Amazon announces Prime membership changes — users outside of an account holder's household are now cut off. What you need to know

The new program allows Prime members and one additional adult in the same household, along with up to four teens (if they were added before April 7) and up to four children, to share shipping and several digital benefits — including Prime Video with ads.

If you were previously sharing benefits with a Prime member but not a member of the household, you may be eligible for a new promotion.

New promotional offer

According to multiple news outlets [2], Amazon users impacted by the change are being offered a one-year Prime subscription for $14.99. That’s the same price, currently, as a typical monthly subscription, while a yearly subscription is $139 [3].

The offer lasts until Dec. 31.

If you choose not to subscribe to Prime, there’s still a way to access free shipping. If you spend at least $35 on products sold by Amazon itself, you can get them shipped at no charge [4]. Check the product details to see if the items will be processed by Amazon. Shipping times, however, may be longer than if purchased via Prime.

Cost of subscriptions

A survey commissioned by CNET in 2025 [5] found that Americans were spending an average of $90 per month — over $1,000 each year — on subscriptions. Furthermore, they’re wasting about $200 annually on subscriptions they don’t use.

If you’re an Amazon user who’s being squeezed by the announced changes and rely on Prime benefits, you may have to bite the bullet and purchase your own subscription. But you might be able to find room in your budget to fit in this new cost by evaluating your list of subscriptions and cutting out any you don’t need anymore.

Either way, it’s always a good idea to regularly check your monthly spending, especially if you use any services that accept automatic payments, to ensure you’re not wasting any money. Doing so can help optimize your savings to help you reach your financial goals.

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