Okay, let's talk about **what comes with Amazon Prime**. Seriously, what *actually* comes with it beyond the shipping? Because honestly, I remember signing up years ago just to get my cat food delivered faster, and then slowly realizing there was this whole other world included. It felt like finding extra fries at the bottom of the bag. Good surprise.

Everyone knows about the free two-day shipping. That's the big draw, right? But ask someone what else they get for their $139 a year (or $14.99 monthly)... you'll probably get a lot of blank stares, maybe a hesitant "Um, that video thing?" or "Some music?"

Truth is, Amazon keeps adding stuff, and it can get confusing figuring out what benefits you *really* have access to. Is Prime Reading worth it? What can you *actually* watch on Prime Video? Can you share these benefits? That's what we're diving into today – a plain English breakdown of **everything included with Amazon Prime**, based on using it myself for way longer than I care to admit. No hype, just the facts and whether I think each perk delivers value.

The Big One: Shipping Benefits (The Reason Most of Us Sign Up)

This is the core, the foundation. Without this, honestly, Amazon Prime wouldn't exist for most people. Let's get specific:

Amazon Prime Video: Your Streaming Service (Included!)

So, **what comes with Amazon Prime** regarding video? A legit streaming service. Think Netflix, but bundled with your shipping membership.

Prime Video offers a massive library:

• Thousands of Movies & TV Shows: Tons of licensed content (old favorites, some recent blockbusters) plus critically acclaimed Amazon Originals like The Boys (brutal superhero satire), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (witty period comedy), Reacher (action-packed book adaptation), and Invincible (animated superhero drama). The quality of their Originals is genuinely high.
• Original Movies: Big-budget films like The Tomorrow War (Chris Pratt sci-fi) and award contenders.
• Live Sports: Exclusive rights to NFL Thursday Night Football, some Premier League soccer matches in the UK. This is a big recent push.
• Rentals/Purchases: Access to a huge catalog of new releases and premium content you can rent or buy, but this costs extra. The included-with-Prime stuff is clearly marked "Included with Prime". The interface sometimes buries the free stuff behind paid options, which I find annoying.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. It's a solid bonus. The Originals alone rival Netflix/HBO sometimes. The library isn't quite as vast as Netflix's overall, but for *no additional fee* beyond Prime, it's fantastic value. The X-Ray feature (seeing actor names and song credits while watching) is surprisingly useful.

Amazon Music Prime: Basic Music Streaming

**What comes with Amazon Prime** music-wise? Think of it as Amazon's answer to Spotify Free, but ad-free.

• Ad-Free Listening: Crucial. No interruptions.
• 2 Million Songs: This is the key limitation. It's a huge library, but it's curated. You get top playlists, stations, and a lot of popular music, but you likely won't find super deep cuts or the absolute latest niche releases immediately.
• No On-Demand Albums: Unlike Spotify Premium or Apple Music, you cannot play any specific song or album on demand with the Prime tier (except on top playlists or stations). You mostly listen via stations or pre-made playlists. This is the big catch.

My take? It's decent background music, great for discovering popular tracks, and awesome that it's ad-free. But if you're a music nut who needs to play *that specific B-side from 1997* on demand, you'll need Amazon Music Unlimited (extra cost) or Spotify/Apple Music. Useful, but understand its limits. I mostly use it for cooking or working when I don't care *exactly* what plays.

Prime Gaming: Free Games & In-Game Loot

Formerly Twitch Prime. Gamers, this is a hidden gem. Seriously undervalued.

• Free PC Games Every Month: Claim several free games monthly to keep forever. Past games include Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Football Manager 2021, Total War: Warhammer. Quality varies month-to-month, but you get some absolute bangers.
• Exclusive In-Game Content: Free loot for popular games like League of Legends (skins, champions), Apex Legends (skins, Apex Coins), Genshin Impact (Primogems, Mora), Pokemon Go (items). Can be incredibly valuable.
• Free Channel Subscription on Twitch: Support your favorite streamer once a month at no extra cost to you (Amazon pays them).
• Ad-Free Viewing on Twitch: Watch streams without ads.

Is it worth it? If you game *at all*, even casually, this is a massive perk. The monthly free games alone can easily justify the Prime cost over a year. The in-game loot is just icing. This is one of the most underrated parts of **what comes with Amazon Prime**.

Prime Reading & Amazon First Reads: For the Bookworms

**What comes with Amazon Prime** for readers?

Prime Try Before You Buy & Exclusive Discounts: Shopping Perks

Beyond shipping, Prime unlocks unique ways to shop.

• Prime Try Before You Buy: Exclusively for Prime members shopping in Fashion (clothing, shoes, jewelry, eyewear). Order items, they ship for free, you have 7 days to try them on at home. Only pay for what you keep, return the rest easily with included label. No upfront charge other than a possible hold. This is incredibly convenient and low-risk for buying clothes online. Saves so much return hassle.
• Prime Exclusive Discounts: Look for coupons and deals marked "Prime Exclusive Deal" or "Prime Member Discount". These can be substantial, especially around Prime Day or Black Friday. Found 20% off pet food this way last month.
• Prime Early Access: Get 30-minute early access to Lightning Deals on Amazon. Crucial for snagging popular, limited-quantity items during big sale events.

