The start of the fall semester is just around the corner, so now’s the time to make your packing lists, shop for dorm decor, and consider whether you should sign up for Amazon Prime Student membership. I was a Prime Student member for 4 years, all throughout college, so I’m here to tell you what I think of the service. Is it worth it? Read on for my opinion.
What is Prime Student?
Amazon Prime Student is a more affordable version of Amazon Prime available to those in college and/or around college age. It includes 2-day Prime shipping and other benefits, such as:
- Prime Video
- Access to Prime-exclusive deals (like Prime Day sales!)
- Amazon Try Before You Buy
- Amazon Gaming
- Amazon Photo Storage
And there’s more! Being a Prime Student member will also allow you to subscribe to other Amazon services for a discounted price, or with an extended free trial.
- Kindle Unlimited: 2 months free (you can read my Kindle Unlimited review here)
- Amazon Music Unlimited: $5.99 per month for up to four years
- Kindle Vella: read for free
- Prime Video channels: discounted prices as low as $.99 per month
Prime Student members also get access to special deals from other brands, such as:
- Calm: 3 months free then a discounted price on a premium subscription
- Course Hero: 1 month free
- Grubhub: free Grubhub+ membership ($120 value per year)
- Student Universe: up to 10% off flights and hotels
Are You Eligible for Prime Student?
To be eligible for Prime Student membership you must be between 18 and 24 years of age and/or be enrolled in a two-year or four-year college. If you are 18-24 but not in school, you are still eligible for Prime Student membership. When you sign up for a free trial on Amazon, you will have to verify either your age or your student status.
How Much Does Prime Student Cost?
Every Prime Student membership starts with a 6-month free trial that will then automatically convert into a paid membership. The free trial period is a great opportunity to see if you’ll actually use the services included in your membership enough to justify the price. You can sign up for a 6-month Prime Student free trial here.
After your free trial ends you’ll pay $69 per year for Prime Student, which is half the price of a normal Prime membership ($139). If you would like to pay monthly, it’ll be a bit more at $7.49 per month.
My Experience
I had a Prime Student membership all throughout college, and I used some (but not all) of its perks. Of course, I took advantage of Prime shipping. Almost everything I have ever ordered from Amazon has been Prime-eligible, so the free shipping itself made my Prime membership worth it for me.
With Prime Day on July 16-17 coming up, it’s also important to note that any deals featured in this popular sale event are exclusive to Prime members only. I shop a lot of Prime-exclusive deals, during Prime Day and throughout the year. If you’re thinking about a Prime Student membership, I would sign up now so you don’t miss the deep discounts on Prime Day 2024 (July 16-17).
While I was a Prime Student member, I took advantage of the discounted price for Amazon Music Unlimited as it cost much less than any other music streaming service. Amazon has a huge music catalog, so it is a great deal. I also watched shows and movies on Prime Video and signed up for the free trial of Kindle Unlimited. I’m a big reader and fell in love with Kindle Unlimited during my free trial, so I still read with it to this day.
That being said, not all of the perks included in Prime Student were up my alley. I did not use their photo storage, check out Amazon Gaming, or use their same-day delivery options (not available in my area). However, just because I didn’t use them doesn’t mean they aren’t great deals- make sure you check out everything offered when you sign up!
Is Prime Student Worth It?
In my opinion, it absolutely is! If you know you’ll be shopping on Amazon for dorm decor, college essentials, or just day-to-day items you need, it’s worth it just for Prime shipping and the ability to shop Prime-exclusive sales. The extra perks they offer with Student memberships are all geared toward those in college and you’ll likely find at least one of them useful, whether it’s discounted textbooks or free delivery with Grubhub.
You really can’t beat the $69 annual subscription price (less than $6 a month). Plus, with a 6-month free trial, you can take some time to figure out whether you’ll use the service enough to pay for it annually.
With Amazon’s annual Prime Day sale coming up quickly, now is the time to sign up for a free Prime Student trial. Prime Day deals are exclusively offered to Prime members, so I would sign up now!
