How to Make the Most of Your Amazon Prime Membership in 2024
Amazon Prime is a subscription service that gives members access to various services such as free two-day shipping, same-day delivery, music and video streaming, a discount at Whole Foods, games, a "try before you buy" clothing program, grocery delivery, and the (pretty impressive) list goes on.
So, let’s look at everything 'under the hood' of a Prime membership and explore how you can make the most of everything it offers.
8 Cool Amazon Prime Perks for 2023
Free two-day shipping and early access to special discounts are two of the more well-known benefits of an Amazon Prime membership, but there are so many more cool perks that are included in this ever-growing list. Here are our top 10 favorite perks on the long list of Prime benefits:
1. Lightning Fast Free Shipping
One of the most well-known perks of having an Amazon Prime membership is the crazy fast, free shipping they offer. One and Two-Day Shipping is free on any order with no order minimum required. You can also snag same-day delivery if you live within an eligible ZIP code and have at least $25 worth of eligible items in your checkout cart.
One of the lesser-known shipping benefits is their free Release-Date Delivery. Now, you can get new releases of your favorite movies, books, comics, and limited edition items the very day they drop. Check out the details on all their available shipping options here.
2. Prime Video
Nearly all of us are familiar with this (VERY frequently shared) streaming service available to Prime members. It gives you access to thousands of video titles and the option of custom-curating your paid TV channel lineup - bypassing the traditional cable TV subscription model and cutting costs. Even without any additional paid channels, the selection of video titles is incredible and constantly changing. There are hundreds of compatible streaming devices, including game consoles, smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, and browsers.
You'll also be able to rent or buy brand new movies on the same day they're released in theatres, which can turn the typical $60+ movie date into a FI-friendly night in - unless smelly seat cushions and $15 dollar Skittles are your thing.
3. Prime Early Access
Prime Early Access allows Prime members to receive a 30-minute head start to buy Lightning Deals. This means Prime members can access specific Gold Box deals before everyone else. Basically, Amazon Gold Box is the daily deal special across all the categories. It includes special extra savings coupons you can instantly clip and apply at checkout.
You can also get your hands on many retailers' gift cards at 15-20% off, so it's instant savings off your purchase in addition to all the regular store sales and coupons. Need new back-to-school clothes for your kids? Watch out for Old Navy or Kohl's gift cards. The most popular gift cards tend to sell out quickly, so having early access to these deals is truly a valuable benefit.
Sign up for Amazon Prime here!
4. Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market
Prime members in specific areas have access to Amazon Fresh, which allows them to shop for fresh produce, groceries, everyday items, and other products, with free delivery on purchases over $35.
If you have a Whole Foods Market in your area, don't automatically discount it as expensive and incompatible with FI. This is especially true if you have Amazon Prime. Since Amazon acquired Whole Foods, we've seen a lot of great deals and reduced prices on everyday essentials like fish, chicken, and produce.
There are also rotating sales exclusive to Prime members and an additional 10% off sale items. As a bonus, Whole Foods gift cards sometimes pop up at 15-20% off. This is where the Lightning Deals will come in handy.
5. Prime Try Before You Buy
Amazon Prime Try Before You Buy, formally Prime Wardrobe is another great perk for members that gives you seven days to try eligible clothing, shoes, and accessories at home and then only charges you for what you decide to keep. The "try on" period is intended for in-home use of the item, and you are allowed to try up to 6 items at a time. It's a great time saver for everyone from families with small children to busy professionals who'd rather skip the trip to the mall or local department store.
Sign up for Amazon Prime here!
6. Amazon Pharmacy RxPass
All Amazon Prime members are now eligible for $5 monthly prescription medications. These include common RXs for blood pressure, anxiety, depression, allergies, pain, migraines, and more. You can see the comprehensive list here.
7. 1 Year of Grubhub+
Another new perk of becoming a Prime member is your free full year of Grubhub+. You'll get $0 delivery fees and various discounts on all orders over $12 at over 100,000+ restaurants in over 4k cities across the USA.
8. Unlimited Free Reading
Your Prime membership allows you to choose from over a thousand titles, including books, magazines, comics, Kindle Singles, and more, for FREE. In other words, becoming a life learner has never been easier.
There is always something new to read, whether you prefer fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, or magazines.
Books with Audible Narration are included in Prime Reading, allowing you to easily switch between reading and listening without losing your place.
Don’t have a Kindle or Amazon Fire tablet? No problem. Just download the Kindle app on your mobile phone to read anytime and anywhere.
Audible is an additional paid subscription service that allows you to listen to audiobooks, podcasts, meditation programs, and sleep tracks. Currently, there are five membership options:
Audible Plus: free for 30 days and then just $7.95 a month after the trial ends. This tier gives you access to originals, audiobooks, sleep & meditation tracks, and podcasts. There’s no contract, too, so you can cancel anytime.
Audible Premium Plus with 1 credit: offers 30 days for free and then is $14.95 a month after the initial trial. You get everything offered with Audible Plus – plus 1 title a month from their enormous catalog of new releases and bestsellers that’s yours to keep.
Audible Premium Plus with 2 credits: available for $22.95 per month and includes 2 monthly credits for any of the premium titles.
Audible Premium Plus Annual with 12 credits: billed $149.50 per year and includes 12 premium title credits.
Audible Premium Plus Annual with 24 credits: available for $229.50 per year for 24 premium selection title credits.
How To Save On Amazon Prime Membership
Currently, an Amazon Prime membership costs $139 annually or a monthly subscription rate of $14.99. There's a free 30-day trial, and you can cancel anytime. If you are considering Prime, sign up for the free trial before you purchase the full subscription. This way, you can get 13 months for the annual rate.
Students can always snag a Prime membership for $7.49 per month or $69 per year when enrolled in a two or four-year college.
Specific qualifying government assistance recipients, including SNAP, EBT, and Medicaid, can also get a discounted Prime rate of $6.99 a month.
Many grocery stores carry Amazon gift cards, so if your grocery store has a fuel rewards program or if you get a discount on future purchases, purchase Amazon gift cards and use them to pay for your Prime membership. You'll save a few dollars on a tank of gas or your next grocery shopping trip.
Amazon gift cards are also sold at gas stations, office supply stores, and other retailers. If you have a credit card that earns bonus points in any of these categories, this is a great way to earn some bonus points on your Amazon Prime membership.
Sign up for Amazon Prime here!
Final Thoughts
An Amazon Prime membership is great if you know how to optimize the benefits. The best way to do that is to not only save on the membership cost but also maximize the features and services it offers.
We love free shipping when we need something quickly, but the credit toward digital items and Prime Video makes it worth the cost. And all the great discounts for Whole Foods as a Prime member don't hurt, either.
Whatever features you prefer, make sure you're using them to their fullest capacity and let them save you some money in the process.
