Prime
Prime monthly or annual: which to choose by the months you use it
In short
Annual payment costs €49.90 against €59.88 for twelve monthly payments, so it saves €9.98 if you use Prime all year. Monthly is cheaper if you are going to use it for nine months or fewer; at ten months it costs the same. Choose annual if you already know you use it every month, and monthly if you want it for certain seasons or are still deciding.
Full guide: Amazon Prime
| Months you use it | Monthly payment | Annual payment | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 months | €9.98 | €49.90 | Monthly |
| 3 months | €14.97 | €49.90 | Monthly |
| 6 months | €29.94 | €49.90 | Monthly |
| 9 months | €44.91 | €49.90 | Monthly |
| 10 months | €49.90 | €49.90 | Same |
| 12 months | €59.88 | €49.90 | Annual |
Where the figures come from
The figures start from the prices in force in October 2026: €4.99 a month or €49.90 a year. Prices can change, so confirm the current ones on the page before deciding. The reasoning, though, works at any price: divide the annual fee by the monthly one and you get the number of months from which the year pays off.
The break-even point
At current prices, ten monthly payments cost exactly the same as a year: €49.90. That means the annual plan amounts to paying for ten months and getting twelve. If you are going to use Prime for ten months or more, annual is the same or better. If you will use it for nine or fewer, monthly wins. Everything else is nuance on top of that sum.
The real cost per month
Another way to see it: the annual plan comes to about €4.16 a month, against €4.99 for monthly. The difference is 83 cents a month. It is not much, and that is why the decision should not be made for the saving but for how you use the subscription. Paying for a whole year to save €9.98 makes no sense if you then go five months without placing an order.
When to choose monthly
When Prime is useful to you in seasons. Some people switch it on in November and December for Christmas shopping, or in September for back to school, and cancel afterwards. It is also the prudent option if you have just finished the trial and still do not know whether you will use it: a couple of months on the monthly plan cost little and settle the question.
- Christmas shopping: November and December.
- Back to school or the start of term: September.
- A move or a renovation: the two months with the most orders.
- A series premiere: the month the season comes out.
- A deal event for members.
The two-months-a-year pattern
Many people discover they only need Prime at specific moments. Two months on the monthly plan cost €9.98; four months, €19.96. Against €49.90 for the year, the saving is large. The only requirement is remembering to cancel at the end of each period. If you are someone who forgets these things, the theoretical saving is lost and you end up paying twelve monthly fees, which is the most expensive option of all.
When to choose annual
When you already know you use it every month. The saving is modest, but there is another advantage: one charge a year is easier to keep track of than twelve small ones. And you do not have to think about switching on and cancelling. For a family that orders every week, annual is the natural choice.
Note the renewal date
The annual plan renews automatically. Put a reminder in your calendar a month before the date, with the amount. That day, look at your orders for the past year and decide whether to carry on. It is the only moment when the annual plan demands attention, and it is the one most people skip. A charge of nearly €50 arriving by surprise is the commonest complaint about any annual subscription.
The ladder: trial, monthly, annual
If you are starting from scratch, you do not have to choose today. There is a three-step path that cuts the risk to a minimum.
- Start with the 30-day free trial and note what you use.
- If you like it but are unsure, move to monthly payment for two or three months.
- If you have used it every month in that time, switch to the annual plan.
In this order you pay, at most, two or three extra monthly fees before making up your mind, and in exchange you avoid committing a year to a subscription you may not need.
If you are a student or aged 18 to 24
With Prime Student the ratio is the same at half the price: €2.49 a month or €24.95 a year. Twelve monthly payments add up to €29.88, so annual saves €4.93. The break-even point is also at ten months. And the free trial lasts 90 days, which leaves more than enough room to decide. The requirements are in the Prime Student guide.
| Prime | Prime Student | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | €4.99 | €2.49 |
| Annual | €49.90 | €24.95 |
| Twelve monthly payments | €59.88 | €29.88 |
| Saving on the annual plan | €9.98 | €4.93 |
| Free trial | 30 days | 90 days |
If you only care about the video
People who use Prime mainly for Prime Video tend to watch in bursts: one month they watch a lot and then go three without opening it. For that pattern, monthly fits better. Switch on in the month when what you want to see is released, watch it and cancel. With three or four months a year you spend less than half of what the annual plan costs.
If you only care about delivery
Look at your order history month by month. If orders are spread evenly, annual. If they cluster in two or three moments of the year, monthly at those moments. And if you place few orders and they nearly always exceed the free-delivery minimum, you may need neither, as we explain in whether Amazon Prime is worth it.
Who pays at home
In many households there are two Prime subscriptions without anyone having decided it: each partner took out their own at some point. Check your accounts. If the household's orders can be placed from a single one, one of the two fees is surplus. It is the easiest saving of all and requires no change of habit.
What happens if you get it wrong
Changing plan and cancelling are handled from your Amazon account. Before paying for a whole year, check the current cancellation and refund terms there, because they depend on the use you have made of the benefits. If you chose monthly and it turns out you use it all the time, the cost of the mistake is small: a few cents a month until you switch.
