If the regular Amazon Prime price is more than you want to pay, you may qualify for a discounted Prime membership in 2026.
Amazon currently offers two discounted Prime options in the U.S.: Prime for Young Adults and Prime Access. Prime for Young Adults is available to eligible higher-education students and people ages 18 to 24, while Prime Access is available to qualifying government-assistance recipients and income-verified customers.
Here’s how each option works and how to sign up.
Amazon Prime discount options in 2026
Amazon’s standard Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year in the U.S. Eligible customers can pay substantially less through one of Amazon’s discounted membership programs.
| Prime membership | Free trial | Price after trial | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime for Young Adults | 6 months | $7.49/month or $69/year | Higher-education students and adults ages 18–24 |
| Prime Access | 30 days | $6.99/month | Qualifying government-assistance recipients and income-verified customers |
Both discounted memberships provide Prime benefits, rather than being limited versions of the service.
How to sign up for Prime for Young Adults
Prime for Young Adults is Amazon’s discounted membership for higher-education students and adults ages 18–24.
Eligible new members get a six-month $0 trial. After the trial, the membership costs $7.49 per month or $69 per year.
Who is eligible?
You can qualify if you’re:
- 18 to 24 years old, or
- An eligible higher-education student.
Amazon provides an online verification process during sign-up. Student eligibility can be verified through Amazon’s requirements, while age-based eligibility can also require identity verification.
How to sign up
- Go to Amazon Prime for Young Adults.
- Sign in to your Amazon account.
- Follow the prompts to verify your eligibility.
- Complete any requested student or age verification.
- Add or confirm your payment information.
- Start your six-month $0 trial.
After the trial ends, Amazon will charge $7.49 per month or $69 per year, depending on the membership option you choose.
If you’re already paying for regular Prime, check the Young Adults offer through your Amazon account before creating another account.
How to sign up for Prime Access
Prime Access is designed for customers who qualify through government assistance or income verification.
Eligible customers get a 30-day free trial, followed by a membership price of $6.99 per month.
Who is eligible?
Amazon currently accepts customers who qualify through one of its participating government assistance programs. It also allows customers to verify their eligibility based on income.
Amazon says Prime Access is currently available to recipients of 13 qualifying government assistance programs, in addition to customers who choose income verification.
Because the qualifying programs and verification requirements can change, check Amazon’s current eligibility requirements when you sign up rather than relying on an older list.
How to sign up
- Go to Amazon Prime Access.
- Sign in to your Amazon account.
- Choose the available verification method.
- Verify your income or provide documentation showing that you participate in a qualifying assistance program.
- Enter or confirm your payment information.
- Start your 30-day free trial.
After the trial, Prime Access costs $6.99 per month.
Amazon says Prime Access members must reverify their eligibility every 12 months to keep the discounted membership. Amazon will send a reminder when it’s time to verify again.
What do discounted Prime memberships include?
The discounted memberships aren’t simply cheaper versions with fewer benefits.
Amazon says Prime Access includes the same Prime benefits available to regular Prime members. Prime for Young Adults also provides Prime membership benefits at the discounted rate.
Depending on availability and the terms of individual benefits, Prime can include:
- Free Prime shipping
- Same-Day and Next-Day Delivery on eligible products
- Prime Video
- Amazon Music
- Prime Reading
- Amazon Photos
- Prime-exclusive deals and shopping events
- Other Prime discounts and benefits
Some individual services, offers and benefits can have their own eligibility or availability requirements.
Can existing Prime members get the discount?
Yes, at least for Prime Access.
Amazon says existing Prime members who become eligible for Prime Access can update their membership to Prime Access.
If you already have regular Prime and think you qualify for a discounted membership, check the relevant Amazon enrollment page or your account before signing up for a second membership.
For Prime for Young Adults, Amazon’s enrollment process will determine which offer is available to you based on your eligibility.
Which discounted Prime membership can you get?
The answer depends on why you qualify.
If you’re 18–24: Check Prime for Young Adults. You can get six months at $0 and then pay $7.49 per month or $69 per year.
If you’re a higher-education student: Check Prime for Young Adults, which offers the same six-month $0 trial followed by the discounted membership rate.
If you receive qualifying government assistance: Check Prime Access. Eligible customers can get a 30-day free trial followed by a $6.99 monthly membership.
If you don’t qualify for either discounted program: Regular Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, and eligible customers can get a 30-day free trial.
Don’t forget to check when the free trial ends
Both discounted programs automatically become paid memberships after their respective trial periods if you don’t cancel.
Prime for Young Adults gives eligible new members six months at $0, while Prime Access provides a 30-day free trial.
If you don’t want to continue paying for Prime, cancel before your trial ends. If you do want to keep Prime, the discounted membership will continue at its applicable rate.
The bottom line
There are two main ways to get discounted Amazon Prime in the U.S. in 2026.
Prime for Young Adults is available to higher-education students and adults ages 18–24. Eligible new members get six months at $0, followed by a price of $7.49 per month or $69 per year.
Prime Access is available to qualifying government-assistance recipients and income-verified customers. It costs $6.99 per month after a 30-day free trial.
If you qualify for either program, you don’t need to pay the standard $14.99 monthly Prime price. Start with Amazon’s official verification page for the program that applies to you, since eligibility and verification requirements can change.
Disclaimer: Prices and promotions mentioned in this article are accurate at the time of writing and are subject to change based on the retailers’ discretion. Please verify the current offer before making a purchase.
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