If you’re one of the over 200 million Amazon Prime members worldwide, you probably already know about some of its most popular perks, like free two-day shipping, free same-day delivery, Prime Video and Amazon Music. But it turns out that Prime membership comes with a whole host of benefits — some of which you may not be using (yet).
When Amazon Prime first launched in 2005 (yes, Prime celebrated its 20th birthday on February 2, 2025!), members paid $79 annually. Now Prime costs $14.99 monthly or $139 per year, but as the price has increased, so have the number of extras included with the service. From grocery delivery to medical care to gas, these lesser-known Amazon Prime offerings are definitely worth your while. And if you’ve been holding out on getting a Prime membership (and the 30-day free trial isn't reason enough), these perks may convince you to join the club.
1. Gain exclusive access to special sales and deals.
Amazon has several major sale events throughout the year including Amazon Prime Day, Prime Big Deal Days and the Big Spring Sale, which usually happens in mid to late March. But to take advantage of exclusive deals and deep discounts, you’ll need to be a Prime member — non-members can't participate.
2. Shop Lightning Deals before anyone else.
Lightning Deals are limited-time discounts on everything from electronics to clothing that can last only a few hours (while supplies last) — blink and you’ll miss ‘em. With a Prime membership, you’ll get 30-minute early access to these sales, which can make all the difference.
3. Get rewarded for choosing no-rush shipping.
Don’t need your Amazon order right away? There are some major perks for selecting free no-rush shipping at checkout. You’ll still get your order within six business days, and Prime members also get a free digital credit to use on instant video downloads, eBooks, digital games, apps and more. Note that these credits do expire, so be sure to use them before you lose them.
4. Enjoy a free Grubhub+ membership.
If ordering takeout or delivery is part of your weekly routine, the free Grubhub+ membership included with Amazon Prime can mean major savings. You’ll get unlimited $0 delivery fees, lower service fees and other exclusive offers, including 5% Grubhub+ credit back on eligible pickup orders.
5. Save big on groceries — and get free fast delivery.
The perks of an Amazon Prime membership even extend to your weekly trip to the grocery store. You’ll get exclusive deals of up to 50% off, 10% off Amazon Brands and exclusive coupons at Amazon Fresh. And at Whole Foods Market, Prime members can get deals on certain days of the week as well as an extra 10% off sale items. If getting groceries delivered is more your speed, get same-day delivery with Prime membership, plus access to unlimited free delivery for $9.99 per month on orders over $35.
6. Pay less at the pump.
With Prime membership, save 10 cents per gallon at over 7,000 BP, Amoco and Ampm gas stations across the U.S. when you link your Amazon and Earnify rewards app accounts. If you’re a commuter or just spend a ton of time on the road, these savings on fuel can really add up.
7. Access 24/7 medical care for just $10 a month.
Who would’ve thought you could get a discount on medical care with a Prime membership? Well, it’s true: Prime members can join Amazon’s primary care practice One Medical for just $9.99 a month or $99 a year (without Prime, you’ll pay $199 annually). This includes 24/7 on-demand care, secure messaging with a provider, prescription refills and more.
8. Get savings and free delivery on prescriptions.
This is a huge Prime member perk: With RXPass, you’ll pay just $5 a month (total!) for access to 60 common generic medications. And finding the best price for your prescriptions is a breeze with Amazon Pharmacy — you can search, compare and save up to 80% on meds, plus get free two-day shipping.
9. Get packages and groceries delivered inside your garage.
If you’re away from home often (or concerned about package thieves), Amazon Key may be your favorite Prime membership perk yet. After an easy setup process, just choose ‘in-garage delivery’ during checkout and your packages or groceries will be safely placed inside your garage.
10. Pick your delivery day.
Prefer to have all of your packages arrive on the same day each week? With Amazon Day (yet another Prime membership benefit), you can choose your delivery day so your Amazon boxes will be delivered at a convenient time that lines up with your schedule.
11. Read as much as you want for free.
Your Prime membership is like the library card of the future, because with it you can read unlimited ebooks, magazines and comics using the Kindle app on your phone or tablet. This includes books with Audible Narration so you can switch from reading to listening seamlessly. You’ll also get access to one free pre-release e-book every month, as well as Amazon Original Stories, quick, new reads from top writers.
12. Get a sneak peek at brand-new books.
There are even more Prime membership benefits for book lovers. With Amazon First Reads, you’ll get early access to books a month before they’re officially released. Choose one new Kindle book a month for free ($1.99 for non-Prime members) from Amazon’s curated list — once ebooks are downloaded they’re yours forever.
13. Download free video games — and get a free Twitch subscription.
Gamers, rejoice: With Prime Gaming, you’ll have access to free video games that are yours to download and keep. You’ll also get a free monthly Twitch subscription, plus other benefits exclusive to Prime members.
14. Store unlimited photos.
Your phone probably doesn’t have enough space for all of your photos — that’s where Amazon Photos comes in. Prime members get unlimited photo storage and 5GB of video storage for free, securely backed up to the cloud. If you prefer to print your photos, you’ll also get 45% off Shutterfly orders, and free shipping on orders over $35.
15. Get your hands on tons of kid-friendly books, games, videos and more.
Got little ones in your life? Amazon Kids+ is a one-stop shop for ad-free books, games and videos — and Prime members pay just $5.99 a month or $48 a year (compared to $7.99 a month or $79 a year for non-members) to access it all. You’ll love the easy-to-use parental controls and educational content, and your kids will love the original shows like Angry Birds Mystery Island and Blippi's Treehouse. Note that you’ll need an Amazon device, like a Fire tablet, to use Amazon Kids.
16. Young adults, students and those on government assistance can get a discounted Prime membership.
Amazon makes Prime membership even more accessible for young adults ages 18–24 and higher education students of any age. Young adults who qualify can get a six-month free trial, and then pay $7.49 per month or $69 per year for a membership. And eligible customers receiving government assistance such as SNAP or Medicaid can enjoy Prime for $6.99 per month, along with other benefits through Amazon Access.
17. Your new AI personal assistant is coming soon.
If you and your Alexa have a love/hate relationship, the March 2025 release of Alexa+ is a huge deal. Using generative AI, the upgraded digital assistant will be easier to talk to, more personalized and able to help with more tasks than ever before — and it's totally free for Amazon Prime members (it's $19.99 a month for non-members, so this is major savings).
Kim Forrest is a writer and editor based in Maryland, where she lives with her husband and two tweens. A graduate of Williams College and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, Kim covered weddings at The Knot and WeddingWire for 12 years. Her work has also appeared in Washingtonian, The Bump and Brides.com.
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
