Buzz
If you're not yet an Amazon Prime member, the recent price hikes from $79 to $99, and most recently to $119, might have you questioning whether it's really worth joining.
Sure, the quick delivery of your packages is appealing, but does it justify spending over $100 annually in addition to the cost of the items you purchase?
Ask Amazon Prime users, and you'll hear passionate arguments in favor of the service. However, it may not be necessary for everyone to sign up.
If you make 10-20 purchases on Amazon annually, spend under $25 per order, and value receiving your items in less than a week, this service will benefit you.
You'll also get value if you're interested in Amazon's streaming video or music services, which are bundled as part of your membership. This gives you access to three distinct services, making it hard to gauge the true worth of Prime. Ultimately, you'll find the service worthwhile if any of these features are even slightly useful to you. There are also lesser-known services like Wardrobe and Photos, which deserve some attention.
Let's break down the services to better understand what $119 per year actually provides.
Prime shipping perks
The shipping benefits of Amazon Prime are only valuable to those who prioritize fast delivery. If you can wait patiently, your items will typically arrive in about a week. Free shipping is available for orders over $25, though it takes 5-10 business days to arrive, unless you preorder certain items that offer free release-day shipping. If you rarely struggle to meet the $25 minimum, don’t mind the wait, and don’t need faster shipping, then Prime’s shipping perks aren’t essential.
What if you need your items faster than the usual 5-10 business days and find yourself adding a $2.98 item to reach the free shipping minimum? Will Amazon Prime actually save you money? Let’s take a closer look:
Standard shipping costs at least $5.99 per order and generally takes about a week to arrive.
If you're looking for faster delivery, you can usually pay extra for two-day, one-day, or even same-day shipping, although availability varies by item. Two-day shipping typically costs $8.98, and one-day or same-day shipping usually costs $9.98.
Some third-party sellers that handle their own inventory charge shipping fees, so even if you meet the $25 order minimum, you may still need to pay extra for delivery on some items.
So, what does this all mean? It really depends on how often you shop and how urgently you need your deliveries. Standard shipping takes about half the time of the free shipping for orders over $25, but it doesn’t offer much of an advantage considering the added cost. Two-day shipping, while more expensive, offers a substantial time saving.
If you shop on Amazon 20 times a year and pay for standard shipping each time, Prime will essentially break even. However, if you frequently opt for expedited shipping, whether two-day or same-day, you’ll end up saving a lot of money. Ultimately, it boils down to how quickly you need your items. If you can't wait a week, Prime’s two-day (and often one-day) shipping more than pays for itself.
These numbers can shift quickly, though, if you share your Prime membership. Amazon lets you invite another adult in your household to share the benefits—and even though Amazon doesn’t limit sharing to within the same household, you could split the costs with others and pay only $60 annually for the membership. If you do this, Prime becomes an even better deal.
Prime Video
Netflix charges $8.99 per month, which totals $107.88 annually. Hulu’s basic plan starts at $5.99 per month, coming to $71.88 each year. Amazon Prime, at $119 per year, breaks down to about $9.92 monthly. Excluding the shipping benefits, Prime costs about the same as Netflix and less than Hulu. If all these services offered the same content, the choice would be easy. However, Prime complicates things by offering both free streaming and additional paid content. In addition to its original series like Homecoming, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Fleabag, and Catastrophe, Amazon also has a solid library of films.
Even if you're not a frequent shopper, Amazon Prime might still be worthwhile just for the video streaming options.
Prime Music
Amazon Prime members enjoy ad-free access to two million songs with Prime Music. With a monthly cost of $9.92, Prime is comparable to services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora, which each cost $9.99 per month. For $7.99 per month, Prime users can upgrade to Prime Unlimited, which grants access to 50 million songs, while the non-Prime rate is $9.99 per month.
If you're not already subscribed to another streaming service, you might be satisfied with Amazon’s library. You could easily justify a Prime membership, especially if music streaming is all you're after.
Prime Photos
Prime members enjoy unlimited high-resolution photo storage along with 5GB of video storage. The catch is that it’s limited to photos, so if you need to store other file types, this may not be the solution.
Other cloud services like Apple, Dropbox, and Google offer around 2TB of storage space for $10 per month, which includes Amazon’s cloud storage add-on. While it's convenient to store photos if you're already a Prime member, it’s not necessarily a compelling reason to join just for this benefit.
Prime Wardrobe
Prime members can choose two or more eligible clothing items to try on at home for seven days. You’ll only be charged after deciding which items to keep and which to return. It’s perfect for those who struggle with sizing based on online charts and prefer to feel the fabric before making a commitment. However, the return process requires UPS, which might be inconvenient if there isn’t a nearby drop-off point. Amazon also tends to deduct return shipping costs from your refund and may charge a restocking fee, even for Prime members.
Few services offer something quite like this. Styling services such as Stitch Fix and Trunk Club charge an upfront styling fee of $20-25 before sending out your selections. If you frequently use these services (five or six times a year), Prime could be a better value. But keep in mind, you’ll need to feel confident selecting your own clothes, as you’re not getting personalized styling assistance.
The verdict
When deciding whether Amazon Prime is right for you, it largely depends on your personal preferences. If fast shipping on most Amazon purchases and access to entertainment content are appealing to you, then Prime is worth considering. However, if you don’t find these benefits to be essential, it’s probably not the best investment.
Check your past Amazon orders to see how much you’ve spent on shipping in the last year. Also, review your Netflix habits (or TV viewing in general) to see if Amazon offers the same content. This should help you decide if Prime is right for you. And, if you can share your membership with someone, the cost per person could make it a great deal.
If this fits your lifestyle, Prime will be a great addition. If not, you’ll be happy to save $119 each year on something you don’t need. Still undecided? You can always give it a test run with a free month to see if it’s right for you.