Amazon Photos: Unlimited, Full-Resolution Photo Storage

This might be the stealth MVP. **What comes with Amazon Prime** for your memories?

• Unlimited Full-Resolution Photo Storage: Backup every photo you take at its original quality. No compression.
• 5 GB for Videos & Other Files: Includes phone videos, documents, etc. The 5GB fills up fast if you record a lot of videos.
• Automatic Backup: Easy app setup (phone/desktop) backs up photos automatically.
• Family Vault: Share storage with up to 5 people, letting you pool the 5GB for videos/docs and share photos easily. Great for families.

Is it worth it? Absolutely essential. Phone storage constantly full? This solves it for photos. Safer than just relying on your phone or a single hard drive. The peace of mind knowing my photos are backed up securely is worth a chunk of the Prime fee alone. Way better than iCloud or Google Photos free tiers for photo quality. The video limit is the only downer.

Whole Foods & Amazon Fresh Benefits: Grocery Savings

If you have these stores nearby:

• Exclusive Discounts at Whole Foods Market: Look for yellow "Prime Member Deal" signs throughout the store. Rotating deals on produce, pantry staples, snacks, beer/wine. Typically 10% off or $$ off. Can be significant if you shop there regularly.
• Free Grocery Delivery: Free 2-hour delivery on orders from Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods via Amazon (varies by location and order size - usually $100+ for Fresh, $35+ for Whole Foods). Saves the trip.

My take? The discounts are nice if Whole Foods is your main store. The delivery is super convenient, especially for heavy items. But value depends entirely on your proximity and shopping habits. I use the delivery maybe once a month when I really don't want to leave the house.

Prescription Savings with RxPass (Optional Add-on)

Newer perk: Amazon Pharmacy RxPass (separate $5/month subscription on top of Prime).

• $5/month covers unlimited eligible prescriptions (over 60 common generic meds) for Prime members.
• Includes delivery.
• Check if your medications are covered.

Is it worth it? Only if you take multiple generic meds long-term and they are on the list. Compare it carefully to your current insurance copays. Could be a massive saver, or irrelevant. Needs checking.

Sharing Your Prime Benefits (Carefully!)

A big question: Can others benefit from your membership? Yes, but with rules.

• Amazon Household: You can link accounts with one other adult (spouse, partner, roommate), up to four teens (limited shopping permissions), and four children (content sharing only).
• What's Shared:
  • FREE Prime Delivery Benefits (Shipping, Try Before You Buy)
  • Prime Video streaming access
  • Prime Gaming benefits (free games, loot)
  • Prime Reading & First Reads
  • Amazon Photos storage
  • Early Access to deals
  • Exclusive discounts & Whole Foods savings
• What's NOT Shared:
  • Amazon Music Prime (each member needs their own subscription for on-demand features, though the ad-free music benefit might extend in some ways within Household - it's confusing)
  • Personalized recommendations and shopping history remain separate.
  • Payment methods: Adults manage their own payment info unless they explicitly share a wallet.

Cost & Value: Breaking Down the Math

Okay, so **what comes with Amazon Prime** is a lot. But is it worth $139/year or $14.99/month?

Let's estimate value based on moderate usage:

Even this conservative estimate shows value vastly exceeding the $139 cost. If you use multiple benefits regularly (especially shipping, Video, Photos, Gaming, and discounts), it's a no-brainer. The key is actually *using* the extras beyond shipping. If you only order twice a year, maybe not. But for frequent Amazon users and households? Huge win.

Prime Lite? Student? Other Plans

Wait, there are different flavors of Amazon Prime?

• Prime Student: Proof of enrollment required. Get 6 months free, then 50% off the regular price ($69/year or $7.49/month). Includes ALL the core benefits (Shipping, Video, Music, Gaming, Photos, Reading, etc.). Best deal going if you qualify. Seriously, get it.
Prime Student $69/year ($7.49/month) All Core Benefits Full-time college students Prime EBT/Medicaid $6.99/month All Core Benefits Holders of valid EBT or Medicaid card Prime Access $6.99/month All Core Benefits Holders of qualifying government assistance

Important: The EBT/Medicaid/Access tiers require annual verification of eligibility status.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What exactly is free with Prime shipping?

A: Free standard shipping usually means FREE Two-Day Shipping on eligible Prime items. Depending on location and order size/value, FREE One-Day and FREE Same-Day might also be available at checkout for eligible items. You pay nothing extra for these faster shipping speeds beyond your Prime membership fee. Always check the delivery estimate before ordering!

Q: Can I share my Amazon Prime benefits with my family?

A: Yes, through Amazon Household. You can share most core benefits (Shipping, Video, Gaming, Reading, Photos, discounts) with one other adult in your household. You can also add up to four teens (with shopping allowances) and four child profiles (for content sharing). Payment methods generally remain separate unless you set up a shared wallet. Amazon Music Prime benefits are tricky to share fully – the main account holder gets the full ad-free experience, while the other adult might have more limited access depending on how it's set up.

