The streaming wars are raging, with new services launching what seems like every month. However, one platform has been around for over a decade: Amazon Prime Video. It started as a perk for Amazon Prime members but has grown into a titan of the streaming landscape. If you’re wondering what Prime Video offers, how much it costs, and whether it’s worth it, here’s a comprehensive look at everything you need to know.

How much is Prime Video?

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: how much does Prime Video actually cost? The service is bundled with an Amazon Prime membership, which runs $139 per year or $14.99 per month. Yes, that’s not exactly cheap, but it provides a lot more than just video streaming.

An Amazon Prime subscription gets you free two-day shipping on millions of items, access to Prime Music and Prime Reading, free online photo storage, and a handful of other benefits. Viewed through that lens, Prime Video almost feels like a freebie on top of the core shopping perks.

If you’d rather not pay for a full Prime membership, there is an Amazon Prime Video-only option for $8.99 per month. However, this is really just renting Prime piecemeal, since you’re missing out on all the shopping advantages.

Note: Earlier this year, Amazon introduced an ad-free version of Prime Video, which now costs an additional $2.99 per month for an ad-free experience. So, if you want to enjoy an entirely ad-free experience on Prime Video, you must pay an extra $2.99 per month. Alternatively, you can choose to stick with the regular $8.99 per month for Prime Video only, which comes with limited ads.

What can I watch on Prime Video?

So what does that Prime Video subscription actually get you? The short answer: a lot. Amazon’s streaming library includes blockbuster movies, award-winning original series, cult favorite TV shows, live sports, and premium add-on channels.

On the original programming front, Prime Video is home to hits like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, Reacher, and the mega-budgeted The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. There’s also a solid lineup of original movies like Being the Ricardos and the upcoming Air. While the sheer volume of Originals can’t match Netflix, the quality is generally high.

Beyond the Originals, Prime Video has an extensive library of older movies and TV shows licensed from major studios. You’ll find beloved series like Lost, The Office, and Parks and Recreation, alongside classic films from nearly every era. The downside is that, like all streamers, the licensed content frequently rotates on and off the service. But there’s usually enough to keep you busy.

For sports fans, Prime Video has a major exclusive: Thursday Night Football. It’s the only streaming service with rights to stream these NFL games live.

What are Prime Video Channels?

And if the core Prime Video library still isn’t enough content for you, there’s the option of add-on “Channels.” These are basically third-party streaming services like STARZ, Paramount+, SHOWTIME, AMC+, and many others which you can subscribe to through Amazon. The content from those channels is integrated right into the Prime Video interface, with no need to bounce between separate apps.

How to access Prime Video?

All that content would be for naught if Prime Video had a lackluster user experience or limited device support. Fortunately, that’s not the case at all.

The Prime Video apps and web interface offer a robust, customizable experience with solid search/browse capabilities and handy features like X-Ray (bonus info on actors/scenes), multiple user profiles, and downloads for offline viewing. You can stream on practically every major device: smart TVs, streaming players, tablets, phones, game consoles, and more.

And if there’s one knock against the app, it’s that the main navigation menus can feel a bit overloaded and confusing at times with all the different “Channels” and content hubs. But overall, it’s an intuitive way to access Prime Video’s vast library.

Summing up

Between the quality original programming, expansive library of movies/TV shows, live sports access, and the option of premium channel add-ons, Prime Video offers incredible value for streaming fans. Tack on all the core benefits of Amazon Prime shipping/shopping and it becomes an easy recommendation.

The $139/year price tag is admittedly spendy if you’re only interested in the streaming component. But for most people, the shipping convenience alone makes Prime worthwhile. Prime Video is simply an awesome free bonus on top.

So if you’re looking to consolidate your streaming subscriptions, or just want access to a ton of great content, Prime Video deserves a spot in your streaming portfolio. With so much quality material across so many genres and categories, there’s something for everyone on Amazon’s anchor streaming service.

Amazon Prime membership – more than just fast shipping!

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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.