How to Get Amazon Prime Free or Discounted in 2026

Before You Pay Full Price for Amazon Prime, Check These Options

Amazon Prime costs $14.99 a month or $139 a year, but you may not need to pay full price.

Depending on your age, student status, income or government-assistance eligibility, you may qualify for a free Prime trial or an ongoing discounted Prime membership. Families may also be able to share one membership through Amazon Family.

I’ve been tracking Amazon deals and membership offers for years, and my advice is simple: check what you qualify for before signing up at the standard price.

Updated September 30, 2026. We verified current Prime pricing and discounted membership information against Amazon’s current information. Offers and eligibility can change, so always review the terms Amazon shows for your account before enrolling.

1. Try Amazon Prime Free for 30 Days

The simplest way to get Amazon Prime free is an eligible 30-day Prime trial.

Amazon currently lists standard Prime at $14.99/month or $139/year and says eligible customers can start with a free 30-day trial.

The trial gives you access to Prime benefits, including Prime-exclusive shopping events such as Prime Big Deal Days October 6–7.

Amazon determines eligibility, so rather than assuming you qualify based on when you last had Prime, check the offer Amazon displays for your account.

See How the Amazon Prime Free Trial Works →

2. Prime for Young Adults: 6 Months for $0

If you’re 18–24 years old or an eligible higher-education student, check Prime for Young Adults before paying for standard Prime.

Eligible new members can currently get:

• 6-month $0 trial
• Then $7.49/month or $69/year
• The same core Prime membership benefits
• Additional Young Adult offers and perks

That ongoing membership price is about half the standard cost of Prime.

Extra Prime Big Deal Days perk: Amazon says higher-education students and young adults ages 18–24 can stack an exclusive 5% cash back on eligible deals across select categories including beauty, apparel, PCs, electronics and personal care during Prime Big Deal Days 2026.

See Prime for Young Adults Eligibility & Benefits →

3. Prime Access: Prime for $6.99/Month

Prime Access is Amazon’s discounted membership for qualifying government-assistance recipients and income-verified customers.

Eligible customers can currently get a 30-day Prime Access trial and then pay $6.99/month.

Prime Access includes the same core Prime benefits as a standard Prime membership at more than 50% off the regular monthly price.

Qualifying government-assistance programs can include:

• SNAP
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• National School Lunch Program
• Some Tribal assistance programs

Amazon also allows customers who meet its income-verification requirements to apply, so government-assistance enrollment isn’t necessarily the only way to qualify.

See How Prime Access Works & Check Eligibility →

4. Share Prime With Amazon Family

If another adult in your household already pays for Prime, you may not need a second full-price membership.

Amazon Household is now called Amazon Family. A Prime member can share eligible Prime benefits with one other adult in the same primary household, along with child profiles.

Shared benefits can include:

• Fast, free delivery on eligible items
• Access to Prime-exclusive deals and events
• Prime Video with ads
• Prime Reading
• Amazon Photos
• Eligible digital content and other Prime benefits

Important 2026 change: Amazon no longer allows new teen accounts to be added to Amazon Family. Teens who were already added before April 7, 2025 may continue using those accounts until they turn 18.

Adults sharing Prime must live together at the same primary residential address. Amazon uses payment sharing to verify the household connection.

Learn How Amazon Family Sharing Works →

5. Pay Monthly Only When You Need Prime

Amazon offers standard Prime for $14.99/month or $139/year.

If you genuinely don’t use Prime throughout the year, paying monthly during the periods when you use it heavily can cost less than keeping an annual membership.

For example, two months at the current monthly price costs $29.98, compared with $139 for an annual membership.

This can make sense if you mainly want Prime for a major sale or the holiday shopping season. Just remember that Prime continues as a paid membership until you cancel it.

6. Check Your Amazon Account Before Rejoining

Previously had Prime? Don’t assume you do or don’t qualify for another trial based on an old rule you’ve seen online.

