Amazon Prime costs half price for people 60 and older

Amazon offers a Prime membership discount for seniors aged 60 and up. The standard Prime membership costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month. With the senior discount, you pay $69 per year or $7.49 per month — half the regular price. You get the same benefits as any Prime member: free two-day shipping, access to Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Reading.

The discount is available only through Amazon's website or by phone. You cannot sign up through the Prime app. You will need to verify your age during signup, and Amazon may ask for a government ID or other proof. The process takes about 10 minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon Prime for seniors costs $69 per year or $7.49 per month, which is exactly half the regular price.
  • You must be 60 years old or older and have a valid Amazon account to sign up for the discount.
  • Sign up on Amazon's website at amazon.com/primesenior or by calling Amazon customer service at 1-888-280-4331.
  • You will need to provide proof of age, such as a government-issued ID, during the signup process.
  • The senior discount includes all the same Prime benefits as a regular membership, including free shipping and streaming services.

How to sign up for the senior discount on Amazon's website

Go to amazon.com/primesenior in your web browser. Click the button that says "Start Your 30-Day Free Trial" or "Join Prime." You will be asked to sign in with your Amazon account. If you do not have one, you can create it on the same page with your email address and a password.

After you sign in, Amazon will ask you to confirm your age. You will need to enter your date of birth. Amazon may then ask you to upload a photo of a government-issued ID — a driver's license, passport, or state ID card. Take a clear photo of the front of your ID and upload it through the website. Amazon reviews the ID and usually confirms your age within a few minutes, though it can take up to 24 hours.

Once your age is verified, you will see a summary of the membership cost and benefits. Review the terms and click to confirm. Your membership begins when ready, and you will see a confirmation email. If you chose the free trial first, you will not be charged until the trial ends.

How to sign up by phone

Call Amazon customer service at 1-888-280-4331. Tell the representative you want to sign up for Prime for seniors. Have your date of birth ready. The representative will verify your age over the phone and set up your membership. This usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.

You will be asked for a payment method — a credit card, debit card, or bank account. The representative will confirm the monthly or annual cost and your billing date. You will receive a confirmation email after the call ends.

What you get with the senior discount

The senior discount membership includes all standard Prime benefits. Free two-day shipping applies to millions of items sold by Amazon and shipped by Amazon. Some items ship the same day or next day depending on your location and the item. You also get free shipping on may be able to access items from Amazon Fresh, Amazon's grocery delivery service, though Fresh itself requires a separate subscription.

Prime Video gives you access to thousands of movies and TV shows to watch on demand. Prime Music lets you stream over 2 million songs ad-free. Prime Reading includes access to a rotating selection of books, magazines, and newspapers. You also get Prime Photos, which offers unlimited photo storage, and Prime Gaming, which includes free games and in-game content each month.

The senior discount does not include any services that cost extra, such as Prime Video Channels (HBO, Paramount+, etc.) or Amazon Music Unlimited. Those are add-ons you can purchase separately if you want them.

What happens after your free trial ends

If you started with a 30-day free trial, Amazon will charge your payment method on the 31st day. The charge will be either $7.49 (if you chose monthly billing) or $69 (if you chose annual billing). You will receive an email reminder a few days before the charge goes through.

Your membership will renew automatically on the same date each month or year. You can cancel anytime by going to your Amazon account settings, selecting "Memberships and Subscriptions," and clicking "Cancel Membership." If you cancel during a free trial, you will not be charged at all.

Proof of age and what documents work

Amazon accepts government-issued photo ID to verify your age. This includes a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or passport card. The ID must show your date of birth and be current or recently expired (Amazon's policy on how recently expired varies). A photo of the front of the ID is usually enough, though Amazon may ask for the back as well.

If you do not have a government ID or prefer not to upload a photo, you can call customer service instead. The representative can verify your age verbally and set up your account without requiring a photo. The phone number is 1-888-280-4331.

Troubleshooting common problems

If your age verification is rejected, the most common reason is that the photo is blurry, cut off, or does not show your full date of birth clearly. Try uploading a new photo in better lighting. Make sure the entire date of birth is visible on the ID. If the problem continues, call customer service at 1-888-280-4331 and they can verify you by phone instead.

If you are having trouble signing in to your Amazon account, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page to reset it. If you do not remember the email address you used to create your account, call customer service and they can help you locate it. If you are already a Prime member at the regular price and want to switch to the senior discount, call customer service — they can convert your membership without losing any benefits or refunding your current payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to do a free trial or can I pay right away?

You can choose either option when you sign up on amazon.com/primesenior. The website will show you both choices. If you call instead, the representative will ask which you prefer. There is no requirement to do a trial — you can start paid membership when ready if you want to.

Can I share my Prime membership with family members?

Yes. Amazon allows you to add up to one other adult and up to four children to your Prime membership through "Amazon Household." The other adult will have their own account but will share your Prime benefits. Go to your account settings and select "Households and Family Library" to set this up. The other adult does not need to be 60 or older.

What if I turn 60 after I already have a regular Prime membership?

Call Amazon customer service at 1-888-280-4331 and ask them to convert your membership to the senior discount. They can do this when ready and will adjust your billing to the lower rate. You will not lose any of your current benefits or settings.

Can I use the senior discount if I have a Prime Student membership?

No. Prime Student is a separate membership for college students and is not available to seniors. If you have Prime Student, you would need to cancel it and sign up for the senior discount instead. Prime Student costs less than regular Prime but more than the senior discount, so the senior discount is the better deal if you are 60 or older.

Is the senior discount available in all states?

Yes. The senior discount is available nationwide. You do not need to live in a specific state or region. However, some Prime benefits like same-day or next-day shipping depend on your location and which items you are ordering.