Amazon Prime offers more in 2024 than ever, whether it’s the 10th anniversary Prime Day sale that’s been and gone or its annual Prime Big Deal Days giving it a second run. You can choose a monthly or annual subscription to save some cash, and the service offers a boatload of benefits to enhance your daily life. We’ll run you through everything you can get in a membership to see if it fits you.
Of course, seeing is believing. If this is your first time, you can try Amazon Prime for free, as the retailer offers a 30-day free trial in the UK and the US. Auto-renew is on by default, so you must remember to cancel or prepare your finances before your month is up. After that, it’ll cost £8.99 / $14.99 per month, or £95 / $139 upfront every year to save a chunk of money. A student discount can bring the subscription down to £4.49 / $7.49 per month or £47.49 / $69 annually.
Nestled within, you get priority access to exclusive sales, free next-day delivery on eligible items, the ability to stream hit TV series like The Boys, listen to the company’s Spotify rival, tune into audiobooks, and many more. There are even a few regional benefits to keep an eye out for as Amazon collaborates with various partners in different locations.
Deals and discounts
Amazon always reserves the best deals for dedicated events like Prime Day. This year, to celebrate ten years of sales extravaganzas, it’s gone bigger than ever before. Prime Day lasted from July 16-17, but there’s another chance at the best deals ahead of Black Friday as Big Deal Days runs from October 8-9. To access these discounts, you need to be a Prime subscriber.
Black Friday is a little less exclusive, with deals for everyone, but Prime members tend to get priority with a 30-minute headstart over general shoppers. Stock matters when it comes to Lightning deals, which are fleeting with a limited number of items available, so you’ll get the advantage.
During the rest of the year, Amazon slashes prices and occasionally sneaks some stuff in for its loyal customers. For regular items, there’s a Subscribe & Save Prime option that sets up recurring monthly deliveries with a 15% discount. This is a rolling commitment since there’s no contract, meaning you can opt-out whenever without any obligation. I use it to replace my weekly consumables like toilet paper and razors without having the hassle of remembering to buy them.
Faster delivery
Known for its convenience, Amazon delivers parcels faster than any other retailer. As a Prime member, you can speed this up as soon as getting something the very same day if you order eligible items within a certain timeframe. Delivery options are exhaustive and sometimes cost a little extra in the form of a one-time payment, depending on your region and the item in question.
- Same-day delivery – Your item will ship on the same day you order, if you order before midday. This option is free in the UK on eligible items, while US customers get the option free on orders over $25. Orders under $25 will cost $3 for same-day delivery, while those not subscribed to Prime can pay $10 for the option.
- One-day delivery / Next-day delivery – Your item will arrive the next working day by 9pm in the US and by the end of the day in the UK. This is the default for Prime members in eligible zip codes and postcodes. You can filter items with the ‘Get it Tomorrow’ option on the left while you’re browsing.
- Priority delivery / two-day shipping – Receive your item within two days of dispatching. This is available in the UK and the contiguous US.
- Expedited delivery – Your item will arrive within one to three days after you place your order in the UK.
- Standard delivery – It’ll arrive within two to five business days of ordering. This is the default for anyone not subscribed to Prime, though it might arrive sooner.
- Free release-date delivery – Pre-ordering items means you should get them on release day.
- Free no-rush shipping – You can forgo faster delivery in favour of rewards on your next purchase. This could be cashback or free delivery and is only available on select items.
Streaming services and gaming
- Prime Video is one of the biggest Netflix rivals, offering unlimited streaming access to around 30,000 TV shows and movies in the US. Selection will differ depending on where you’re based, as Amazon licenses different content based on region. The UK, for example, has 10,500+ videos. Amazon Originals don’t have the same restrictions, however, meaning you can watch The Boys, Gen V, Invincible, The Wheel of Time, Good Omens, The Continental, The Peripheral, and more, no matter where you’re travelling to. That’s quite a selection.
- Freevee, formerly known as IMDb TV, is the free ad-supported complement to Prime Video. You can access it without a subscription and watch shows like Alex Rider, Bosch: Legacy, and the Neighbours revival. It’s also a great place to get a taster of the full Prime Video, as select episodes from exclusive subscription-based TV series feature with ads.
- Prime TV channels are a good way to watch Showtime, Starz, or even Paramount Plus in the UK. You’ll have to fork out a little extra, between $5 – $15, depending on what service you opt for, but it’s all baked into the same app. Anything that isn’t included in Prime or a channel should be available for standalone purchase or rental.
- Amazon Music Prime is now a real Spotify contender with over 100 million songs under its belt and top ad-free podcasts. It’s one of three tiers worth considering. There’s also the free version that has ads and skip limits and Amazon Music Unlimited, which also doesn’t require Prime but is geared more towards enthusiasts who prefer HD and spatial audio.
- Prime Gaming (formerly called Twitch Gaming) is a service that gives you one free Twitch subscription per month and a wealth of free games and exclusive items. Some use Amazon’s gaming platform, while others require that you link your Steam, Battle.net, GOG, or Ubisoft Connect. I regularly use it to get free boosters in Rainbow Six Siege, but there are plenty of MMO mounts. Even Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be free just five months after release. Finally, you get access to Luna, letting you stream a rotating selection of titles via the cloud gaming service.
Other Benefits
- Prime Reading gives you over one thousand digital books, magazines, and comics to read. It works on any device, although some Kindle models give you more of an authentic book feel than standard tablets. You can even use Audible Narration on supported titles, although Audible is another subscription entirely not included in Amazon Prime.
- Amazon Photos gives everyone 5GB of storage for free to house your images and videos. Prime members, however, get unlimited storage for photos and a dedicated 5GB for videos. After that, you’ll need to pay more if you have more footage.
- Fast food subscriptions also come free, as Amazon partners with regional providers. Prime gives you a year of Grubhub+ in the US and Deliveroo Plus in the UK. Each nets you free delivery, so long as you meet minimum order fees and purchase from participating stores. Depending on how often you eat out, you could make your money back in no time.
To check your eligibility for a free trial, head over to Amazon for further details.
