Does Prime Video Have a Free Trial? What Most People Get Wrong

You're sitting on the couch, scrolling through social media, and you see a trailer for the latest season of The Boys or some sleek new Amazon Original that everyone’s buzzing about. You want to watch it. Like, right now. But you don't necessarily want to commit to another monthly bill. Naturally, the first question that pops into your head is: does prime video have a free trial?

Honestly, the answer is a big fat yes, but there's a bit of a "choose your own adventure" element to it. Most people think you have to sign up for the whole Amazon Prime shipping circus just to get the video, and while that’s one way, it's not the only way.

The Standard 30-Day Run

For most of us, the path to free streaming is the standard 30-day trial. Amazon is pretty generous here. If you haven't been a Prime member in the last 12 months, you can usually snag 30 days of the full Prime experience without paying a dime upfront.

This isn't just a "video-only" teaser. You get the whole shebang.

• Free two-day shipping (dangerous for the late-night impulse buys).
• The full Prime Video library.
• Prime Music and Prime Reading.
• Access to "Buy with Prime" on other sites.

It’s a solid month. You can binge a series, order a new toaster, and cancel on day 29 if you want. Just keep in mind that they will ask for a credit card. They won't charge you until the clock hits day 31, but they need that card on file to keep things "seamless."

📖 Related: Colin Macrae Below Deck: Why the Fan-Favorite Engineer Finally Walked Away

The Student Loophole (It's Actually 6 Months)

If you're a student—or honestly, if you’re just between the ages of 18 and 24—you’ve basically hit the jackpot. Amazon offers a "Prime for Young Adults" (often still called Prime Student) trial that lasts for six months.

Six. Months.

You get almost everything the regular Prime members get, including Prime Video. There are a few tiny restrictions on things like Kindle sharing during the trial, but for streaming? It’s a goldmine. Once those six months are up, they don't even charge you the full price; you get a 50% discount, bringing the cost down to about $7.49 a month.

Does Prime Video Have a Free Trial Without the Shipping?

This is where people get tripped up. You can subscribe to Prime Video as a standalone service for $8.99 a month. This is for the folks who couldn't care less about "Free One-Day Delivery" and just want to watch movies.

👉 See also: Cómo salvar a tu favorito: La verdad sobre la votación de La Casa de los Famosos Colombia

But here’s the kicker: Amazon usually pushes the full Prime trial even if you just want the video. In most cases, if you’re looking for a free trial specifically for the standalone $8.99 video plan, you’ll find that Amazon just funnels you into the 30-day full Prime trial anyway. Why? Because they want you to see how addicted you get to that fast shipping.

The "Hidden" Trials: Prime Video Channels

Maybe you already have Prime, but you're wondering if you can get more for free. Inside the Prime Video interface, there are "Channels"—think Max (formerly HBO), Paramount+, or MGM+.

Almost all of these offer their own separate 7-day free trials.

1. Open your Prime Video app.
2. Navigate to the "Store" or "Channels" tab.
3. Click on a channel like AMC+ or Discovery+.
4. Start a week-long trial.

It’s a great way to catch a specific movie that isn’t on the "base" Prime library. Just remember that these are separate "mini-subscriptions." If you start five different channel trials at once, your inbox is going to be a mess of cancellation reminders a week later.

✨ Don't miss: Cliff Richard and The Young Ones: The Weirdest Bromance in TV History Explained

What Happens When the Clock Runs Out?

Kinda obvious, but worth saying: if you don’t cancel, you pay. In 2026, the standard Prime membership is roughly $14.99 a month (or $139 a year). If you went for the standalone video-only option, it's $8.99.

Also, watch out for the ad-free tier. Prime Video recently shifted to including "limited advertisements" in their standard streaming. If you want it completely ad-free, that’s usually an extra $2.99 a month on top of whatever you’re paying. This typically isn't covered by the free trial—you’ll still see a few ads unless you pay that small upgrade fee.

The Returner's Luck

Here is a secret: the "once in a lifetime" rule doesn't actually exist. Amazon frequently lets people "re-trial" the service if it's been a year or two since they last had a membership. If you go to the Prime page and see a button that says "Start your 30-day free trial," then you're eligible. If it just says "Join Prime," you’re likely recognized as a former member who isn’t eligible for a gift right now.

Actionable Next Steps

If you're ready to dive in, don't just click the first link you see in a Google ad.

• Check Eligibility: Go to the official Amazon Prime page. If the 30-day button is there, click it.
• Set a Calendar Alert: Seriously. Set it for day 28. Use your phone's assistant to remind you so you don't get hit with a $15 charge you didn't plan for.
• Verify Student Status: If you have a .edu email or are under 24, go specifically to the "Prime Student" portal to get that 6-month window instead of the 1-month one.
• Manage Your Channels: If you sign up for add-ons like Paramount+ through Prime, you have to cancel them within the Prime Video settings, not on the Paramount website.

Checking the status of your membership is easy under the "Accounts & Lists" menu. You can click "End Membership" at any point during the trial, and usually, Amazon will let you keep the remaining days of the trial until the month is up. It’s one of the few "pro-consumer" moves they make, so take advantage of it.