How to Avoid Paying $139 for Amazon Prime
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An Amazon Prime membership now costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, after first launching 20 years ago at just $79/year. It now offers many other perks besides free shipping. But not everyone has to pay full price, or needs to get Amazon Prime at all. Let’s see what options you have.
Sign Up for the Amazon Prime Free Trial
This is the best option to get started. You can just go to Amazon Prime. and if you are eligible for a free trial, you will have an option to select “Start your free 30-day trial”. Follow the on-screen instructions to sign up.
You will have access to free Two-Day shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music and more.
Discounted Prime for Students and Young Adults
Students and young adults can try Prime for Young Adults with a six-month $0 trial at amazon.com/youngadult, then pay a discounted rate that is half off the regular price. That means that you will pay just of $7.49 per month or $69 per year for a membership.
Those who qualify for this discount will also get 10% cash back on Prime Day deals within eligible categories.
This membership is available to Young Adults (age 18-24) or college enrolled students who sign up for Prime for Young Adults and verify eligibility.
Get Prime Access
Amazon Prime Access is a discounted Amazon Prime membership designed for eligible government assistance recipients and low-income individuals.
Qualifying EBT and government assistance recipients can pay less than half (just $6.99) on the monthly Prime membership. If you are eligible, you can go to amazon.com/primeaccess and click get started. Follow the on-screen instructions to verify your EBT card or another qualifying document.
You can provide proof of eligibility or participation from the following programs:
- SNAP EBT
- Medicaid
- Woman, Infants, and Children Program (WIC)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Direct Express Debit Card (DE)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Tribal Assistance Eligibility Letter (TTANF)
- Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP)
If you reverify your eligibility every 12 months, you receive the discount for up to four years from the date you sign up.
Skip Amazon Prime
While Amazon Prime offers lots of benefits, it’s not really essential for everyone. If all you really care about is free shipping for example, then you can get that by spending at least $35 per order in the Amazon store.
You’ll need to check to see if the item is fulfilled and shipped by Amazon and therefore eligible for free shipping on the product detail page. The delivery time for these orders can take between five and eight days, but it may be even less on some cases.
You can even save up to 15% on some items with Amazon’s Subscribe and Save program. This program is designed to help shoppers with everyday essentials, that you never run out of toothpaste, toilet paper, dog food, or other necessities. The service is free, even to non-Prime members. Read more about how it works.
Pay Full Price
If you are not eligible for a discounted membership or a free trial, and you still want Amazon Prime, then your only option is to pay full price for it. However, it’s important to evaluate your shopping habits and decide if it’s worth paying $139. If you’re not sure, then you can start with a monthly membership.
Amazon Prime can be worth the price if you use its benefits regularly. For $139/year (or $14.99/month), you get:
- Free two-day (and often same-day) shipping on many items
- Don’t need your Prime order right away? Select No-Rush Shipping and earn rewards for future purchases.
- Prime Video streaming with movies, TV, and some original content
- Prime Music (limited catalog) and Prime Reading
- Free Grubhub+: Enjoy unlimited $0 food delivery fees, exclusive savings, and more with a free Grubhub+ membership.
- Exclusive deals during Prime Day and early access to Lightning Deals
- Amazon Photos unlimited photo storage
- Grocery delivery benefits in eligible areas
- Save up to 50% at Amazon Fresh and 10% or more at Whole Foods
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through this article. While your support is always greatly appreciated, you should always check shopping portals such as Rakuten, TopCashback, RebatesMe, ShopBack and others for possible cashback.