Online shopping has never been easier. You can now order almost anything from electronics to clothing to food through websites like Amazon or Walmart.
Amazon Prime is the leading subscription service for quick shopping with fast and free delivery options. However, enjoying its perks comes with a monthly or annual subscription fee.
Should you get an Amazon Prime membership?
This Amazon Prime Membership review goes over the benefits of Amazon Prime, how much it costs, how it differs from Amazon Prime US, and ultimately determines if itโs worth it.
Key Takeaways
- The Amazon Prime membership fee costs $9.99/month or $99.00 annually. Post-secondary students can enjoy a discounted rate of only $4.99/month or $49.00/year.ย
- With an Amazon Prime subscription, you can enjoy fast and free delivery, free access to Amazon streaming services, and exclusive money-saving discounts for select Amazon items.ย
- Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial for regular users and a 6-month free trial for students.ย
What is Amazon Prime Canada?
Amazon Prime Canada is the Canadian version of the popular US-based subscription service, Amazon Prime. It allows customers to access quick shopping with fast and free delivery.
Some Amazon Prime membership benefits include free one-day and two-day delivery on eligible products, exclusive member-only deals, and access to a free digital library of videos and music.
With this subscription, it is easier to shop online and quickly receive products delivered right to your door.
Launched in 2013, Amazon Prime Canada has grown since then to include many more benefits.
It is a competitive subscription service, with the membership base growing every year. At the end of 2021, Amazon Canada had over two million Prime members.
How Much Does Amazon Prime Membership Cost in Canada?
When initially signing up, you get a 30-day free trial. After the trial period, the Amazon Prime membership fee costs $9.99/month + tax or $99.00 annually.
Quebec residents are not eligible for a free Amazon Prime trial. However, when you sign up for monthly or annual membership, the first 30 days are free and not charged.
After the free trial, Amazon will automatically upgrade you to a paid membership plan, so if you decide that you donโt want it, remember to cancel before the 30 days are up.
Benefits of Amazon Prime
There are many benefits of an Amazon Prime Canada membership, including fast and free shipping, access to streaming services, getting access to deals before other customers, and more.
Fast and Free Shipping
One-Day Delivery
In most cities and towns in Canada, you can get free unlimited one-day delivery on millions of items, with no minimum purchase required.
Select the โget it tomorrowโ option to see products with this shipping option. You will receive the item by 10 pm the next day.
Two-Day Delivery
You can get free two-day shipping in most cities, with no minimum purchase required.
Same-Day Delivery
In a few select cities (Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary), you can get free same-day delivery on qualifying orders over $25. You must place the order before 12 pm that day to ensure delivery that same day.
Release Day Delivery
You can get free release-day delivery on eligible pre-order items. To get it on release day, place your order at least two business days before the release date.
Amazon Streaming Services
Amazon Prime Video
With Prime Video [ iOS and Android ], you can stream or download tv shows and movies at no extra cost. You can watch exclusive Amazon Originals, popular tv shows, movies, sports, and live events.
You can watch even more exclusive content by subscribing to premium and specialty channels without long-term commitments or downloading additional apps.
You can also download videos on any device and watch them offline on the Prime Video app.
Here are some free streaming TV options in Canada.
Amazon Music
With Amazon Music [ iOS and Android ], you get access to a library of over two million songs. You can stream music for free on any device, without ads.
You can also use it with Alexa for hands-free listening in the Amazon Music app.
Prime Gaming
You get access to free in-game loot and exclusives in a select few games. You also get a free Twitch channel subscription every 30 days and a Prime-exclusive chat badge. You have access to tons of exclusive content and a rotating selection of free PC games.
Related: Free Streaming TV in Canada.
Deals and Discounts on Amazon.ca
With an Amazon Prime Canada membership, you can get lightning deals that are exclusively available to you 30 minutes before other customers.
You can also save on supplies for your family, like 20% off diapers when you order with Subscribe and Save.
Additionally, you can earn 2.5% cash back at Amazon.ca and Whole Foods Market stores if you use the Amazon.ca Rewards MasterCard.
Other Benefits
With Prime Reading, you can read as much as you want with a rotating selection of free eBooks available to download.
Amazon Photos gives you access to unlimited, free photo storage and 5GB video storage. It is available across all your devices, with secure and high-resolution backups.
What is Amazon Prime Student?
Amazon Prime Student is a cheaper version of Amazon Prime, offered to students at half the cost of regular membership.
