If you’ve been eyeing all those jaw-dropping Amazon deals, you’re probably wondering: Is there a way to tap into Prime’s famous perks without paying full price? Here’s the best news for 2025—discounted Amazon Prime memberships abound for students, young adults, and anyone receiving qualifying government assistance. You don’t have to break the bank to unlock the full suite of Prime benefits, including super-fast shipping, streaming galore, exclusive sales, and more.

If you’re in the U.S. in 2026, there are still two main ways to get Amazon Prime at a serious discount: Prime Student/Prime for Young Adults, and Prime Access for people on qualifying government assistance or low incomes.

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Quick look: which discount fits you?

• If you’re 18–24 or in college: Go for Prime Student / Prime for Young Adults – six‑month free trial, then half‑price Prime.
• If you’re on SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, TANF and similar programs, or under ~150% of the federal poverty line: Go for Prime Access – full Prime benefits for about half the usual monthly price.
• If none of that applies: You’re in standard Prime territory, but you can still start with a 30‑day free trial and downgrade later if you become eligible for a discounted tier.

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Prices and plans in 2026

Here’s where the money actually lands right now in the U.S.:

Plan	Monthly price (after trial)	Annual price	Free trial length	Who it’s for
Standard Amazon Prime	About $14.99/month ​	$139/year ​	30 days ​	Anyone
Prime Student/Young Adult	$7.49/month	$69/year	6 months	Ages 18–24 or college students (U.S.)
Prime Access	$6.99/month	N/A	30 days	Select government‑assistance / low‑income

Amazon’s own breakdown confirms that Prime Student/Young Adult and Prime Access are positioned as “all of Prime, half the price” for eligible customers.

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Option 1: Prime Student / Prime for Young Adults

This is the most generous deal Amazon offers in 2026 if you’re roughly college‑aged.

• Get Amazon Prime Student with 6 months free and half-price membership after
• What is Amazon Prime Student and is it worth it

Who qualifies in 2026?

You’re likely eligible if you tick one of these boxes:

• You’re 18–24 years old (Prime for Young Adults): you only need to prove your age with an official ID.
• You’re a college or university student (full‑time or part‑time, accredited institution): you prove it with your .edu email or enrollment docs.

Acceptable verification usually includes:

• A .edu email address, which Amazon pings during sign‑up.
• Or, if you don’t have one: a student ID card with the current term, tuition bill, official transcript, or enrollment letter.

Amazon caps the discounted Student/Young Adult membership at about four years total, and it can end earlier if you graduate or age out.​

What you actually get

You’re not getting a “lite” Prime – the core perks match the full plan, but with some extra student‑flavored bonuses.

• Fast, free shipping: Same‑Day/One‑Day/Two‑Day on eligible items.
• Prime Video streaming (with ads; ad‑free upgrade available), Prime Music, and Prime Gaming.
• Prime Reading and unlimited photo storage via Amazon Photos.
• Student‑centric perks: textbook discounts, travel deals (like up to 10% off flights/hotels through partners such as StudentUniverse), Calm or study‑tool trials depending on current promos.
• Cash‑back boosts and exclusive student deals around big events like Prime Day and fall sales.​

How to sign up (step‑by‑step, 2026)

You can do this on a desktop or your phone browser (just avoid the Amazon app for the actual verification flow).

1. Go to the official Prime Student/Young Adult page
   • Type amazon.com/primestudent or search for “Amazon Prime Student” and tap the official Amazon link.
   • For the 18–24 age‑only route, you may see the “Prime for Young Adults” branding on the same flow.
2. Sign in or create an Amazon account
   • Use a real email address you check often; Amazon sends verification and renewal alerts there.
3. Pick your offer
   • Hit “Start your 6‑month trial” if you’re a student, or tap the labeled Young Adult option if it’s shown.
4. Verify your status
   • If you have a .edu email: enter it, wait for the confirmation email, and click the link within the time window (usually 24 hours).
   • No .edu? Upload a clear photo/scan of your student ID, tuition bill, transcript, or enrollment proof.
   • For Young Adults, you’ll upload a government ID (license, passport, state ID) showing you’re 18–24.
5. Add payment details
   • You still need a valid card on file; billing only kicks in after the six‑month trial.
6. Confirm your grad year and school info if asked
   • This helps Amazon know when to re‑verify or end the discount.​
7. Start your trial
   • Once you hit confirm, your six‑month free period begins and you can immediately use Prime shipping and streaming benefits.

Important tip if you already pay full price:
Cancel your existing Prime first via “Your Account → Prime Membership → Manage → End membership.” Amazon generally issues a prorated refund on unused time, then you can enroll in Prime Student at the lower rate.

