There is a seemingly endless supply of streaming and subscription services out there, but Amazon Prime remains one of the more popular ones. With Amazon, you can find just about any product online, whether it’s food, clothing, or electronics. Additionally, you can also stream videos and music using its platform.
But like other subscription services, Amazon Prime comes at a price. Let’s take a look specifically at Amazon Prime Canada and review everything it offers to help you decide if it’s worth the cost.
What Is Amazon Prime Canada?
Launched in 2013, Amazon Prime Canada is the Canadian branch of the American-based Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime is a popular subscription service that makes online shopping quick and convenient with fast, free shipping. In fact, many products can be shipped as soon as the same day.
Members also get access to complimentary music and videos that can be streamed on mobile devices and smart TVs.
Since its inception, Amazon Prime Canada has quickly grown and now has more than two million members in Canada.
Benefits Of Amazon Prime Canada Membership
As mentioned, there are plenty of perks that come with an Amazon Prime membership, including the following:
Free Shipping And Fast Delivery
Nothing is more frustrating than having to wait weeks for a product you ordered online. But with an Amazon Prime membership, you don’t have to deal with these inconveniences.
Amazon Prime offers various delivery times, including:
- One-day delivery
- Two-day delivery
- Same-day delivery
- Release day delivery (for eligible pre-order items)
The one- and two-day delivery systems require no minimum purchase, while same-day delivery requires a qualifying order over $25 and the order must be placed before 12pm that day.
Amazon Kindle Prime Reading
While traditional paper books are always available on Amazon, you can also choose to download a digital copy for instant delivery and a much cheaper price tag. As an Amazon Prime member, you can choose from thousands of ebooks on the Kindle store at no cost.
Read your downloaded books on a Kindle device or your mobile device.
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Amazon Prime Video Streaming Service
With Amazon Prime Video, you can stream movies and television shows for free, including some that are Amazon Originals. You can also download videos and watch them offline using the Amazon Prime app.
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Amazon Prime Music Streaming Service
With Amazon Music, you’ll have access to a library with more than two million songs. Stream music for free on any device with no interrupting ads.
Free Twitch Subscription And Gaming Perks
Twitch is a streaming service that lets you stream yourself live for others to view. Many gamers use this service to stream themselves playing video games, but others in different niches can use it as well to entertain their viewers.
If you’re a frequent Twitch user, you can use your Amazon Prime membership to subscribe to Twitch for free, which will save you about $5 a month. Moreover, with Amazon Prime, you’ll gain access to Prime Gaming. Here, you’ll get access to free PC games and in-game loot such as characters, skins, and weapons.
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Get Exclusive Amazon Prime Offers
Amazon.ca always offers deals and discounts that are available exclusively to Prime members before non-Prime customers. You can also enjoy discounts on products with the Subscribe and Save feature. Plus, you can earn 2.5% cash back at Amazon.ca when you use the Amazon Rewards MasterCard.
Other Amazon Prime Benefits
There are a handful of other benefits of being an Amazon Prime member:
- Amazon Photos. Take advantage of free, unlimited photo and video storage on all your devices with high-resolution backups.
- Student pricing. If you’re a student, you’ll get 50% off your membership after a 6-month free trial.
Cost Of Amazon Prime Membership In Canada
The current cost for an Amazon Prime Canada membership is $9.99 per month or $99 per year. If you choose the annual membership, this will work out to $82.25 per month, so you’ll be saving just over $20 a year.
When you first sign up, you’ll be eligible for a free 30-day trial, after which you’ll be charged the $9.99 monthly fee (or $99 annual fee) if you choose to continue your membership.
Quebec residents are not eligible for a free Amazon Prime trial. However, customers who sign up for a membership will get the first two months for the price of one.
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Special Student Pricing
Students can enjoy Amazon Prime membership benefits for half the price. Pricing for students is $4.99 per month or $49 per year.
Moreover, the free trial is much longer than the non-student membership. As a student, you’ll enjoy a 6-month free trial to get familiar with the platform (not available for Quebec residents).
Does Amazon Prime Student Have The Same Benefits As Amazon Prime?
Amazon Prime Student members enjoy many of the same perks as the typical membership plan, including the following:
- Fast, free shipping
- Amazon Music Prime
- Monthly games and exclusive in-game content with Prime Gaming
- Free Twitch subscription
- Free, unlimited photo storage in Amazon Drive
- Access to Lightning Deals on Amazon.ca 30 minutes before non-Prime customers
Who’s Eligible For Student Amazon Prime?
To be eligible for the student pricing, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have an Amazon.ca account
- Be a post-secondary student actively enrolled in at least one course in college or university in Canada
- Have proof that you’re enrolled in a post-secondary institution (if requested)
- Have an active college, university, or CEGEP email address
Amazon Prime Student will be available for four years or until you graduate, whichever of the two comes first. If you do not cancel, your Amazon Prime membership will be automatically renewed to the full subscription cost.
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Difference Between Amazon Prime Canada And Amazon Prime US
Not long ago, Amazon Prime US offered a lot more than its Canadian counterpart. But over the recent past, Amazon Prime Canada has been adding more and more services and perks to its platform and is now comparable to the US-based service. The following are available on both Amazon Prime US and Amazon Prime Canada:
- Prime Video and Music
- Cloud storage with Amazon Photos
- Cloud storage with Amazon Prime Reading
- Access to exclusive deals 30 minutes before non-Prime members
- Same-day delivery
That said, there are still some limitations to Amazon Prime Canada. The following are available on Amazon Prime US, but not here in Canada:
- 2-hour grocery delivery
- No exclusive US videos on Prime Video
- Less content on Prime Video and Prime Music
Can You Cancel Your Amazon Prime Membership In Canada?
Your Amazon Prime membership automatically renews every year. That means you’ll have to manually cancel your membership in order to avoid subsequent charges. The good news is that cancelling this automatic renewal is easy.
Steps To Cancel Your Amazon Prime Membership
To turn off automatic renewal, take the following steps:
- Go to Manage Prime Membership under your account
- If you’re currently within the free trial window, click “Do not continue”
- If you are currently on a paid membership plan, click “End membership”
Keep in mind that you’re eligible to receive a full refund of the current membership period if you don’t use your Prime benefits.
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Amazon Prime Canada FAQs
How much does an Amazon Prime subscription cost in Canada?
Is there an Amazon Prime discount for seniors in Canada?
Does Amazon Prime include Netflix?
Is Amazon Prime free?
Is Amazon Prime cheaper than Netflix?
Final Thoughts
When you think of all the free, fast shipping you can get with every online expenditure you make and the scores of videos and music you can stream and download, paying less than $10 a month might be worth it. At the very least, you may want to try Amazon Prime’s free 30-day trial to see if it’s worth continuing your subscription as a paid member.