Benefits
An Amazon Prime Student membership provides the same benefits as a regular membership at a lower price.
A few benefits include free two-day shipping on all eligible purchases, free one-day and same-day delivery in select cities, and access to Amazon Prime, Amazon Photos, and Prime Gaming.
Students may also receive discounts and promotions, which will be emailed to them or available on the prime student membership page.
How Much Does Amazon Prime Student Cost?
With Amazon Prime Student, youโll get a 6-month free trial.
After that, itโs only $4.99/month or $49.00/year (which saves you even more on the membership fee as it works out to be the same as $4.08/month).
Quebec residents can sign up for an initial 18-month membership for $49 per year with the first six months free of charge, or an initial 7-month membership for $4.99 per month, with the first six months included at no charge.
After signing up, Amazon Prime Student will be valid for four years or until you graduate, whichever comes first. If you donโt cancel, your membership will be automatically upgraded to a full paid subscription to Amazon Prime at the current rate.
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible, you must:
- Have an amazon.ca account
- Be a college, university, or CEGEP student actively enrolled in at least one course at a college or university located in Canada
- Provide proof of enrollment upon request
- Have a valid college, university, or CEGEP email address
Related: Best Online Jobs for Students.
Amazon Prime Canada vs. Amazon Prime US: How Do They Differ?
A few years ago, Amazon Prime US and Canada offered different services, but now they provide almost exactly the same benefits.
A few differences include:
- Amazon Prime offers 2-hour grocery delivery in select US cities but does not in Canada.
- With Prime Video, you cannot watch exclusive US videos. However, this is to be expected as with any other streaming service.
- Amazon Prime Canada prices havenโt increased the way they have in the US. Amazon Prime is USD $14.99/month, which is around CAD $19.30/month.
Is Amazon Prime Worth It?
An Amazon Prime Canada membership is worth it if you shop from Amazon a lot, as it provides all the benefits like free shipping and discounts.
Many people also use Prime Video which gives you access to Amazon Originals that you canโt watch anywhere else.
Youโll end up saving a lot of money if you subscribe to Amazon Prime than if you shop without it, especially if you shop on Amazon often.
Overall, itโs up to you to determine if itโs worth it after looking at the price and benefits.
It depends on how often you shop on Amazon, what you buy, and if youโll be using any other perks like Prime Video and photo storage.
How To Cancel Amazon Prime Membership in Canada
When you sign up for Amazon Prime, your membership will automatically renew at the end of each year.
You can turn off automatic renewal at any time so that when the end of the year comes around, your membership will be cancelled.
To turn off automatic renewal:
- Go to Manage Prime Membership.
- Review the renewal date. If youโre in a free trial, select โdo not continueโ. If you have a paid membership plan, select โend membership.โ
Additionally, Amazon mentions that if you donโt use your Prime benefits, you are eligible for a full refund of the current membership period.
Amazon Prime Canada FAQs
After a 30-day free trial, Amazon Prime Canada is $9.99/month + tax or $99.00/year.
At this time, there is no senior discount for Amazon Prime Canada. The only discount available is for students.
The different Amazon Prime memberships are regular Amazon Prime and Amazon Prime Student, which include the same perks.
Netflix or any other streaming services are not free with Amazon Prime. You need to subscribe to them separately.
After a 6-month free trial, Amazon Prime Student is $4.99/month or $49.00/year. Quebec residents receive an initial 7-month membership for $4.99 instead of a free trial.
You can get a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial in all provinces except Quebec, but you will need to pay for a membership after that.
Amazon Prime is cheaper. Netflix membership plans range from $9.99 to $20.99/month.
Conclusion
There are numerous benefits to Amazon Prime Canada.
Many people use Amazon Prime and consider it more than worth it for the free shipping, discounts, and access to Prime Video.
Ultimately, itโs up to you to determine if itโs worth it for you.
Related:
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- Creative Ways To Make Money
- Warmest Places To Live in Canada
- Best Cash Back Websites in Canada
Amazon Prime Membership Review
Overall
Summary
Learn about Amazon Prime membership in Canada, its benefits, fees, how to cancel your subscription, free trial, and Amazon Prime for students. This Amazon Canada Prime membership review covers what you need to know.
I am certain all Canadians could benefit by reading Mr. Omololu’s column. Fantastique!!
Thanks for your feedback, Pamela.