Amazon Prime members are now only able to share shipping perks with people who live under the same roof as them.
As of October, those privileges can no longer be shared with anyone outside of a Prime member’s household. The Prime Invitee program, which made this possible, has been replaced by Amazon Family [1].
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The new program allows Prime members and one additional adult in the same household, along with up to four teens (if they were added before April 7) and up to four children, to share shipping and several digital benefits — including Prime Video with ads.
If you were previously sharing benefits with a Prime member but not a member of the household, you may be eligible for a new promotion.
New promotional offer
According to multiple news outlets [2], Amazon users impacted by the change are being offered a one-year Prime subscription for $14.99. That’s the same price, currently, as a typical monthly subscription, while a yearly subscription is $139 [3].
The offer lasts until Dec. 31.
Read more: How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement
If you choose not to subscribe to Prime, there’s still a way to access free shipping. If you spend at least $35 on products sold by Amazon itself, you can get them shipped at no charge [4]. Check the product details to see if the items will be processed by Amazon. Shipping times, however, may be longer than if purchased via Prime.
Cost of subscriptions
A survey commissioned by CNET in 2025 [5] found that Americans were spending an average of $90 per month — over $1,000 each year — on subscriptions. Furthermore, they’re wasting about $200 annually on subscriptions they don’t use.
If you’re an Amazon user who’s being squeezed by the announced changes and rely on Prime benefits, you may have to bite the bullet and purchase your own subscription. But you might be able to find room in your budget to fit in this new cost by evaluating your list of subscriptions and cutting out any you don’t need anymore.
Either way, it’s always a good idea to regularly check your monthly spending, especially if you use any services that accept automatic payments, to ensure you’re not wasting any money. Doing so can help optimize your savings to help you reach your financial goals.
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Article sources
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[1]. Amazon. “Share Your Amazon Prime Benefits”
[2]. CBS News. “Amazon is ending Prime Invitee, a perk that allowed members to share free shipping”
[3]. Amazon. “The Amazon Prime Membership Fee”
[4]. About Amazon. “How to get free delivery on Amazon”
[5]. CNET. “Don’t Let Sneaky Subscriptions Ruin Your Budget. Americans Spend More Than $1,000 a Year on These Services, CNET Survey Finds”
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