We love finding deals on Amazon. The online-shopping powerhouse offers a huge selection, and our experts regularly shop there for the best deals online. Here are a few examples of what we found recently.

 

The Benefits of Amazon Prime

First of all, what is the Amazon Prime premium membership, and should you pay for it? For answers to the first part of that question, check out our article where we discuss the benefits of a Prime membership. So now let's talk about how to pay as little as possible for what you actually use. Amazon's premium membership offers several unique benefits.

Want to become part of the program? Sign up for a free Amazon Prime membership trial. And remember: You can sign up for another free trial if you haven't been a member for more than 12 months!

A Slew of Online Shopping Benefits

Free shipping launched as the first, and maybe the best, benefit of a premium Amazon Prime membership. This industry-shifting program introduced two-day shipping as a standard offer. Amazon relies on a web of warehouses around the United States for fast shipping, and they reserve this benefit for Prime members.

Amazon also offers deals exclusively for Prime members. That's in addition to access to Amazon Music, Prime Video, and a yearlong GrubHub+ subscription. While Amazon already offers free returns and a multitude of pickup locations, only Prime members get access to the best Prime Day deals.

Yes, You Get Prime Deals with a Trial Account

The best way to save: Sign up for an annual membership. Amazon charges $14.99 per month for the regular Prime membership. That price falls from $179.88 to $139 when you pay annually instead of monthly.

What Isn't Included with a Prime Membership?

While Amazon offers a bunch of streaming TV shows and movies for Prime members, it doesn't automatically include premium channels like Starz, Showtime, or Shudder. For an extra monthly fee, Prime members may add those channels in the Video section.

Different Types of Amazon Prime Memberships

Looking for different signup options? Amazon offers discounted rates for students and those on some government assistance programs.

Prime for Students

Instead of $14.99 per month, the rate falls to $7.49 per month when you sign up for a student membership on Amazon. This tier includes all the best things from the premium membership: free shipping, streaming entertainment, and ad-free music.

Government Discount

Amazon also offers EBT discounts and lower prices for some government-assistance recipients. The price falls to $6.99 per month and includes the same benefits as the student-tier membership.

Video-Only Prime Membership

Not everyone cares about exclusive discounts or free two-day shipping. Those who compare Amazon Prime to Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ may want the Video-only membership tier. This costs significantly less than the full Prime premium membership. It's currently $8.99 per month.

Looking for More Deals?

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