Amazon Prime raising annual subscription to $139

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The cost of an annual Amazon Prime subscription is to rise $20, to $139, while the monthly fee rises $2 to $14.99.

Following Netflix’s price rise in January 2022, Amazon Prime is to roll out the new charge from February 18, 2022. It’s the first time Amazon has raised the price of Prime since 2018.

The news came in the documentation supporting Amazon Prime’s latest financial earnings report.

“With the continued expansion of Prime member benefits as well as the rise in wages and transportation costs,” it said, “Amazon will increase the price of a Prime membership in the U.S., with the monthly fee going from $12.99 to $14.99, and the annual membership from $119 to $139.”

Where Netflix is a streaming service – with a small gaming side – Amazon Prime offers members a wide range of benefits, as the company emphasized.

“In the last few years, Amazon has added more product selection available with fast, free, unlimited Prime shipping; more exclusive deals and discounts;” it says, “and more high-quality digital entertainment, including TV, movies, music, and books.”

Amazon says that since 2018, it has “tripled the number of Amazon Originals,” or new shows and films on Amazon Prime Video.

“Since 2018 in the US, availability of Free Same-Day Delivery has expanded from 48 metropolitan areas to more than 90, items available for Prime free shipping have increased over 50%,” it continues,” and members have saved billions of dollars shopping Prime Day.”

The raised rate will apply to all new Amazon Prime customers from February 18, 2022. For existing subscribers, there is no change until March 25, 2022, and from then their subscription will rise following their next renewal date.