Today, 43% of Americans prefer shopping online instead of in-store, and online sales are predicted to exceed $1.14 trillion — that’s “trillion” with a “t” — by the end of 2023. That’s largely due to Amazon, which recorded $514 billion total net sales revenue in 2022 and more than 2.72 billion unique monthly users in 2023, all looking to scoop up some of the more than 12 million items offered on the site. Amazon Prime benefits have also changed shopping behaviors and consumer expectations of the shopping experience.
“Something people may not realize is the sheer plethora of items available on Amazon,” said Amazon and lifestyle expert Marlene Srdic. “Yes, it's convenient to get your paper towels and dog food on auto-delivery, but there are also premium beauty brands, luxury brands, and even fine jewelry on Amazon. From your favorite La Mer to Chanel (yes, really), just about anything you can think of can be purchased on Amazon.”
And those in the know know that becoming an Amazon Prime member is the best way to save money on things they will probably buy anyway.
Amazon Prime is a subscription-based service that provides members with perks and services not available to anyone else. Members can pay $14.99 per month or $139 annually — with discounts available to students, EBT, Medicaid, NAP, and other select government assistance recipients — to take advantage of everything from discounts on streaming services to exclusive shopping events.
There are more than 200 million Amazon Prime members, with more than 167 million in the United States alone, helping to make Amazon the largest online retailer in the world.
The reason more than 200 million people have joined is because of the sheer amount and variety of benefits that come along with an Amazon Prime membership.
By far the most popular benefit is free delivery, which drew 90% of Prime members to subscribe in the first place.
“Shipping costs can add up, and we all love getting things fast and delivered directly to our door,” Amazon influencer and healthy living expert Chris Freytag told DealSpotr. “I ordered something at 8 a.m. and had it by 5 p.m. — yes, please! I also live where it gets cold and snowy, so packages sent right to my door fast are amazing.”
This free delivery option for Prime members allows you to pick your delivery Amazon Day to have eligible items delivered on the same day and time each week.
Tired of missed deliveries or porch pirates stealing packages? With Amazon Key, Prime members can have their packages conveniently delivered inside their garage. You can even monitor the delivery with an optional camera.
If you’re uncomfortable having your packages delivered to your garage, Amazon Locker might be the solution. At no cost to Prime members, you can choose a secure pickup location that’s convenient for you. Select “Amazon Locker” as the delivery address when checking out, and then follow the email instructions to pick up the goods within three days.
Grubhub+ is Grubhub’s monthly membership program, and Prime members get a free year with free delivery and exclusive offers.
If you’re not in a hurry to get your delivery, select No-Rush Shipping and get a discount on your order or a promotional reward on a future purchase.
Prime members get free two-day delivery on prescriptions filled with Amazon Pharmacy and discounts of up to 80% for medications not covered by insurance.
If you want to add to your wardrobe outside of Amazon directly, Prime members can take advantage of free two-day and next-day shipping at retailer Shopbop.
Love retailer Zappos? As a Prime member, you also get free expedited shipping, double VIP points, and exclusive member deals on Zappos orders.
If you already know you’ll need monthly supplies, why not automate the process? Using Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program, you can save up to 15% on automatic deliveries — with free shipping — with the option to cancel or skip a delivery without penalty.
“The Subscribe & Save feature is your budget-friendly ally, providing discounts on everything from regularly used ingredients like spices and cooking oils to household items and toiletries, delivered right to your doorstep at your chosen intervals,” Melissa Riker of The Happier Homemaker told DealSpotr.
Whether you want meat, seafood, snacks, or fresh produce, a Prime membership allows fast one- and two-hour delivery windows from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods, depending on your area, and free shipping on all Everyday Essentials orders.
“Another Amazon Prime savings tip is that it can be used with many Amazon Warehouse deals,” Riker said. “These are open-box and pre-owned products that often come at a significant discount. They're still quality items, but because the packaging might be damaged or it's a returned product, you can score some great deals on everything from kitchen appliances to gadget, and you can use your fast and free Amazon Prime shipment option with most of these deals.”
If you want to buy from online stores that aren’t Amazon, Prime members can shop at eligible retailers and take advantage of fast, free delivery and hassle-free returns.
Prime members can save an extra 10% off storewide sales at Whole Foods Market, along with other exclusive discounts both online and in the store.
“I’m a Whole Foods shopper, and with Amazon Prime I save every time I shop,” Freytag said. “There are lots of amazing discounts on products I use weekly, and if you want to use their grocery delivery service, you have to have Prime.”
Prime Day — two days of deep discounts and exclusive deals offered only to Amazon Prime members — is basically Christmas for Prime members. During the July event in 2023, more than 375 million items were sold, with Prime members saving a record $2.5 billion.
“By being an Amazon Prime member, you'll be able to shop Amazon Prime Day, which offers steep discounts on everything from your favorite Levi's to big-screen TVs,” Srdic said. “This event occurs twice a year, typically in July and October, and you're also getting deep discounts that aren’t available to non-Prime members.”
Even when it’s not the craziness of Prime Day, Prime members can still score great deals every day on thousands of items exclusively available for them.
By using the Prime Store Card, members can get 5% back on Amazon.com purchases, 5-15% back on select items that change throughout the year, and a variety of different financing offers.
