Club Benefits
I've been an Amazon Prime member for over a decade. Throughout the years, I've seen membership fees balloon from $79/year to $139/year. That's a lot of money to pay for "free shipping," especially when I factor in other monthly expenses like my cell phone, internet, and Netflix bills.
However, expedited shipping is just one of the many reasons I'm still a Prime member. There are plenty of Amazon Prime perks these days and I'm here to help you uncover the best hidden Amazon Prime perks beyond Prime Video. From exclusive Subscribe & Save discounts to free Grubhub+ membership, these are the perks that keep me from cancelling my Prime membership.
So whether you're a current Prime member navigating through the endless number of perks or someone who's on the fence about joining, I'm listing the best Prime member benefits that can justify that $139/year price tag. I'm also curious to know what your favorite perks are. So make sure to leave me a comment on why you keep you renewing — or have cancelled — your Prime membership.
Grubhub+ membership and discounts
Outside of free shipping, Amazon's complimentary Grubhub+ membership is one of the main reasons I keep renewing my membership. Grubhub+ traditionally costs at $9.99/month ($119/year) and includes $0 delivery fees, lower service fees, and exclusive offers for members. Grubhub+ members also get 5% cash back on pickup orders. Occasionally, Amazon sweetens the deal with exclusive coupon codes that knock up to 50% off select orders. Just last month I enjoyed 50% off five orders of $15 or more.
Nationwide gas discounts
Gas prices are higher than ever right now, so any discount is welcome. Well, if you're a Prime member you can save $0.10 per gallon at more than 7,500 BP, Amoco, and participating ampm and Thorntons locations across the U.S. Plus, every Friday through the month of May you can save $0.20 per gallon. Amazon suggests that filling up with its discount will save you around $70 per year, which is no laughing matter these days. Note: There are a few steps you need to make before obtaining your discount, but it's well worth the effort. Make sure to check out our Amazon gas how-to guide to start saving.
Exclusive Whole Foods deals
I know, Whole Foods isn't the most budget-friendly grocer around. However, Prime members get access to epic discounts at Whole Foods. Sales change on a weekly basis, but past deals include 20% off select seafood, organic turkeys from $1.99/lb., 15% off pastries, and bouquets for as little as $9.99.
Prime members also get access to Whole Foods' annual sales, such as the market's popular "12 days of cheese" sale, which knocks up to 50% off select cheeses for 12 days in December. If you shop in-store, the Whole Foods app is a must as it makes it easy to stay on top of the latest deals. Note: Shipping used to be free in select cities, but last year Amazon added a $9.95 service fee to all Whole Foods deliveries.
Subscribe & Save deals
Whether it's paper towels or your favorite protein shake, Subscribe & Save is an excellent way to save a few bucks on the items you frequently buy via Amazon. You're in control of how often that item is sent to you and you can even choose to skip a purchase if you're still overstocked. There's another trick I use with my Subscribe & Save purchases. The more items on your Subscribe & Save list, the bigger your discount. You can save up to 15% off when receiving 5 or more products in one auto-delivery to one address.
Cash back purchases for students
Amazon Prime for Young Adults is a new Prime membership for 18 to 24 year olds. Eligible members get a 6-month free trial and then pay $7.49/month or $69/year for their Prime membership. That's 50% off the regular Prime membership price. It includes all of the perks of a regular Prime membership such as same-day or one-day delivery, free Grubhub+ membership, access to Prime Video, and more. In addition, all young adults (ages 18 to 24) now earn 5% cash back on select categories (beauty, apparel, electronics, etc.).
Alexa+ access
Alexa+ is a new generative-AI upgrade to Amazon's voice assistant that promises more natural, contextual interactions. Alexa+ can carry on longer conversations, remember personal preferences, and respond with emotional nuance, which is something the previous version of Alexa lacked. The conversational abilities with memory and emotional capabilities of Alexa+ are similar to what users have become accustomed to with chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini. Alexa+ integrates with various services to perform complex tasks, including making reservations on platforms like OpenTable.
Ability to share perks via Amazon Family
Amazon Prime might be tied to a single account, but it can still be shared. In fact, Amazon has long offered customers the option to share certain Prime benefits, like free shipping and other perks, through the service. Formerly known as Amazon Household, Amazon Family lets you share all sorts of Prime perks with household members. I share my account with my wife and the best part is that we've kept our own personal accounts, so come the holidays we can't see what we're buying for each other. We also share Prime Video and Grubhub+ membership, so when there are any exclusive Grubhub+ promos, we each get to take advantage of them. However, be aware that sharing is only available to other members of the household, so those who want to share with friends at another location will be out of luck.
Console-free gaming with Luna
Amazon Luna is a free, cloud-based gaming service that requires a compatible smart TV, Fire TV Stick, or tablet. We named it one of the best cloud gaming services because it offers a nice mix of social party games and AAA blockbusters at no extra cost for Prime members. There's no special hardware required to play these games. Just launch the app on your Fire TV, smart TV or tablet and you're ready to go. Yes, there's Luna Premium ($9.99/month) which offers access to even more games, but for casual gamers the standard version is perfect.
Hassle-free returns
We all make mistakes when shopping online, but Amazon is the only retailer that makes returns completely hassle-free. Customers can now make free returns on eligible items with no shipping box, tape, or label needed at more than 10,000 drop-off locations across the United States. You can make returns at over 1,500 FedEx locations, select UPS Stores, Kohl's, Staples, or at any Whole Foods store.
