Are you addicted to the convenience of online shopping but hesitant to cough up the cash for an Amazon Prime subscription? We don‘t blame you. While Prime is undoubtedly packed with perks, the $14.99 monthly fee ($139/year) can feel like a lot, especially in today‘s economic climate.
But what if we told you there are legit ways to experience all the benefits of Prime without paying a dime? It‘s true! As a tech geek and social expert, I‘ve done the research and I‘m here to share some insider hacks for scoring free Amazon Prime accounts and extended trials. Get ready to elevate your online shopping game.
Why Amazon Prime Reigns Supreme
Before we dive into the freebies, let‘s talk about why Prime has become the gold standard for ecommerce subscriptions. Launched back in 2005 with the simple promise of free two-day shipping, Prime has evolved into a juggernaut of perks including:
- Free Same-Day, One-Day, or Two-Day Delivery on over 100 million items
- Free Two-Hour Grocery Delivery from Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh
- Prime Video streaming with 1000s of movies and shows
- Ad-free music streaming with 2 million songs on Prime Music
- Unlimited photo storage with Amazon Photos
- Free games, ebooks and magazines with Prime Gaming and Reading
- Exclusive early access to deals and discounts
- And so much more
It‘s easy to see how all those benefits add up to serious value, which is precisely why over 200 million people worldwide happily pay for Prime. In fact, according to Business Insider, Prime members spend an average of $1,400 per year on Amazon, compared to just $600 for non-members. Talk about loyal customers!
But Prime isn‘t the only membership game in town these days. Let‘s see how it stacks up to some of its biggest retail competitors:
| Service | Price (Monthly/Annual) | Free Shipping | Video & Music | Other Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Prime | $14.99/$139 | Same/One/Two-Day, Groceries | Prime Video, Music | Prime Gaming, Reading, Photos |
| Walmart+ | $12.95/$98 | Same/Two-Day, Groceries | N/A | Fuel discounts, Scan & Go |
| Target RedCard | Free with RedCard | Two-Day | N/A | 5% off purchases, exclusive deals |
| Best Buy TotalTech | $199.99/year | Same/Two-Day | N/A | Tech support, member pricing |
As you can see, Prime still offers the widest range of benefits, which is likely why it remains the most popular. But enough about paying for Prime, let‘s talk about how to get it for the low, low cost of zero dollars.
1. How to Claim Your 30-Day Free Trial (the Right Way)
The easiest way to dip your toes in the Prime pool is to sign up for the 30-day free trial offered to all new members. Here‘s how to do it:
- Go to amazon.com/prime and click the "Start your free 30-day trial" button.
- Sign into your Amazon account, or create a new one if needed.
- Enter a valid credit card or debit card. You won‘t be charged until the trial ends.
- Complete the sign up process. Your trial starts immediately, huzzah!
For the next glorious 30 days, you‘ll have unrestricted access to all the Prime goodies. Just be sure to set a calendar reminder to cancel if you don‘t want to be charged at the end of the trial period. To cancel, visit "Manage Prime Membership" in your account settings.
Pro tip: Time your trial to coincide with big shopping seasons like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Amazon Prime Day to really maximize your savings.
2. Get 6 Months of Prime Free as a Student
If you‘re a college student, Amazon has an even sweeter deal for you: a free 6-month trial of Prime Student. This includes most of the same benefits as regular Prime, like fast free shipping, Prime Video, and exclusive deals. Here‘s how to sign up:
- Head to amazon.com/primestudent.
- Use your .edu email address to sign up, or upload proof of enrollment (like a transcript).
- Verify your student status with the provided access code.
- Enjoy 6 months of Prime for $0! (After that it‘s 50% off at $7.49/month or $69/year.)
To qualify, you need to be enrolled in at least one course at a college or university. The 6-month trial is only available once, but you can keep the discounted rate for up to 4 years or until you graduate, whichever comes first.
3. Apply for Discounted Prime if You Have EBT or Medicaid
For low-income individuals and families, an extra $14.99 per month is not always feasible. Luckily, Amazon offers a generous 50% discount on Prime if you have a valid EBT or Medicaid card. With this discount, Prime is just $6.99 per month. Here‘s how to see if you qualify:
- Visit amazon.com/qualify.
- Upload an image of your EBT or Medicaid card.
- Complete the qualification and sign up process.
- Voila, Prime for half price!
Note that you will need to re-verify your EBT/Medicaid status every 12 months to keep the discounted rate. According to Amazon, over 50 million Americans are currently enrolled in these programs and could be eligible.
Got a generous family member or roommate who already has Prime? Lucky you! With Amazon Household, you can mooch off their membership without spending an extra cent. Household allows you to share Prime benefits with up to one other adult, four teens, and four child profiles within a "Family Library." Shared benefits include:
- Prime Shipping (excludes items under $25 for some adult accounts)
- Prime Video (limited to streaming, no downloading)
- Early Access Deals
- Amazon Photos
- Select digital content like ebooks, apps, games
Here‘s how to set up a Household:
- The primary Prime member can invite you from their account settings under "Manage Your Household."
- You‘ll get an email to accept the invitation and link your Amazon account.
- Agree to share payment methods (for purchases outside of shared benefits).