Staying eligible (and what happens when you’re not)

• Annual re‑verification is the norm; Amazon pings you by email to confirm you’re still a student or within the age window.​
• If you don’t respond or no longer qualify, your account auto‑converts to full‑price Prime at the standard rate.
• If you were still eligible and missed the email, you typically have a short window (around 60 days) to submit proof and get back to the discounted rate with a refund/credit.​

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Option 2: Prime Access (for government‑assistance / low‑income households)

Think of Prime Access as “Prime for half the price if money’s tight.” It’s built for people on specific U.S. benefit programs, plus those whose income falls under a threshold.

Related /

• How to sign up for Amazon Prime Access — and cut your Prime bill in half
• How to use your SNAP EBT card on Amazon for online grocery shopping
• How SNAP EBT works on Amazon, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods

Who qualifies in 2026?

Amazon’s own eligibility list is fairly broad. You can qualify if you can prove enrollment in one of these programs or meet the income criteria:

• SNAP / EBT (food assistance)
• Medicaid
• WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
• SSI (Supplemental Security Income – distinct from standard Social Security)
• TANF / TTANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, including Tribal TANF)
• National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
• LIHEAP (Low‑Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
• Puerto Rico’s NAP program
• Direct Express debit card holders
• Or households earning around 150% or less of the federal poverty guideline, verified via income documents.

What you get with Prime Access

The “discount” is purely in the price; benefits match the full Prime package.

• Same‑Day, One‑Day, and Two‑Day delivery is available where available.
• Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Gaming, and access to big events like Prime Day and fall deal festivals.
• Early access to Lightning Deals and exclusive promos.
• Free delivery through Grubhub+ with a linked Prime account, on eligible orders.
• Amazon Photos offers unlimited full‑resolution storage and Prime Reading.
• Household sharing so you can extend benefits to another adult and teens in your home.

How to sign up for Prime Access

The flow is very similar to Prime Student, but your verification is benefit‑based or income‑based instead of school‑based.

1. Head to the Prime Access page
   • Go directly to amazon.com/getprimeaccess or search “Prime Access Amazon” and open the official Amazon link.
2. Sign in or create an Amazon account
   • Use the same account you want all your orders and streaming tied to.
3. Choose how you’ll qualify
   • Option A: Select your government program (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.) and upload a photo of your card or eligibility letter, or enter your EBT number for SNAP.
   • Option B: Use the income‑verification portal to upload a pay stub, benefits statement, or IRS transcript if you’re qualifying via income.
4. Upload your documentation securely
   • Amazon’s support docs note that images are stored only for verification and are deleted afterwards for privacy.
5. Add a payment method
   • A valid card is required even though you start with a free trial; charges kick in after the 30‑day trial ends.
6. Start your free 30‑day trial
   • As soon as your eligibility is confirmed (often in minutes), you can use all Prime benefits at the Access tier.

If you’re on a regular Prime membership already and realize you qualify for Prime Access, you can switch by going to the Prime Access page, uploading your proof, and letting Amazon convert your plan; your billing is updated to the lower monthly rate.

Renewal and losing eligibility

• Re‑verification is yearly: every 12 months, Amazon asks you to reconfirm your government program or income status.
• There’s typically a maximum discounted window of four years, similar to student pricing.​
• If re‑verification doesn’t happen, your membership just flips to full‑price Prime at the standard monthly charge—but if you reconfirm eligibility soon after, you can usually get moved back to Access with adjustments.

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Making the most of your discounted membership

Once you’ve locked in the lower rate, you can squeeze a lot more value out of it than just faster packages.

• Time your free trial around big sales. If you’re a student or on Access, line up your free trial so it covers Prime Day, fall “Big Deal Days,” or your big purchase season (laptops, appliances, holiday gifts).
• Stack rewards where you can. Pair Prime with cash‑back cards or student‑oriented cards, and watch for bonus cash‑back windows on categories like beauty and electronics.
• Use the non‑shopping perks. Grubhub+ free delivery, Rx discounts, free games via Prime Gaming, and Prime Reading can easily justify the monthly fee if you actually use them.
• Set a reminder for when your trial ends. Add a quick calendar event on day 25–28 of your free trial so you can decide whether to keep or cancel before any charge posts.

One practical example: a student starting a six‑month trial in late June can cover Prime Day, back‑to‑school shopping, and much of the fall semester without paying anything upfront—and then shift to the $7.49 monthly rate just as holiday shopping starts.

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How to switch, cancel, or change plans later

Life changes, so your Prime plan can too.

• Switch from full‑price Prime to a discounted tier
  • Go to Your Account → Prime Membership → Manage and cancel or end your current membership; Amazon often issues prorated refunds for unused time.
  • Then follow the Student or Prime Access sign‑up steps above, using the same Amazon account.
• Cancel any time
  • From the same Prime Membership screen, you can cancel Student, Young Adult, Access, or full‑price Prime.
  • If you haven’t used any paid‑period benefits, Amazon may refund that month or apply a credit.
• Keep an eye on third‑party add‑ons
  • If you subscribed to standalone Prime Video Channels or similar add‑ons, those may continue independently even if you cancel Prime, so review your subscriptions list.​

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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.