Q: Is Prime Video really free with Prime?

A: Yes! Access to the entire "Included with Prime" library on Prime Video is part of your membership. However, Prime Video also offers a huge selection of movies and shows for rent or purchase, and it offers premium channels like Max, Paramount+, Starz, etc., as add-on subscriptions (extra cost). So while tons of content is free, not everything on the Prime Video platform is included. Look for the "Included with Prime" tag.

Q: Why did my Prime delivery take longer than 2 days?

A: A few reasons:

• The item might be sold by a third-party seller who handles their own shipping ("Fulfilled by Merchant" vs. "Fulfilled by Amazon").
• Your location might be further from the fulfillment center stocking that item.
• Weather, carrier delays, or high-volume periods (like holidays) can cause backups.
• The item might simply not qualify for 2-day shipping in your area at that time (check the delivery estimate prominently displayed on the product page before adding to cart!).

If your guaranteed Prime delivery is late, contact Amazon Customer Service – they often offer apologies like small account credits or an extra month of Prime.

Q: Does Amazon Prime include Audible?

A: No, Audible is a separate subscription service. However, Prime members do get access to a rotating selection of free Audible Originals and podcasts through the Audible Plus catalog included with Prime (look for "Included with Prime" in the Audible app/site). You don't get the monthly credit for any book like a full Audible membership. Prime Reading includes some audiobooks too, but the selection is smaller.

Q: Can I use Prime benefits internationally?

A: Prime memberships are generally specific to a country (e.g., Amazon.com Prime for the US, Amazon.co.uk Prime for the UK). Benefits like free shipping, Video, Music libraries, and discounts are tied to the specific country's Amazon site you signed up with. Traveling abroad? Prime Video might work depending on licensing, but shipping benefits definitely won't apply to orders sent to another country. Check the specific terms for the country you're visiting or moving to.

Q: Is there a cheaper Prime without the extras, just shipping?

A: Officially, no. Amazon doesn't offer a "Shipping Only" tier in the US. Your options are the full Prime membership or paying per order for shipping. However, the discounted plans (Student, EBT/Medicaid/Access) are significantly cheaper ways to get the full suite of benefits if you qualify.

Q: How does Prime Try Before You Buy actually work?

A: It's simple:

1. Browse eligible Fashion items (look for "Prime Try Before You Buy").
2. Add items to your Try Before You Buy shipment (min 0, max 6-8 items usually).
3. Checkout. NO CHARGE at checkout (though a temporary authorization hold may be placed on your card).
4. Items ship free.
5. You have 7 days once delivered to try them on.
6. Keep what you love. Return what you don't (free return label included in the box).
7. Only AFTER the 7-day window ends will you be charged for the items you kept. Returned items incur no charge and the hold drops off.

It's fantastic for avoiding the hassle of buying multiple sizes/styles and dealing with separate returns.

Q: Does Amazon Prime work for business purchases?

A: Personal Amazon Prime memberships are intended for personal, non-commercial use. While you *can* technically order business supplies, Amazon offers a separate service called Amazon Business Prime designed for companies. It has different pricing tiers and features tailored towards businesses (multi-user accounts, business-only pricing, tax exemption, spend reporting). Using a personal Prime account heavily for business purchases might violate the terms.

The Final Verdict: What Comes With Amazon Prime?

So, wrapping it all up, **what comes with Amazon Prime** is way more than just fast shipping. It's a bundle:

• The Essential Core: Free & Fast Shipping (2-day, 1-day, same-day where available).
• The Entertainment Duo: A legit streaming service (Prime Video) + an ad-free music streaming radio (Music Prime).
• The Gamer's Delight: Free monthly PC games & valuable in-game loot (Prime Gaming).
• The Shopper's Edge: Try Before You Buy (clothes), exclusive discounts, early access deals.
• The Reader's Corner: Borrow books/magazines (Prime Reading) + get a free pre-release book monthly (First Reads).
• The Backup Solution: Unlimited photo storage (Amazon Photos).
• The Grocery Helper: Discounts at Whole Foods & free delivery options (where available).
• The Sharing Potential: Extend core benefits to another adult in your household.

Is it worth $139/year? For most households ordering regularly from Amazon and using even just a couple of the extra perks (like Video, Photos, or Gaming), absolutely yes. The value easily surpasses the cost. Think about how much you'd pay separately for comparable shipping, a streaming service, cloud photo storage, and music? It adds up fast.

The key is knowing what's included and actually using it. Don't just pay for shipping. Explore Prime Video, back up your photos, grab those free games each month, try some clothes risk-free, snag that free book. Once you start dipping into these extras, you realize how much is packed into that membership.

Got questions I missed about **what comes with Amazon Prime**? Drop them below. Honestly, it feels like they add something new every few months, so I'll try to keep this updated if anything major changes. Happy Prime-ing!