Get the most out of Prime Day with these Amazon Prime membership perks

CNN

16-06-2025

Amazon Prime Day is just a few weeks away. While we're still waiting on the official date to go live, Amazon has already shared that its massive summer savings event will return this July. Ahead of time, I'm putting my years of experience to work to share some tips and tricks for taking advantage of your Prime membership.
The subscriber-only sale means that you're going to need to have one of Amazon's paid subscriptions in order to save on the best deals. Even if that is the main draw to a Prime membership, there's more to the program than just cashing in on the savings.
Amazon Prime is the company's loyalty membership. You'll have to pay a fee to participate, but being a Prime member includes quite a few perks that range from no-cost delivery and extra savings while shopping to accessing movies, music and more that I've dived into below.
If you're not already an Amazon Prime member, there are quite a few different ways you can sign up. The best place to start is with redeeming the free 30-day trial that Amazon offers first-time subscribers. Though if you've already used that in the past, there are some other options to restart your perks.
As the default option, Prime memberships start at $15 per month. You can drop the price slightly by paying for all 12 months at once with a $139 yearly fee. That drops each month down under $12 per month. Students with an active .edu email also have the ability to save with a 50% price cut that brings each month down to less than $8.
There isn't a better time to lock in your membership, especially as the event draws near. We have everything you need to know about Prime Day all summed up, should you need a refresher on what's to come in July.
Saving money with a Prime membership
One of the most notable perks is using your Prime membership to score exclusive deals. Amazon likes to lock many of the best discounts it offers behind its membership program, especially on Prime Day. Sometimes it's getting an extra 20% off an already-discounted item via an on-page coupon that only appears for members, and other times it's being able to take advantage of a deal in the first place. Regardless, having a Prime membership means getting the best available prices.
Free expedited shipping
On top of just being able to save on everything under the sun, you'll also be able to get just about anything Amazon sells delivered at no extra cost. Two-day delivery is what Amazon is known for, but some shoppers will also be able to enjoy same-day shipping in select areas. It's not just items shipped by Amazon either. The retailer has partnered with Whole Foods and Grubhub to extend its no-cost shipping to other delivery services that hook you up with food and groceries. So, regardless of whether you're just restocking essentials, grabbing dinner or shopping for a last-minute gift, nearly everything you buy shows up at your front door in no time.
Amazon also has some additional options, like public delivery lockers for picking up your packages from grocery stores and more. All the different delivery options give you a little extra flexibility when shopping Prime Day 2025 deals.
Grocery benefits
Speaking of grocery stores, Amazon Prime members also get some added savings on groceries — and not just ones you order online. Both Whole Foods and the online Amazon Fresh storefront have exclusive Prime member deals, like 10% off hundreds of groceries and offers on recurring essentials.
Fuel savings
A more recent addition to Amazon's membership benefits, Prime subscribers can save on trips to the pump by refueling their cars. Over 7,000 participating gas stations, including BP, Amoco and ampm, are offering 10¢ off per gallon when linking your Amazon account to the Earnify app. Through the end of the month, refueling on Fridays will earn you 20¢ in savings per gallon.
Enjoy movies, TV shows and games
Amazon Prime members get access to a wealth of digital media too. Movies and TV shows that are part of Prime Video are easy highlights to talk about first, but there's also digital content from Twitch, ebooks, audiobooks and tons of other ways to enjoy your favorite media.
And even more
Amazon Prime memberships come with tons of other perks. The retailer carries more than just home goods, tech and toys, and it allows you to save on prescriptions at 60,000 pharmacies, including Walgreens, CVS and Amazon's own in-house pharmacy. There's also cloud storage for photos — even at their original, full resolutions.
Most likely, yes. Historically, Amazon has locked all its Prime Day deals behind its membership. There may be some offers that are open to everyone, but the vast majority of savings will require an Amazon Prime membership.
A Prime membership comes in handy throughout the whole year, but it's particularly essential for Prime Day. My recommendation would be to try to sign up for the free trial as a starter, then evaluate if the perks are worth it following those first 30 days. If you've already redeemed the trial for your account, the $15 monthly cost is likely going to pay for itself if you plan on shopping during Prime Day. Regardless, it's a good idea to time the subscription so that it's live during the event.
The deals editors at CNN Underscored look out for your wallet on the daily, scouring sales at the top of every morning. We tap a range of techniques and consider a variety of factors to determine whether a deal is worthy of coverage, such as price history checks, available coupon codes and competitor pricing. Our savvy-shopping assistant extends beyond just recommending deals; we also break down everything you need to know about saving money with the services you already use.
Senior deals editor Rikka Altland has been covering deals for nearly a decade. More importantly, she has been on the front lines for every Prime Day since Amazon first introduced the summer sale. So, she knows how to take full advantage of her Prime membership from years of firsthand experience and shopping at the retailer.