Amazon Prime Video: How much does the streaming service cost in the UK vs the US and what’s included?
In what is quickly becoming a congested market, Amazon’s bid to help its video streaming service stand out from the crowd is simple: include much, much more than just movies and TV shows.
Amazon Prime arrived way back in 2005, long before anyone even thought about streaming television and films, then came to the UK in 2007. Back then, Prime was a subscription service that offered free delivery on a massive range of products sold by Amazon.
Now though, Prime comes bundled with an awful lot more, including Prime Video, which is Amazon’s answer to Netflix and Disney+. There’s also the Amazon Music streaming service, plus same-day grocery deliveries through Amazon Fresh and Morrisons (in qualifying postcodes only) and a subscription to Deliveroo Plus.
Of course there’s also Prime Reading for unlimited access to eBooks and magazines, and members also get early access to Amazon’s Lightning Deals which is ideal around sales events like Amazon Prime Day.
It is estimated that Amazon has over 200 million Prime members globally, and by combining streaming services with useful online shopping perks it’s easy to see why Prime has become so popular. But, if you don’t want to pay for all of those extras, the Prime Video streaming service can be used on its own for a lower monthly fee.
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Subscribing to Prime Video gives you access to a massive catalogue of content, including Amazon’s own shows like The Man in The High Castle, Clarkson’s Farm, Jack Ryan and Reacher. You also get exclusive access to movies that have only just hit the cinema, and even live sport, including tennis and football.
So, if you haven’t yet tried the service or are in two minds whether to sign up for Amazon Prime or not, we’ve answered all your burning questions below.
How much does Amazon Prime cost in the UK?
Amazon Prime, which gives access to Prime Video, as well as the other Amazon services mentioned above, is currently priced at £8.99 a month. Or you can pay £95 a year, which works out at £7.92 a month. These prices were increased from £7.99 a month and £79 a year in September 2022.
Students can access Amazon Prime for the reduced price of £4.49 per month or £47.49 per year. Alternatively, if you only want Prime Video, this is priced at £5.99 a month and wasn’t subject to the September price rise. If you aren’t yet a Prime subscriber, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to see if this is the streaming service for you.
How much does Amazon Prime cost in the US?
Across the pond Amazon Prime costs $14.99 a month or $139 a year, which works out at $11.58 a month. Alternatively, subscribing to the Prime Video streaming service on its own costs $8.99 a month. US subscribers were unaffected by the recent price rise seen in the UK and some other European countries.
Is Netflix free with Amazon Prime?
Netflix and Amazon Prime are competing services and as such, one is not available as part of the other.
Read more: How much does Disney+ cost in the UK and US, and what’s included?
You may occasionally see a TV service bundle streaming apps like Netflix and Prime Video into one monthly fee, but the services themselves are entirely separate. Each requires their own user account and subscription if you want access to both.
How many screens can you watch Amazon Prime on?
Currently, Amazon allows up to three screens to access each Amazon Prime subscription at once. This means you could have three user accounts, all tied to the same Prime subscription, watching content on a television, a laptop and a smartphone all at the same time, but a fourth user would not be able to join in with their own device.
Of those three users, Amazon allows two to watch the same content simultaneously. Say you want to watch a TV show with someone remotely; you can each log into your user profiles of the same Amazon Prime subscription, then watch the content simultaneously. But, while a third user could watch something else on that Prime account, they cannot join in with what the other two are watching.
What are Prime Video Channels?
Although a regular Prime or Prime Video subscription grants you access to a wide range of movies and TV shows, Amazon also offers a selection of channels that cost extra. These include Britbox, the UK service full of ad-free content from the BBC and ITV; Hayu, a channel for reality TV shows like Below Deck and Keeping up with the Kardashians; and documentary channel Discovery+.
Read more: How much does Netflix cost in UK and US and what’s included?
A Prime or Prime Video subscription is required before you can subscribe to these extra channels, which incur an additional monthly fee. Channels available in the UK tend to cost between £2.99 and £5.99, while in the US channels are available for around $2.99 to $14.99 a month.
Are movies free on Amazon Prime?
A great many movies, old and new, are included in a Prime or Amazon Prime subscription. But there are also titles that can be rented or bought. Older films tend to cost between £3.49 and £5.99 to rent or buy, while newer blockbusters cost around £5 to rent or £14 to buy. You can also rent brand-new movies that are still in the cinema, like The Batman, but these will cost around £15.99 to rent. And it’s worth noting that should you choose to rent a film, once you start watching you will only have access to the film for 48-hours.
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