Paying $139 to Keep Amazon Prime? Don't Miss These Perks

Everything has gotten more expensive these days, and that includes Amazon Prime. Amazon recently added $20 to the price of an annual subscription, raising it to $139. Best known for free two-day shipping on an unlimited number of orders, Prime has steadily added perks since its introduction — including its own shopping holiday that offers a slew of tantalizing sales. Still, many shoppers may be questioning whether the perks justify the higher price. Here's a rundown of lesser-known Prime benefits so you can judge for yourself.

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Did you know that qualifying government assistance beneficiaries can get a 50% discount on Amazon Prime? See details and sign up here.

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Prime Day, an annual event when Amazon offers exclusive deals for Prime members, has become one of the year's most anticipated shopping holidays. This year, it's happening July 12-13.

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Historically, Prime membership granted customers free two-hour delivery on Whole Foods orders over $35. Alas, those days are over. Amazon started charging a painful $9.95 delivery fee nationwide — prompting members to sue the company. But there are still other Whole Foods benefits on offer. Prime members continue to get free pickup on Whole Foods orders over $35, as well as discounts like 10% off select items.

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This recently unveiled program opens up Amazon Prime shipping to certain third-party retailers, allowing Prime members to complete purchases on the retailer's site and still have them fulfilled through Amazon. The upshot: Prime members aren't subject to the retailers' normal shipping charges and can instead enjoy the free shipping offered through Prime. Right now, the service is available by invitation only to select Amazon merchants, but Amazon plans to make the service more widespread in the future.

This gaming service debuted back in 2020, but on an invite-only basis as Amazon tested it further. But now it's available for everyone, and Prime members get free digital games with their Prime subscription. Each month, at least five new free games are added to the Prime Gaming library. You can also get free in-game content that would normally cost you money, along with a free subscription to a Twitch channel each month. 

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Prime members are automatically registered for Amazon First Reads, allowing them to download and read select book titles a month before the release date for free or at a reduced rate.

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That's right, unlimited. And there are free apps available to help upload photos to the cloud. Prime members also get 5 GB of storage space for videos and other files. Members who have run out of room on other cloud storage services — or don't have a backup at all — can breathe a sigh of relief.

Prime members can get medications for common health issues for as low as $1 a month when they pay without insurance. This perk expands on Amazon Pharmacy's shopping tool, which allows Prime members to compare prices through its network of 60,000 pharmacies.

Related: The Cheapest Pharmacy: Walmart vs. Walgreens vs. CVS and More

Until recently, Prime customers could get their packages delivered to their parked cars, but Amazon killed the program, which was part of Amazon Key. But if you're cool with Amazon having access to your garage, it will still deliver packages there if you have a MyQ smart garage opener — a service ostensibly offered to help customers avoid porch pirates, but one that has raised obvious issues about giving a stranger access to your home. 

Even seasoned Prime members may be unaware that another adult living in the same household can be added to the membership and access many of the benefits from their own account. One catch: Payment must be made from the authorizing member's credit card. That may be no big deal if the benefits are shared with spouse or a partner, but it could get a bit dicey with, say, a roommate.

If you haven't already stumbled across it, Amazon's Prime Video service has not only thousands of TV shows and movies you can watch for free, but you can also find content original to the site, such as "Bosch" and the Emmy-nominated superhero parody "The Boys."

Free two-day shipping is the most talked about benefit of Amazon Prime, but members also have the option of free same-day delivery in select locations and on specific, qualifying items with a $35 minimum order. 

Amazon gives Prime members an early crack at its limited-time "Lightning Deals" — though inconsistent application have some users expressing skepticism. Officially, Lightning Deals are good only while supplies last and could mean the difference between scoring a deal and missing out.

Prime members get a discount on Amazon Kids+, formerly Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, a service that offers books, movies, shows, apps, and games designed for kids 3 to 12, with no ads or in-app purchases. After a one-month free trial, Prime members pay $5 a month vs. $8 a month for non-members.

Prime members (and people who share their membership) get unlimited access to a rotating selection of ebooks, audio books, magazines, and even comics. Books can be read on on any device with the Kindle app installed. 

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While opting to get your package more slowly may not seem like a perk, Amazon sweetens the deal by offering a reward or instant discount to make patience more of a virtue.