Is Amazon Prime still worth it in 2026?

Amazon raised Prime’s annual price from $119 to $139 in 2022 — a 17% increase — and added advertising to Prime Video in 2024 without lowering the price. The service now costs $139/year ($14.99/month) unless you’re a student ($69/year) or on government assistance ($6.99/month).

The case for Prime used to be simpler: pay once, get free two-day shipping on everything. That calculus is murkier now. Walmart+ offers competing shipping benefits for $98/year. Many Amazon items ship free without Prime. Prime Video has ads unless you pay an additional $2.99/month to remove them.

Here’s an honest accounting of what you’re getting and whether it’s worth $139.

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What Amazon Prime costs in 2026

Standard: $139/year or $14.99/month.

Prime Student: $69/year or $7.49/month with a .edu email address. Includes a six-month free trial.

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EBT/Government Assistance: $6.99/month with a qualifying card. This is genuinely good value.

A note on month-to-month vs annual: $14.99/month works out to $179.88/year — $40 more than the annual plan. If you know you’ll keep Prime for a year, paying annually saves you the cost of roughly two months.

The full benefits list (and what they’re actually worth)

Prime shipping: Free two-day delivery on millions of items, free same-day delivery in many markets. Realistically worth $80–100/year if you order frequently — the equivalent of $3–4 per shipment on 25+ orders annually.

Prime Video: A streaming service with a reasonable catalog of original series (The Boys, Rings of Power, Reacher, Fallout) and licensed films. Netflix-equivalent pricing is $15.49/month for standard. A standalone streaming service comparable to Prime Video costs $10–15/month.

Prime Music: Ad-free access to a limited catalog (~100 million songs). Spotify Free exists as a free alternative. This benefit has limited standalone value.

Amazon Photos: Unlimited photo storage. Google Photos limits free storage at 15GB. If you take many photos and want cloud backup, this alone could replace a $2–3/month Google One plan.

Prime Reading: Access to a rotating selection of Kindle books and magazines. Limited catalog versus Kindle Unlimited, which costs $11.99/month for a broader selection.

Prime Gaming: Free games and in-game content monthly, plus a Twitch channel subscription. Modest value unless you game actively.

Amazon Fresh delivery: Free grocery delivery on qualifying orders (minimum purchase applies). Worth meaningful money if you use this regularly — grocery delivery services typically charge $7–10 per order.

The shipping benefit: still the core case

Free shipping without Prime is more accessible than it used to be. Amazon offers free standard shipping on orders above $35, and many sellers offer free shipping independently. If you order infrequently or tend to place large orders, Prime’s shipping benefit provides less value than it once did.

Where Prime shipping genuinely earns its keep: time-sensitive purchases, last-minute needs, and same-day delivery (where available). The convenience has monetary value that’s hard to quantify but real.

A household placing 30+ Amazon orders per year, on average spending above $25 but below $35, saves meaningfully on shipping. The shipping benefit alone can cover the $139 cost.

Is Prime Video worth the membership by itself?

Since January 2024, Prime Video includes ads unless you pay an additional $2.99/month. The full Prime cost is now effectively $139 + $35.88 = $174.88 if you want an ad-free streaming experience.

At $14.99/month (no ad removal), Prime Video competes with Netflix Standard with Ads ($7.99/month), Hulu (with ads, $7.99/month), and Peacock ($7.99/month). It costs more than these, and the catalog is comparable.

If Prime Video is your reason for the subscription, reconsider. Netflix or Hulu give you equivalent or better streaming value for less money if you don’t need Amazon’s shopping benefits.

If you’re a Prime member for shipping and consider Prime Video a bonus, it’s a fine service with strong originals. Don’t cut Prime for the streaming alone.

Amazon Prime vs Walmart Plus

Walmart+ costs $98/year ($12.95/month). It includes free delivery from Walmart stores (typically same-day), free shipping from Walmart.com, a Paramount+ subscription (with ads), and fuel discounts at Murphy USA and Walmart stations.

Amazon wins on shipping breadth — Prime covers vastly more products from a larger marketplace. Amazon’s product selection is unmatched.

Walmart+ wins on grocery delivery if you shop at Walmart anyway, and on cost ($41/year less than Prime). The Paramount+ inclusion has genuine value for CBS shows, Yellowstone, and Star Trek content.

If you primarily buy household goods and groceries: Walmart+is worth comparing. If you buy a wide variety of products online: Prime is almost certainly better suited.

Amazon Prime Student

At $69/year with a six-month free trial, Prime Student is the best deal Amazon offers. If you’re a student with a valid .edu address, there is essentially no reason not to try the free trial.

You get the full Prime benefit set at half price. The shipping alone justifies it if you order textbooks or supplies online.

Who should keep Prime?

Anyone placing 20+ Amazon orders per year where shipping charges would apply.

Households using Amazon Fresh for regular grocery delivery.

Students (at the Student rate, it’s a near-automatic yes).

People who watch Prime Video regularly and find value in the programming.

Families with children who use Prime Video for kids’ content.

Who should cancel Prime?

Anyone placing fewer than 15 Amazon orders per year — the per-shipment free shipping value won’t cover the membership.

People who don’t watch streaming content and order infrequently.

Anyone who finds themselves ordering from Amazon to ‘get their money’s worth’ on Prime — this is a psychological trap, not a financial strategy.

How to pause or cancel Amazon Prime

Go to Account > Prime Membership > Manage Membership.

You can cancel immediately or at the end of your billing period. Amazon will attempt to offer you a pause (for up to 3 months) or a reminder before you finalize. The cancellation process takes about 3 minutes.

Amazon issues prorated refunds if you cancel an annual membership and haven’t used many Prime benefits in the current term. The definition of ‘used’ is deliberately vague, but members typically receive refunds for unused portions when they cancel within the first month or two.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Amazon Prime cost in 2026?

$139/year ($14.99/month). Prime Student is $69/year. EBT/government assistance cardholders pay $6.99/month.

What does Amazon Prime include?

Free shipping, Prime Video (with ads unless you pay $2.99/month extra), Prime Music, Amazon Photos unlimited storage, Prime Reading, Prime Gaming, and Amazon Fresh delivery on qualifying orders.

Is Prime Video free with Amazon Prime?

It’s included, but ads were added in January 2024. Removing ads costs $2.99/month extra.

Can I share Amazon Prime with family?

Yes. Amazon Household lets you share Prime benefits with one adult and up to four children in the same household at no extra cost.

How do I get a refund on Amazon Prime?

Cancel and request a refund through Account > Prime Membership. Amazon offers prorated refunds for unused portions of annual memberships, particularly early in the billing cycle.