want to keep their shopping all with one retailer, those who want free and quick shipping and for anyone who enjoys shopping at Whole Foods Market. It's also worth looking at if you're a food-delivery fanatic who may have already subscribed to a service like Grubhub+ or Doordash's Dashpass (normally $9.99/mo), since you'll now get one year of free food delivery through Grubhub+.
Even if only a few of Amazon Prime's benefits appeal to you, their utility could make the cost of the service easily worth it. If you were to pay for even a few of the services individually you'll likely be paying more than if you were just to subscribe to Prime itself.
That said, if you rarely order items online or aren't interested in other Prime perks outside of quick shipping, you may be better off either paying the shipping cost per item or opting for a more affordable service like Walmart+. Alternatively, to be even more cost-efficient, you could always ask a friend who already has an Amazon Prime account to order the product for you.
Doing the math
So, how do you consider subscribing to Amazon Prime and making the price seem ''worth it?"
On my regular, non-shared, non-Prime Amazon account, a pack of toothpaste would cost $5.99 to ship to my home in one day. If each order is going to add six more dollars in shipping costs, that means Amazon Prime would pay for itself in 23 orders, or an average of two orders per month.
With a Student membership, it makes even more sense to pay for Prime. Ordering a textbook for dental school, for instance, would cost an extra $7.64 in shipping charges, so you would have to order roughly 10 textbooks a year to make the service worth your while.
Shipping costs will vary depending on the item and how quickly you want it, but if you're choosing two-day shipping often, you'll likely come out ahead with Prime if you order online more than two dozen times a year. Remember that you also can get free shipping from Amazon without a Prime membership when your order has $25 or more of eligible items, however, your order will take five to eight days to be delivered.
If you value any of the other benefits outside of speedy shipping you'll be even closer to Prime being worth it for you. Plus, if you're using the Prime Visa (see rates and fees), Amazon Prime can quickly pay for itself with its 5% cash-back earnings on Amazon purchases.
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Bottom line
Amazon Prime has now become a normal line item on most American consumers' budgets as we've quickly adopted online shopping as a way of life. Whether you're splitting the cost with your friends and family or using a rewards credit card to save on the membership cost, Amazon Prime is likely worth having if you shop online regularly. That said, if you're currently paying for the service but rarely take advantage of its many benefits, this may be a good time to cancel your membership and save $139 for your emergency fund instead.
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance guide is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through Amazon links.
