Amazon’s Prime subscription service has seen a few price hikes over the years, from $79 to $99 per year in 2014 and again to $119 in 2018. Since 2022, it’s been $139 per year.Prime is free to join for 30 days for first-time subscribers, so you can try it without making a year-long commitment. Sign up ahead of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days on Oct. 8-9 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
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Students who sign up for Prime Student 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, Music Prime, Prime Gaming, Prime Reading, Amazon Photos, and Prime Try Before You Buy. Other perks include discounted access to 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 DiscountIf you have a valid Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) or Medicaid card, you can sign up for Amazon Prime for $6.99 per month for up to four years. After Amazon verifies your accounts, you’re eligible for free, two-day shipping, Prime Video, Amazon Photos, and more.3. Spend $35 or More
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If free shipping is your game, Amazon offers free shipping on select orders. On its website, Amazon says: “Orders of $25 or more of eligible items qualify for free shipping.” But as of last year, it was experimenting with requiring non-Prime members to spend at least $35 to get free shipping, and many listings on Amazon currently say $35 for free shipping. With millions of items, it’s not hard to rack up enough items to hit the $35 mark, though 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 $35 total, Amazon says. If you’re just shy of $35, select a cheap, add-on item.
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4. Get a Subscribe & Save Membership
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Similarly, shoppers who tend to buy the same things should look into a Subscribe & Save Membership. 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 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 gas discounts. For video streaming, Walmart offers free access to the ad-supported Paramount+ Essential Plan. 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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About Chloe Albanesius
Executive Editor for News
I started out covering tech policy in D.C. for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag’s news coverage and manage our how-to content.
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