Amazon’s current language says customers can start a 30-day free trial if eligible. Eligibility can vary by account.

Before paying the standard membership price, sign in and check the offer Amazon actually shows you.

Check Current Prime Trial Information →

7. Check Your Credit Card or Financial Account Benefits

Occasionally, credit cards, credit unions or financial accounts offer a Prime membership credit or reimbursement as a cardholder perk or limited promotion.

These offers aren’t universal and can change frequently, so we don’t recommend opening a financial account solely for a Prime benefit without comparing the account’s complete costs and benefits.

If you already have a premium card, credit-union account or rewards account, however, it’s worth checking your current benefits before paying for Prime out of pocket.

Which Amazon Prime Option Is Best for You?

More Ways to Get Value From Prime

If you’re paying for Prime, make sure you’re using more than free shipping.

Current Prime benefits include fast delivery on eligible purchases, Prime-exclusive shopping events, Prime Video, Amazon Music Prime, Prime Reading, Amazon Photos, Grubhub+ and other benefits. Prime members can also currently save $0.10 per gallon at participating bp, Amoco, ampm and Thorntons locations in the U.S.

Benefits and availability can vary, so check what’s available for your account and location.

See All the Amazon Prime Membership Benefits →

Shopping Prime Big Deal Days?

Prime Big Deal Days is October 6–7, 2026. You’ll need Prime to access the member-exclusive deals.

Before the event:

1. Check which Prime membership option you qualify for: 30-day Prime trial, Prime for Young Adults, Prime Access or Amazon Family.
2. Check our Prime Big Deal Days guide for early deals and event updates.
3. Download the free Fab App and turn on notifications for fast-moving deals.
4. Choose the Fabulessly Frugal emails you want so you don’t miss our best finds.

Frequently Asked Questions About Free & Discounted Amazon Prime

How much is Amazon Prime in 2026?

Standard Amazon Prime currently costs $14.99/month or $139/year in the U.S.

Can I get Amazon Prime free for 30 days?

Amazon offers an eligible 30-day Prime trial. Amazon determines trial eligibility, so check the offer shown for your account rather than relying on a specific waiting-period rule.

Who gets Amazon Prime for 50% off?

Amazon has two major discounted Prime programs. Prime for Young Adults costs $7.49/month or $69/year after an eligible 6-month $0 trial. Prime Access costs $6.99/month after an eligible 30-day trial for qualifying government-assistance recipients and income-verified customers.

Can college students still get discounted Amazon Prime?

Yes. Eligible higher-education students can enroll in Prime for Young Adults. The program is also available to eligible young adults ages 18–24, even if they aren’t college students.

Can family members share Amazon Prime?

Yes. Amazon’s program is now called Amazon Family. A Prime member can share eligible benefits with one other adult who lives at the same primary residential address. Amazon no longer accepts new teen additions to Amazon Family; teens added before April 7, 2025 can continue until age 18.

Do I need Prime for Prime Big Deal Days 2026?

Yes. Prime Big Deal Days October 6–7, 2026 is a Prime-member shopping event. An eligible Prime trial gives you access to the event during your trial period.

When is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2026?

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days runs October 6–7, 2026.

Bottom Line

Don’t automatically pay $139 for Amazon Prime without checking your options first.

An eligible standard Prime trial may get you 30 days free. Prime for Young Adults offers eligible new members six months for $0 followed by discounted pricing. Prime Access gives qualifying customers Prime for $6.99/month after an eligible trial. And if another adult in your household already pays for Prime, Amazon Family may let you share eligible benefits instead of paying for a second membership.

Which one applies to you depends on your eligibility, but it takes only a few minutes to check — and with Prime Big Deal Days coming October 6–7, now is a good time to do it.

Last updated September 30, 2026. Amazon membership pricing, eligibility and benefits can change. We verify major program information against current Amazon sources, but always review the terms shown by Amazon before enrolling.