You’re probably paying for Amazon Prime already. Most people do. Whether it’s for the free shipping or because you’re mid-way through a The Boys marathon, that $14.99 a month is leaving your bank account regardless. But there’s a specific perk—the Amazon Prime Twitch sub—that feels like free money for your favorite streamers, yet millions of people just... forget to use it. Or worse, they think they've used it, but the sub lapsed three weeks ago because Twitch makes the renewal process surprisingly annoying.
It’s honestly a bit of a loophole.
Usually, when you subscribe to a creator on Twitch, it’s a recurring bill. You sign up, they get their $2.50 cut every month, and you don’t have to think about it again. Prime is different. It’s a "manual" benefit. This means if you don’t go back and click that specific purple button every 30 days, your favorite streamer loses that revenue. You lose your sub badges. The ads start creeping back in. It’s a clunky system, but if you know how to navigate the settings, it’s the easiest way to support the gaming community without spending an extra dime.
The Connection Most People Miss
Linking the accounts is step one, and it’s where most people get stuck. You have to navigate to Prime Gaming and specifically tether your Amazon identity to your Twitch handle. If you share an Amazon household account, only one person gets the sub. This causes a lot of household arguments. I’ve seen people try to sub on two different Twitch accounts using the same Prime membership, but Amazon is way ahead of you on that. One Prime account equals one "free" sub. Period.
Once you’re linked, you’ll see the "Subscribe Free" option in the subscription menu of any Twitch channel. But here’s the catch: it won't show up on the iOS or Android apps easily. Apple and Google want their 30% cut of in-app purchases, and since a Prime sub doesn't technically "cost" money at the point of sale, the mobile interface often hides the option or makes it look like you have to pay $5.99.
Always use a mobile browser in "Desktop Mode" or hop on a PC to use your Amazon Prime Twitch sub. It saves you the headache of looking for a button that isn't there.
Why the "Automatic" Renewal Doesn't Exist
Let’s talk about why Twitch makes you manually renew. From a business perspective, it makes perfect sense for them. If everyone’s Prime sub renewed automatically, Amazon would be paying out hundreds of millions more to creators every year. By requiring a manual click, they rely on "breakage"—the percentage of people who simply forget.
It’s a bit of a chore.
I know plenty of streamers whose entire monthly income fluctuates by 20% just because their viewers forgot to click the button on time. Some fans have even started using browser extensions like "SubFull" or setting monthly calendar reminders. If you’re serious about supporting someone like PirateSoftware or CDawgVA, you basically have to treat that sub like a monthly task.
The Financials of Your "Free" Sub
When you use your Amazon Prime Twitch sub, the creator gets paid exactly the same as a Tier 1 recurring sub. In most regions, that’s roughly $2.50, though Twitch’s "Partner Plus" program (now called the Twitch Plus program) has shifted those margins for bigger creators. For a small affiliate just starting out, five Prime subs is the difference between a dead channel and paying for their internet bill.
There’s also the "Regional Pricing" factor to consider. Back in the day, a sub was $5 everywhere. Now, it varies. But the Prime sub remains a powerful equalizer. No matter what the local currency cost of a sub is, that Prime token is a high-value asset for the streamer.
Troubleshooting the "Sub Not Available" Error
Sometimes you’ll go to a channel, and the Prime sub option is just... grayed out. It’s infuriating. Usually, this happens for one of three reasons:
- The 30-Day Clock: You can’t sub on the 15th of every month. You have to wait exactly 30 days from your last click. If months have 31 days, your "sub day" will slowly drift.
- Trial Accounts: If you are on a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial, you get one Prime sub. But if you’re on a student trial or certain promotional trials, sometimes the sub benefit is delayed or restricted until the first paid month kicks in.
- The "Lapsed" Link: Every once in a while, Amazon and Twitch just stop talking to each other. You’ll go to your settings and see that you need to "Re-verify" your account. It happens for security, especially if you’ve changed your Amazon password recently.
How to Maximize the Prime Gaming Perks
Beyond the Amazon Prime Twitch sub, there’s a whole pile of loot people leave on the table. If you go to the Prime Gaming dashboard, there are usually free copies of games—real ones, not just mobile trash—that you can keep forever. We’re talking Fallout, Star Wars titles, and high-end indies.
There are also "in-game drops." If you play League of Legends, Valorant, or Apex Legends, there’s usually a monthly bundle of skins or currency. Most people ignore the "Games and Loot" tab, but if you’re already paying for the sub, you’re essentially throwing away $20–$50 worth of digital goods every month by not clicking "Claim."
Is it Worth Upgrading to Tier 2?
No. Not for most people. The Amazon Prime Twitch sub counts as a Tier 1 subscription. Some viewers think they can "top up" a Prime sub to make it Tier 2 or Tier 3. You can't. If you want the higher-tier emotes or the increased sub streak multipliers, you have to pay the full price for those tiers separately. The Prime sub is a "use it or lose it" Tier 1 tool.
The Future of Subbing
Twitch has been changing a lot lately under Dan Clancy's leadership. They’ve been transparent about the fact that they are trying to become profitable. This has led to some anxiety in the community that the Prime sub might eventually go away or be reduced in value.
So far, it’s still here.
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But we have seen changes to how much streamers earn from it in certain countries. The best way to "future-proof" your support is to stay active in the creator's Discord. Most streamers have a bot that will ping you when your Prime sub is about to expire. It’s a lifesaver.
Steps to Take Right Now
Don't let your Prime benefit sit idle while Amazon keeps your membership fee.
First, go to your Twitch settings and check the "Subscriptions" tab. If you don't see an active "Prime" logo next to a creator, you’re currently leaving that money on the table. Head over to your favorite streamer’s channel—preferably a smaller one where that $2.50 actually makes a visible difference in their day—and hit the sub button.
Scroll down, find the checkbox that says "Use Prime Sub," and click it. If the checkbox isn't there, you probably need to re-link your accounts at gaming.amazon.com.
Make it a habit. Check it on the first of every month or whenever you get your Amazon "Your order has shipped" emails. It’s the only part of the Amazon ecosystem that feels like a direct transfer of wealth from a massive corporation to an independent creator. Use it.