Amazon Prime offers more than just free shipping.
At a Glance
- Amazon Prime bundles streaming, shopping, and health benefits in one fee.
- Members can unlock discounts on groceries, gas, prescriptions, and even gaming.
- Tapping into these perks can recoup the membership cost within a few months.
- Why it matters: Savvy shoppers can stretch every dollar of their annual fee.
Amazon Prime is often seen as a “free shipping” pass, but that view misses a vast array of hidden benefits that can save money and add convenience across many areas of daily life. From streaming premium TV shows to discounted prescription drugs, the membership offers a range of services that can be activated with a few clicks. Below is a guide to the most valuable perks and how to use them.
Streaming and Entertainment
Prime Video already gives access to a library of movies and Amazon originals. Members can also add premium channels-such as HBO, Showtime, and Starz-for $5 to $15 a month, eliminating the need for cable. For music lovers, upgrading to Amazon Music Unlimited unlocks a 90-million-song catalog for $9 a month or $89 a year.
Additionally, Prime offers
- Unlimited access to Prime Reading, a Kindle-Unlimited-style service with books, audiobooks, and magazines.
- Amazon Luna, a free game library that includes popular titles like Fallout and XCOM.
- A rotating selection of games in the GameNight section.
Grocery and Food Savings
Whole Foods discounts are a standout. Prime members see 10% to 20% off items with blue stickers, and yellow tags can add an extra 10% off an already discounted price. Scanning the Whole Foods Market or Amazon app at checkout gives an extra 10% off store-wide sales.
Amazon Fresh delivers groceries with free same-day delivery for Prime members. The service is available in 44 physical locations and offers weekly deals. A new same-day perishable delivery service covers more than 1,000 U.S. cities and will expand to 2,300 by the end of 2025. For Prime members, orders over $25 are free; smaller orders cost $2.99.
Health and Wellness
Prime members gain access to Amazon RxPass, a subscription that covers eligible prescriptions for a flat $5 a month fee. Over 50 common medications are covered, and the average member saves 38% on drugs-though savings must exceed any insurance benefit.
One Medical, acquired in 2023, offers a discounted primary-care membership: $99 a year (or $9 per month) versus the standard $199. Existing One Medical subscribers can also apply the discount to future payments.
Lifestyle and Convenience
- Thursday Night Football: Prime subscribers can stream games on Prime Video, NFL +, Amazon.com, or Twitch, including Spanish-language broadcasts.
- Amazon Day: Schedule packages for a specific delivery day, reducing the number of boxes and avoiding porch pirates.
- Grubhub Plus: A free, permanent Amazon Prime perk that gives unlimited free delivery on orders over $12 in over 4,000 cities.
- Amazon Kids Plus: The subscription normally costs $79 a year, but Prime members receive it for $48.
Discounts and Rewards
Amazon offers a range of exclusive deals:
- No-rush shipping rewards: $1 credits for digital services, $3 coupons for snacks, and $10 to $20 off TV, furniture, or Amazon Home Services.
- Zappos: Faster shipping, bonus reward points, and a 30-day guarantee program for running shoes.
- Shutterfly: 45% off most products and free shipping on orders over $35 after linking accounts.
- Amazon Photos: Unlimited photo storage and 5 GB of video for Prime members.
Fuel Savings
Prime members can save 10 cents per gallon at about 7,000 BP, Amoco, and AM/PM stations across the U.S. The average American could save nearly $70 per year. To unlock the discount, members must create a free earnify™ account and link it to their Prime profile.
How to Activate
Many of these perks are activated automatically when you link the relevant services to your Amazon account. For others, such as Amazon RxPass or One Medical, a simple sign-up on the dedicated pages is required. Keep an eye on the Prime app’s “Benefits” tab, which lists all available perks and their activation steps.
Bottom Line
Amazon Prime is more than a shipping pass; it is a bundle of services that can save money and add convenience. By exploring and activating these hidden perks, members can often recover the annual fee within a few months, especially if they use the grocery, health, and entertainment benefits regularly. For anyone considering a subscription, the real value lies in the breadth of services available-far beyond the two-day delivery that most people think of.