If you have commitment issues regarding clothes, shoes, and jewelry, Prime’s Try Before You Buy lets you try on up to six items in the comfort of your home, and you only have to pay for the things you want. If the items weren’t a fit, you also get free returns thanks to the resealable box and prepaid shipping label with your order.
This no-fee credit card only offered to Prime members offers up to 3% back on purchases from Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, and with Chase Travel, 2% back on restaurant, gas station, and local transit/commuting charges, 1% back on everything else bought where Visa is accepted, and up to 10% back on a rotating selection of items.
Along with the prescription delivery mentioned above, a Prime membership also brings with it RxPass, which entitles members to a wide variety of prescription medications for just $5 a month.
Starting at $4.99 a month, this all-in-one subscription designed for kids ages 3-12 includes more books, Alexa Skills, games, videos, and exclusive content from big names like Disney, PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, and more than kids could ever get bored with — all with a parental dashboard to provide added peace of mind.
A Prime membership comes with free access to a huge catalog of music and ad-free podcasts, and for an extra $9.99 a month, members can upgrade to Unlimited for the option to listen offline and in HD audio.
Hate keeping all those pictures on your phone or tablet? Prime memberships help by providing
unlimited full-resolution photo storage and 5GB for video storage, all accessible through the Amazon Photos app.
Every single perk of Prime Gaming is included in a Prime membership, including — you guessed it — games, in-game content, and a Twitch channel subscription.
Amazon Prime and chill? With this free membership perk, you can watch thousands of movies, TV shows, and exclusive Amazon Originals from home or on the go.
If you want to up your streaming game and are willing to pay between $4.99-$14.99 a month, Prime members can choose additional channels to watch, like Discovery+, Paramount+, Max, and STARZ.
Amazon First Reads offers Prime members early access to certain new books before they’ve even been published for no additional cost. Simply pick one from the Amazon editors’ picks, download, and brag to your friends that you read exclusive titles.
“Take advantage of the free monthly Kindle book,” Trae Bodge, Smart Shopping Expert at Truetrae.com advised. “Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can read these books on your phone or on a tablet.”
For those who would rather have their books read to them, this free Prime membership perk lets you switch between the Kindle version and Audible audiobook for hundreds of eligible titles.
Whether you like romance, fiction, comic books, or magazines, a Prime membership comes with a rotating selection of thousands of free options, including Amazon Original Stories, short reads from some of the most well-known authors and up-and-coming voices.
Going beyond the staple Amazon Prime benefits, there are also hidden gems that not everyone knows about, but that can save members even more money.
If you have the patience and the determination, you can score limited-time sales on things like electronics, clothing, and even groceries by checking the Today’s Deals tab at the top of the page — but you have to be vigilant. These change regularly, so what you see one day might be gone the next.
Amazon actually has its own coupon page that offers up deals on everything from groceries and clothes to lawn decorations. All you do is clip the coupon, add the item to your cart, and the discount is applied upon purchase.
“Pay attention to Amazon coupons promo codes!” said Freytag. “Oftentimes, there is a little coupon box to check to get the discount, and so many people miss it.”
Just because Amazon promotes something doesn’t always mean it’s a great deal, and sometimes the price of an item can change from day to day. Using a tool like CamelCamelCamel or Keepa, you can see Amazon price history charts and set alerts so you’re notified when the prices drop on the products burning a hole in your (virtual) cart.
Sharing is caring, and you can link your Prime account with one other adult in your household — as long as you each have your own Amazon account — and up to four teens and children each. (Just remember that kids under 13 can’t shop.)
Speaking of returned products, if you have an Amazon purchase that didn’t work out, you don’t have to mess with going to the post office or a UPS store. If you’re closer to a Kohl’s store, they’ve partnered with Amazon so that you can return those items — with a receipt — to any Kohl’s store.
“Another ‘secret’ way to save with Amazon Prime is gift registries!” Srdic told DealSpotr. “Whether you're getting married, having a baby, or moving into a new home, a gift registry is an easy way for everyone to shop your list. With a baby registry, you'll also get a completion discount of an additional 15% off your items to help complete the registry. With a wedding registry, you'll get a one-time 20% off discount.”
A quick Instagram or TikTok search will give you access to those shoppers on social media who are given unique discounts and exclusive offers.
“As an Amazon Influencer myself, we get insights into the best deals and what is on sale and when,” Freytag advised. “I share products that I love and use with my audience and I keep them informed about upcoming deals and events. I remind them about Prime benefits. Find a few influencers who advertise products you like and you’ll be in the know all the time! I keep my followers well-informed on how to save.”
By being in the know — vigilantly checking for coupon codes, exclusive limited-time member offers, or influencer discounts — you can get the most bang for your Amazon Prime buck.
Abby Heugel is an award-winning writer and editor who has done everything from managing retail trade magazines to working with clients like Meta, Lyft, Instacart, Shopify, Indeed, Amazon, Payoneer, Forbes, and Google. With a background in professional writing, proofreading, e-commerce, and retail, she’s committed to crafting the information that helps brands and consumers solve problems and make informed decisions, whether it's about buying a new computer or trying the best vegetarian recipe.
