Amazon Prime benefits–what are they, and is signing up still worth it?

Amazon Prime has been around for a long time now, and a few of the Amazon Prime benefits are widely known. But things are changing all of the time, so you'd be forgiven for not knowing what a subscription today actually includes, and whether these features make it worth taking the plunge.

You might also be surprised by some of the less talked about benefits of signing up for Prime membership, on top of the ever-popular fast shipping and streaming service. For example, members get exclusive access to deals in this year's Amazon Prime Day sale.

Here we uncover the best that Amazon Prime has to offer customers and whether the service is actually still worth the cost.

8 Amazon Prime Benefits 

1. Free shipping and more

You probably already know about free shipping, but the Amazon Prime benefits don't quite stop there.

One-day and same day delivery

Prime customers can enjoy free unlimited one-day and same-day shipping on millions of products, meaning you can receive your urgent purchases without the stress of postal delays. This can come in particularly handy come Christmas-time, when last-minute shopping can be done from the comfort of the sofa.

If you have a bit more time on your hands, you can look for the 'no-rush delivery' option at checkout to receive a small redeemable credit on digital purchases.

Release-date delivery

If you're always on the look out for the latest book, piece of tech or failsafe product, then Prime's free release-date delivery is a fantastic extra.

Simply pre-order your chosen product and, if it's eligible for the service, as a Prime subscriber you'll receive your item on the very day it's released with no waiting around.

Delivery time slots with Prime Now

For even more specific delivery time slots, Prime also has you covered with the Prime Now delivery service. This is available in certain residential postcodes and allows you to have products delivery to you fast - within 1-2 hours - ranging from groceries to electronics.

Nominate an 'Amazon Day'

You can also select your own Amazon Day, which allows you to add items to your order throughout the week to be delivered on a preferred nominated day. Handy!

2. Shopping benefits

As well as choosing when and how you get things delivered through Prime, a membership can also impact how you browse and shop across Amazon. 

Voice shopping

If you own an Amazon Echo, Fire Tablet or other Alexa-compatible device, then you can simply ask your device to identify the latest deals. She will then list all of the Prime-exclusive bargains available to you, pausing after each to ask whether you would like to take advantage. You can also ask her to order or re-order your most used items.

Prime wardrobe

Prime Wardrobe allows customers to experience a more efficient way of shopping. With seven days to try out eligible clothing, shoes and accessories in the comfort of your home before committing, you can truly try before you buy. Simply send back what you don't want and only pay for what you keep.

3. Early and exclusive deals access

One of the biggest reasons many of use finally decide to take the plunge and pay for an Amazon Prime membership is access to Prime Day deals. These discounts are exclusively available to Prime members, potentially saving you tons.

However, it's not just Prime Day when these savings are available. You'll also get early access to some Lightning deals all-year-round.

4. Amazon Family savings

Another Amazon Prime benefit that tends to fly under the radar, Amazon Family members get 20% off items such as nappies and baby food, as well as personalised product recommendations and even exclusive offers. 

5. Streaming

Streaming is another hugely popular by-product of signing up for Prime, but it's not just Prime Video.

Video streaming

Prime Video is Amazon's answer to Netflix, offering movies, TV shows and a growing range of Amazon original content. It's accessible on the majority of mobile devices, streaming devices, games consoles and smart TVs.

You can also download your favourite shows and movies onto your phone or tablet for offline viewing - essential if you have a commute or have an unreliable internet connection.

Music Streaming

Amazon Prime Music affords subscribers unlimited, ad-free access to a song library consisting of over 2 million tracks.

As with Prime Video, these can be streaming on various devices and downloaded for offline listening. And while Amazon Music Unlimited offers more tracks, Prime subscribers also get a discounted rate if they want to upgrade.

Gaming

Twitch Prime lets customers enjoy a bonus game every month, with Twitch Channel subscribers also able to enjoy streams of all of their favourite games.

6. Reading benefits

Prime Reading provides unlimited access on any device to more than a thousand eBooks, popular magazines, comics, books with Audible narration and even more. Book lovers can truly read anytime, anywhere with a Prime subscription.

With Amazon First Reads subscribers can even read one of next month's new Kindle book releases now for £0.00 per month.

7. Shared access

Subscribers can link their accounts with one other adult and share shipping, streaming access to movies and TV shows, Amazon Family discounts and more.

8. Free unlimited photo storage

If you are a lover of all things photography or just an enthusiastic snapper, Prime has you covered with secure unlimited photo storage. Prime members can access their photos from anywhere, as well as share photos from their phone, tablet or computer.

The verdict–are the Amazon Prime benefits worth it?

For £7.99 a month you can have everything you might need at your fingertips, arriving on your doorstep within hours. So if you are looking for convenience and flexibility, then the variety of services, delivery options and extras included within the Amazon Prime subscription might just be perfect for you. And with the option to cancel at any time (just read our guide on how to cancel Amazon Prime), much of the risk is taken away.

Fancy exploring the benefits of Amazon Prime yourself?

SIGN UP HERE