A well-run year on the monthly plan
To see it in practice, this is the calendar of someone who only uses Prime when they need it. In March they move flat: they switch on for a month, place a dozen orders and cancel. In September they switch on another month for their children's school supplies.
In November they switch it on again and keep it to the end of December for Christmas shopping. Total: four monthly fees, €19.96. They had fast delivery at every moment when they were ordering and paid less than half the annual plan.
What to look for on your bank statement
If you do not know which plan you have, your statement tells you. A charge of about five euros each month is the monthly plan; one of nearly fifty once a year, the annual. Take the chance to check two things: that there are not two Prime charges in the same household and that you are not still paying for a subscription you thought was cancelled.
In your Amazon account, the memberships section shows the active plan and the date of the next charge.
If the price changes
The fees have been changed before and may change again. When that happens, repeat the sum: divide the annual price by the monthly one. As long as the result stays close to ten, everything said here holds. If annual came to equal eleven monthly payments, the margin in favour of the year would be so small that monthly would be better for almost everyone.
Deciding in one minute
Ask yourself three questions. Have I placed orders in at least ten of the last twelve months? Have I used the included video or music throughout the year? Do I prefer one charge to twelve small ones? With two yes answers, the annual plan is your option.
With one or none, stay on monthly and review the decision when your shopping habits change, for example when you move or have a child.
By case
| Your case | Recommended option |
|---|---|
| Orders every week | Annual |
| Heavy shopping at Christmas and little else | Monthly, November and December |
| You have just finished the trial | Monthly for two or three months |
| You only watch series in seasons | Monthly, the month of the premiere |
| Student with orders all through term | Prime Student annual |
| You forget to cancel subscriptions | Annual, with a reminder |
Common mistakes
- Paying for the whole year the day after the trial, without knowing whether you will use it.
- Choosing monthly to save money and never cancelling.
- Not noting the renewal date of the annual plan.
- Keeping two subscriptions in the same household.
- Deciding by the €9.98 saving and not by real use.
In short
Ten months is the border. Above it, annual; below it, monthly. If in doubt, start with monthly: a mistake in that direction costs cents, and a mistake in the other, nearly fifty euros. The Amazon Prime guide brings together the facts and the link to the free trial.
Frequently asked questions about Prime monthly or annual
How much do you save with annual Prime payment?
€9.98 a year compared with twelve monthly payments, at October 2026 prices.
From how many months does annual payment pay off?
From ten months of use it costs the same as or less than paying month by month.
Can I take Prime for just one month?
Yes. Monthly payment lets you switch it on and cancel whenever you like.
Does the annual plan renew by itself?
Yes. It is worth noting the renewal date a month ahead to decide whether to continue.
Which option is better after the free trial?
If you are still unsure, monthly payment for two or three months. If you already know you always use it, annual.
How much do the monthly and annual Amazon Prime plans cost?
€4.99 a month or €49.90 a year, at the prices in force in October 2026.
How much do twelve monthly Prime payments cost?
€59.88, against €49.90 for the annual plan.
What is the break-even point between monthly and annual Prime?
Ten months: ten monthly payments cost €49.90, the same as the year. The annual plan amounts to paying for ten months and getting twelve.
How much does the annual Prime plan cost per month?
About €4.16 a month, 83 cents less than the monthly plan.
When is the monthly Prime plan the better choice?
When you use it in seasons, such as Christmas, back to school or a move, or when you have just finished the trial and are still unsure.
When is the annual Prime plan the better choice?
When you already know you use it every month. One charge a year is also easier to keep track of.
How much does using Prime for just two months a year cost?
€9.98 on the monthly plan, against €49.90 for the annual. You have to remember to cancel at the end.
What is the biggest risk of the monthly plan?
Forgetting to cancel. Twelve monthly payments add up to €59.88, the most expensive option of all.
How do I avoid an unexpected charge on the annual plan?
By setting a reminder a month before the renewal date, with the amount, and reviewing your last year's orders that day.
Which steps should I follow if I have never had Prime?
The 30-day free trial, then two or three months on monthly payment and, if you use it every month, the annual plan.
How much do you save with the annual Prime Student plan?
€4.93: twelve monthly payments of €2.49 add up to €29.88 and the annual plan costs €24.95.
Which plan suits me if I only use Prime Video?
Monthly: switch on in the month of the premiere, watch and cancel. With three or four months a year you spend less than half the annual plan.
How do I know which Prime plan I have?
From your bank statement: about five euros each month is monthly; nearly fifty once a year, annual. It also appears in the memberships section of your account.
What happens if the Prime price changes?
Repeat the sum: divide the annual price by the monthly one. As long as the result stays close to ten, the ten-month rule holds.
Can I switch from the monthly to the annual plan?
Yes. Changing plan and cancelling are handled from your Amazon account, where the current terms are set out.
Sources and date checked
- Amazon: Prime at half price for young adults and students, announcement of June 2025 (in Spanish)
- Terms published by Amazon.es for the Amazon Prime free trial, checked in October 2026
The practical advice, examples and calculators are the work of Global Store Afiliados. Facts last checked: 10 October 2026. How we check the facts: editorial methodology.
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