Is Amazon Prime Worth It? How Much Are You Really Saving?

There are a surprising number of features and services included with a Prime membership, from fast free shipping to free music streaming, so if you've been wondering whether Amazon Prime Canada is worth it​, the truth is that it depends on which features you'll use. The fee is reasonable, especially if you choose the discounted annual price, but it's still only worth your while if you know you'll use it frequently.

This article walks you through Amazon Prime's various features, services, membership fees, product pricing, and more. It also recommends the best Amazon credit cards for Canadians.

Is Amazon Prime worth it for you?

The monthly $9.99 price tag for an Amazon Prime membership can definitely be worth it, as long as you use it frequently. The incredible product selection, quick delivery options, video streaming service, and other features are fantastic, but, as with most things, if you don't use it, you shouldn't pay for it.

An Amazon Prime membership includes these features:

• Free same-day, one-day, and/or two-day delivery
• Exclusive deals and discounts
• Amazon Prime Video, Music, Reading, Gaming, Photos
• Free DashPass+ for one year with zero delivery fees

If these sound like services you regularly take advantage of, an Amazon Prime membership is probably worth it for you.

Amazon Prime Video

One of the biggest draws of membership is access to the extensive Amazon Prime Video Library. You can stream content online or through the Prime Video mobile app on your personal devices.

To start, you'll get access to Amazon Prime streaming, giving you unlimited access to plenty of movies, TV, and music. If you use the service, this alone is more than worth the cost of membership, especially since it's cheaper than Netflix.

That said, you'll likely need to buy extra channels for certain movies and shows you want to watch, which could make it more expensive than Netflix.

Other Amazon Prime media

Movies and shows aren’t the only media you’ll be able to sign up for. A Prime membership also includes these services:

• Audible: Get a one-month free trial before paying $14.95 per month.
• Amazon Music Unlimited: Enjoy 100,000 million songs and limited Audible access for a monthly membership of $10.99.
• Amazon Photos: Every Prime member gets an automatic 5GB of free video and photo storage.
• Prime Reading: Get access to a free catalogue of rotating ebooks and comics, plus one free pre-release ebook every month.
• Prime Gaming: Play downloadable games and use a free monthly Twitch channel sub.
• DashPass+: Save $120 with this free year-long membership and enjoy $0 delivery fees.

Keep in mind that while your membership does allow you to access these, you may have to pay for certain features within the specific service. For instance, you have access to Audible, but you'll need to pay the subscription fee to download and listen to audiobooks.

Fast, free shipping

If these media services don't appeal to you, consider whether the faster shipping provided with Amazon Prime is worth the monthly price.

Without a Prime subscription, Amazon Canada provides free standard shipping on orders over $35 (pre-tax). With standard shipping, your order can take up to ten days to arrive, depending on where you live.

Free shipping with Amazon Prime takes things to the next level. You'll get your items delivered within eight days, max, and there's no minimum purchase required. Depending on your location and the item you’re purchasing, your order might qualify for free one- or two-day shipping.

Prime Day deals

Prime Day is a bit misleading – it’s not actually one day, but three days every July. During the event, Amazon advertises steep discounts sitewide on popular items. To score a deal, you must be an Amazon Prime member.

Prime Day continues to become a bigger deal each year, and Amazon often teases its upcoming discounts days before the actual event. You can even sign up for Prime Day deals and notifications on the Amazon app.

What does Amazon Prime cost?

The price you pay for an Amazon Prime membership depends on whether you want to pay it monthly or annually.

If you want to keep the membership all year, we recommend paying the annual fee to save $20 over a regular membership.

How do Amazon prices compare?

You have more options than ever for online shopping, so we compared the cost of several items on Amazon and a couple of its top competitors, Best Buy and Walmart.

Note that we didn't include shipping costs unless we were specifically told that there were extra charges.

As you can see, Amazon tends to offer products for the same price or at a significant discount.

Best Amazon credit cards

If you take a look at the Amazon Rewards credit card, you’ll see that it has a decent earn rate, but it may not be your best choice.

You might be better off selecting a store credit card (like a Costco credit card) or a rewards card that gives you higher rewards rates in specific categories.

Here are four other credit cards to consider for not just Amazon Canada, but anywhere you shop:

FAQ

What is the advantage of Amazon Prime in Canada?

Amazon makes it incredibly easy to find the items you need at the most affordable prices. Amazon membership also gives you fast free shipping and access to the Amazon Prime Video Library with unlimited streaming.

What are the disadvantages of Amazon Prime?

If you don’t use it, you’re wasting money, paying for an extra subscription you don’t need. Plus, Amazon has consistently come under fire for its unethical business practices (like tax avoidance) and poor labour practices.

How do I get 50% off Amazon Prime?

If you’re a student, you qualify for 50% off an Amazon membership. So, instead of paying $9.99 per month or $99 per year, you’ll only pay $4.99 per month or $49 per year (after your free six-month trial).

Is it worth paying for an Amazon Prime membership?

It can be worth paying for a membership if you regularly order from the site or want access to Prime Video. If you only occasionally shop the site, or not at all, membership likely isn't worth it.

What is the monthly fee for Amazon Prime in Canada?

If you’re purchasing a regular membership, it costs $9.99 per month – but it's actually cheaper to pay for an entire year at $99. This annual fee saves you $20 over paying the membership monthly.