- Start reaping those sweet shared benefits!
One important caveat is that shared Video benefits only allow streaming on one device at a time. The primary member also retains control over parental settings for any kids in the Household.
5. Be On the Lookout for Limited Time Promotions
Around major shopping holidays like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, keep your eyes peeled for limited time offers to join Prime at a discount or for an extended free trial period. In the past, Amazon has offered the following promos:
- A free 3-month trial of Prime for Twitch users who linked their account (2016)
- Six months of Prime free for students instead of the usual 6 (2019 and 2020)
- $79/year Prime subscription instead of $119 for select customers (2020)
While there‘s no guarantee these specific deals will come back, Amazon has a history of using major sale events as a Prime recruitment push. Follow @amazon on social media and watch your inbox for potential offers.
What Real Customers Are Saying About Amazon Prime
Don‘t just take my word for it, let‘s see what actual Prime members have to say about their experience. According to a 2021 survey of Prime customers by Statista:
- 48% said they shop on Amazon at least several times per month
- 65% said free shipping was Prime‘s most valuable feature to them
- 81% reported being "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with Prime delivery speeds
- 52% said they were likely to keep their Prime membership even if the price increased
And a few testimonials from real people around the web:
"I‘ve had Prime for about 8 years now and it‘s been a lifesaver. With two young kids, being able to get diapers, wipes, and other essentials delivered in a day is priceless. The video streaming is also fantastic. I can‘t imagine not having Prime at this point." – Sarah L., New York
"Prime has completely changed the way I shop. I pretty much buy everything except groceries on Amazon now. The shipping is so fast and the deals are great, especially on Prime Day. It‘s really spoiled me, I have a hard time buying from anywhere else!" – Miguel R., California
"As a college student, the 6-month trial and discounted membership have been clutch. I use it to rent textbooks, stream shows, and of course get those late-night snack deliveries. For half the price of Netflix, I get so much more." – Jenna S., Chicago
The Future of Prime and Ecommerce Subscriptions
Love it or hate it, Amazon Prime has undeniably revolutionized the world of ecommerce and set a new standard for online shopping convenience. As of 2021, eMarketer predicts that over half of all US households will be Prime members by 2023. But Prime‘s meteoric growth hasn‘t come without some controversies.
Some have criticized Amazon (and by extension Prime) for encouraging overconsumption, since the subscription encourages people to purchase more than they might otherwise to "get their money‘s worth" and take advantage of free shipping. Likewise, the promise of free two-day, one-day, or even same-day delivery has led to questions about the environmental impact and carbon footprint of all those diesel trucks and planes moving orders around.
And of course, we can‘t talk about Amazon without acknowledging the long-standing concerns over working conditions and treatment of the company‘s warehouse and delivery employees, who make the Prime magic happen. Amazon has pledged to be more transparent and make improvements on this front, but there is certainly more work to be done.
Despite these very valid criticisms, it‘s hard to envision a future in which Prime doesn‘t continue to dominate, especially with the surge in online shopping since the COVID-19 pandemic. As Meaghan Werle, ecommerce analyst at Kantar Retail notes:
"In a lot of ways, Prime has become a necessity for many households—like a utility. While a lot of retail media attention goes to flashy new platforms, Amazon has built Prime into a comprehensive lifestyle brand that touches almost every aspect of consumers‘ purchasing. It will be interesting to see how competitors attempt to recreate that level of ‘stickiness‘ with their own membership programs."
So there you have it, the complete download on how to score Amazon Prime for free like a true tech-savvy deal hound. While it may not stay free forever, all the hacks and tricks we‘ve covered should help you milk the most value out of this ecommerce kingpin. Happy subscribing!
Amazon Prime FAQ
Still got burning questions? I‘ve got answers.
Q: Can I share my Prime Video benefits with friends and family?
A: Yes and no. You can share your Prime Video benefits with members of your Amazon Household (up to one other adult and four children). However, you can only stream on one device at a time.
Q: What happens if I cancel my Prime free trial before it ends?
A: Your benefits will end immediately upon cancellation, but you won‘t be charged anything. You‘re free to use Prime until the very last day of the trial if you wish.
Q: Can I get the discounted Prime rate if I‘m on WIC or other government assistance?
A: Currently, the discounted $6.99/month Prime rate only applies to those with a valid EBT or Medicaid card.
Q: Do I need a credit card to sign up for the Prime free trial?
A: Yes, you need to provide a valid credit card or debit card number to start the free trial. You won‘t be charged until the trial period ends.
Q: Is there a limit to how many times I can get a Prime free trial?
A: According to Amazon‘s terms of service, you can only sign up for the 30-day Prime free trial once. Creating multiple accounts to get additional free trials is technically not allowed and could get you banned.
Q: What items are eligible for free Prime shipping?
A: Over 100 million items on Amazon are marked as "Prime Eligible" and qualify for free two-day, one-day, or same-day shipping. Just look for the Prime logo!
Q: Can I use my EBT card to pay for my Prime membership?
A: No, while you can use your EBT card to qualify for the discounted $6.99/month Prime rate, you‘ll still need to provide a separate credit card, debit card, or gift card to cover the actual cost of the membership.
