4 Reasons You Should Cancel Your Amazon Prime Subscription

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It’s not uncommon to receive advice about cutting subscriptions if you need to save a little extra money in your budget. Most financial advisors would say to put money toward retirement planning or padding your emergency fund rather than spending it on underused services.

Currently, an Amazon Prime membership fee is $14.99 a month or $139 per year. While there is still the opportunity to receive a free trial of Prime, keep in mind you will be automatically charged for the next membership period after your trial period ends. 

If you’ve had Amazon Prime for an extended period, it’s worth considering the potential benefits of canceling your plan.

Price Hikes Seem To Be Around Every Corner

At the beginning of 2022, the cost of Amazon Prime was $119 annually. The price increase for Prime membership plans went into effect on Feb. 18, 2022. The increase to $139 was a 15% increase over the previous price and is the current price in 2025.

While there is no confirmed statement regarding another price hike on Prime, Amazon is expected to increase the price of its Prime Membership from $139 annually to $159 by 2026, which may make it time to end your subscription.

You Rarely Shop at Amazon

If you find most of your shopping purchases are made through Amazon, you may be less likely to cancel your membership. This is especially true of households that depend on the free two-day delivery or two-hour grocery delivery services. 

However, if you rarely shop at Amazon or your spending habits have changed significantly, you’re not likely to be getting your money’s worth from keeping the membership.

You’re Not Using the Other Amazon Prime Benefits

Amazon Prime members receive access to Prime Video, Prime Gaming, Prime Music and access to Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. These are all perks of Prime — if you’re using them, of course.

Maybe you subscribe to other streaming services for movies, TV and music. You might have a separate gaming console you love. Or you enjoy visiting the library to check out physical books and e-books. If you find you can easily live without these additional entertainment perks, it may be easier to cancel Amazon Prime.

You Can Get Better Deals Somewhere Else

Some members of Amazon Prime may appreciate the swift way the service provides deliveries of groceries via Amazon Fresh or using the Amazon Pharmacy service. However, savvy shoppers may be focusing on other retailers and supermarkets where they can get even better deals. 

A frequent Costco or Sam’s Club shopper, for example, may be less inclined to give up their annual membership to these warehouse clubs or the benefits that come with these memberships. Shoppers at grocers like Aldi may enjoy the breadth of savings available to them, while those who shop at Target can receive access to price-matching options. 

Still, other shoppers may wish to shop local and support small businesses in their communities. Some consumers may have different pharmacy preferences or visit a local pharmacist they have been with for a long time. Ultimately, Prime members need to weigh whether they’re getting a better deal with Prime versus other retailers. 

Final Take To GO: How To Cancel Your Amazon Prime 

The bottom line is that if you have decided that a Prime membership no longer meets your needs, you can easily end it. Instructions on Amazon.com state members may go to their Prime membership account and select update, cancel and more options. Follow the on-screen instructions and you’ll be able to cancel Amazon Prime.

Heather Taylor contributed to the reporting for this article.

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