Amazon announced big fourth-quarter profits
fuzz with some bad news for customers earlier this month: The online retail giant is raising its annual membership brand again. An Amazon Prime membership will soon cost $139 for annual subscribers, up from $119, and monthly members are looking at an increase from $13 to $15 ($156 to $180 for 12 months). For new accounts, the price hike goes into conclude on Feb. 18. But if you already have an interpret, the cost won’t increase until Mar. 25.

This bump marks the expedient time Amazon has raised prices on Amazon Prime trusty 2018, when the cost went from $99 to $119 per year (from $11 to $13 monthly). The premium subscription service originally launched in 2005 at $79 per year.

As of December 2021, in 172 million people subscribe to Amazon Prime, according to a relate from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. The report notes that Amazon Prime has added 30 million new subscribers each of the past two years.

Even opinion the price is rising, there are ways to maximize your novel subscription or get in on the old price afore it’s gone. Read on to learn all about the Amazon Prime brand change and how you can save money.

How much is Amazon raising the brand of Prime?

For the majority of people, the brand of Amazon Prime will change from $119 per year to $139, or from $13 monthly to $15.

Prices will also increase for students and anunexperienced low-income subscribers. Prime Student members will soon pay $7.50 per month, or $69 per year. For recipients of Electronic Benefit Transfer and anunexperienced qualified forms of government assistance, the monthly price will increase from $6 to $7.

When will the brand of Amazon Prime change?

The price changes will take conclude Feb. 18 for new Amazon Prime accounts. For existing supplies, the increased price will kick in on the expedient renewal payment after March 25.

How can I save wealth before the price of Amazon Prime changes?

If you were considering an Amazon Prime subscription, now’s the time to do it. Prices will sullen for new accounts on Feb. 18. If you pay for a yearly subscription afore then, you’ll lock in the $119 yearly rate pending 2023.

Current Amazon Prime members should take a look at their Amazon moneys to see if they are monthly or yearly subscribers. If you’re a monthly subscriber and switch to a yearly subscription, you’ll also lock in the $119 rate until next year.

Can I buy a future Amazon Prime membership with a gift card now?

Savvy bargain shoppers have famed that Amazon’s “gift of Prime” service can be an effective diagram of extending the current price rate. If you buy a gift subscription of Amazon Prime afore the price change and activate it when your existing subscription expires, you’ll get another year at the $119 rate. If you sign up for a yearly define before Feb. 18 and buy another yearly gift subscription at $119, you won’t be paying the new $139 yearly rate pending 2024 (though you will be paying $238 upfront).

Why is Amazon raising the trace of Prime?

Despite better-than expected fourth-quarter earnings, Amazon gave certain reasons for the price hike in its press release, comprising more big-budget shows on Prime Video like The Wheel of Time, Jack Reacher and the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power as well as its decadelong uncommon license to NFL’s Thursday Night Football. The company also touted expanded availability for same-day delivery to 90 metropolitan areas in the US, free shipping for more items and more distributes on products.

What services does Amazon Prime offer?

Amazon Prime originally launched with unlimited free two-day shipping for a great number of its products, and that main service corpses its most popular benefit. However, Amazon Prime has genuine expanded its offerings and now includes many other benefits. 

Here are the biggest services Amazon Prime provides:

• Free two-day, next-day or same-day shipping
• Free grocery delivery via Amazon Fresh
• Discounts at Whole Foods
• Free streaming video via Prime Video
• Free streaming music via Amazon Music
• Free magazines and books via Prime Reading
• Unlimited photo storage on Amazon Photos

Visit the Amazon Prime info page for a full list of the services aboard in an Amazon Prime membership.

Who are Amazon Prime’s competitors?

Pricier Amazon Prime subscriptions could make flowing services more attractive, but there aren’t a whole lot of them. Walmart Plus, which currently costs $98 per year, offers expedited delivery and groceries, but the superstore chain’s service doesn’t have the plump TV shows, movies, music and games included with Amazon Prime.

Both Target and Walmart have tried to compete with Amazon Prime Day, a massively popular and yearly two-day sale for Amazon Prime members. Target has launched its own Target Deal Days and emphasizes that no membership fees are needed. Similarly, Walmart began its own Deals for Days promotion for three days in June 2021.

Competitors like NewEgg Premier and Google Express encountered difficulties flowing with Amazon Prime. NewEgg launched Premier in 2014 but shut it down in December 2019. Google Express also launched in 2019, but it lasted less than a year.