Amazon’s Prime Video-only plan looks like a better deal then ever now that the price for standard Prime subscriptions is going up.
Although Amazon seldom advertises its video-only option, it’s still available for $9 per month. Meanwhile, the full version of Prime—which includes free shipping on Amazon orders along with an array of other benefits—is getting a price hike from $119 to $139 per year, or from $13 to $15 per month. (The new price will take effect on February 18, 2022 for new subscribers, and from March 25 onward when existing subs are renewed.)
Amazon spokeswoman Alexis Tiacoh confirmed to TechHive that the price of Prime’s video-only is staying the same, so it’s worth keeping in mind as the cost of a full Prime membership increases. If you’re not taking full advantage of Prime’s other benefits, you can consider dropping that subscription, then picking up Prime Video for just a month or two whenever there’s a new show that you want to watch.
How to sign up for Prime Video-only
Unfortunately, finding Amazon Prime’s video-only plan isn’t easy, but you can still sign up if you know where to look and don’t currently have an active Prime subscription. Here’s how to find it:
On the web:
- Head to this page on Amazon’s website.
- Scroll down and click the “See more plans” button at the bottom.
- Select the “Prime Video” plan on the next page.
Jared Newman / IDG
Jared Newman / IDG
You can also sign up through the Prime Video app on your phone, though the instructions depend on whether you’re using iOS or Android.
On iOS: Follow the prompts to start your trial, then use Apple’s in-app purchase system to subscribe. You’ll be billed through iTunes and can unsubscribe via the iOS Settings under Your Name > Subscriptions.
Jared Newman / IDG
On Android: Follow the prompts to start your trial. On the “Confirm your details” page, tap on “Prime,” then select “Prime Video” on the next page. You’ll be billed directly through Amazon.
Jared Newman / IDG
Note that if you cancel immediately after signing up, you’ll still get the month of Prime Video that you paid for and won’t get automatically billed at the end. This comes in handy if you only want to binge-watch one or two shows.
How to cancel Amazon Prime
If you already have a Prime subscription, there appears to be no way to downgrade to a Prime Video-only plan. Instead, you’ll have to cancel Amazon Prime, then sign up for a new Prime Video subscription after your current membership expires.
Here’s how to do that:
- Head to this page on Amazon’s website.
- Select “Cancel My Benefits.”
- On the next page, select “Continue to Cancel.”
- On the next page, scroll down and select “End on [cancellation date].”
Once your subscription lapses, you should be able to sign up for Prime Video by itself.
Check out Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more advice on streaming TV.
Author: Jared Newman, Contributor
Jared has been a freelance technology journalist for more than 15 years and is a regular contributor to PCWorld, Fast Company, and TechHive, where he's written a weekly cord-cutting column since 2014. His Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter has more than 30,000 subscribers, and his Advisorator tech advice newsletter is read by nearly 10,000 people each week. Jared has a master's degree in journalism from NYU and specializes in making complex tech topics easy to understand, from streaming and cord-cutting to neat apps and useful tech tricks. He is based in Cincinnati, OH.