5 Ways to Avoid Paying $139 for Amazon Prime

Amazon’s Prime subscription service has seen a few price hikes over the years, from $79 to $99 per year in 2014, again to $119 in 2018, and most recently to $139.

Prime is free to join for 30 days(Opens in a new window) for first-time subscribers, so you can try it without making a year-long commitment. Sign up ahead of Prime Day or at the holidays to get free shipping on gift purchases and then cancel, for example. There’s also a monthly Prime subscription at $14.99, though if you plan to use it for any length of time, an annual fee is a better deal.

The main Prime perk is free, two-day shipping, but Prime members also get streaming via Prime Video, as well as Prime Music, Prime Reading, and Amazon Photos. If you’re a regular Amazon user, Prime is a pretty good deal. But perhaps you’re on a budget and are looking for ways to pay less than $139 for Amazon Prime free shipping and other perks. Here are some options.

1. Join Amazon Student

(Credit: Getty Images)

Students who sign up for Prime Student(Opens in a new window) get a six-month trial that includes free, two-day shipping on Prime items, free same-day delivery in certain areas, and two-hour grocery delivery, as well as access to Prime Video, Prime Music, Amazon Photos, Prime Reading, and Amazon Photos. Other perks include discounted access to streaming add-ons and services like Calm and Course Hero. (The Grubhub+ free delivery promotion also applies here.) Once the six-month trial is up, Amazon charges $69 per year or $7.49 per month for four years or until graduation, whatever comes first. To qualify, you’ll need a .edu email address.

2. Get an EBT or Medicaid Discount

If you have a valid Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) or Medicaid card, you can sign up for Amazon Prime for $6.99 per month(Opens in a new window) for up to four years. After Amazon verifies your accounts, you’re eligible for free, two-day shipping, Prime Video, Amazon Photos, and more. EBT/Medicaid status will have to be verified every 12 months; Amazon will email you to re-verify.

3. Spend $25 or More

If free shipping is your game, Amazon offers free shipping on orders of $25 or more(Opens in a new window) for those without Prime, with delivery in 5-8 business days. With millions of items, it’s not hard to rack up enough items to hit the $25 mark. Some items are not eligible; look for items that “Ship from Amazon” and choose “FREE Shipping” at checkout. You can get free, one-day shipping when buying gift cards, but they don’t apply to the $25 total, Amazon says. If you’re just shy of $25, select a cheap, add-on item(Opens in a new window).

(Credit: Amazon)

Similarly, shoppers who tend to buy the same things should look into a Subscribe & Save Membership(Opens in a new window). Although it does not cover everything on the site, members can save up to 15% on orders and receive free shipping on every Subscribe & Save order. Members must select eligible items, and choose a delivery schedule to subscribe. While it’s not as expansive(Opens in a new window) as an Amazon Prime membership, it is convenient and worth a look.

5. Swap Amazon Prime for Walmart+

Amazon isn’t the only shipping giant with a subscription service; Walmart+ debuted in 2020 and at $98 per year, it’s now more than $40 cheaper than Amazon Prime. There are similar perks, like free shipping and early access to special deals, plus prescription and gas discounts. There’s no free video-streaming service, though. And express delivery options are not as robust as those found on Amazon, so double-check that Walmart has a presence in your area if something like grocery delivery is a priority.

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