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How to get a free Amazon Prime membership and shop exclusive deals in October

Grab a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime and access all the perks of a full membership

Steve Hogarty

Tech writer

Tuesday 30 September 2025 03:55 EDT

As well as free shipping, you’ll get music, TV shows and movie streaming with a Prime membership (The Independent)

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Amazon’s annual Prime Big Deal Days sale is back from Tuesday 7 October. Ending at 11.59pm on Wednesday 8 October, the two-day event offers the perfect time to bag a bargain ahead of Christmas. There are set to be discounts on a huge range of bestselling brands, including Apple, Ninja and Dyson, plus Amazon’s own Kindle, Fire and Echo Dot devices.

To take advantage of the best deals on everything from skincare to heated airers, you do have to be an Amazon Prime member. However, we have some good news for those who aren’t sure about forking out £8.99 per month for membership: you can start a free 30-day trial to access the deals, so long as you haven’t already had a trial.

So what is Amazon Prime? Is it really worth the monthly fee? From free one-day delivery to a giant library of on-demand music, TV shows, and movies, here’s everything you need to know about Amazon’s premium subscription service.

What is Amazon Prime?

Amazon Prime is a paid subscription service that unlocks a range of perks, whether you’re shopping on Amazon or using its streaming services. Prime started by offering free delivery and one-day shipping, but it has since expanded to include a much wider range of benefits, making it an appealing option for frequent Amazon shoppers.

Start your Amazon Prime trial now

How much does Amazon Prime cost?

You can pay for Amazon Prime monthly or annually. The monthly plan costs £8.99 per month, and you have the flexibility to cancel whenever you want to. The annual plan is cheaper at £95 per year, working out as £7.92 per month, but you have to commit to being a member for 12 months.

If you’re a student or between 18 and 22 years old, an annual membership is half the price: £47.49, which works out as £3.96 per month. Alternatively, you can pay a monthly membership fee of £4.49.

Is there a free Amazon Prime trial?

Amazon offers a 30-day free trial of Prime to new customers, which automatically renews at £8.99 per month once the trial ends. Students and 18 to 22-year-olds can get an even longer six-month trial. This is the best way to test-drive all the benefits of Prime before committing to a paid subscription.

You'll have full access to all of the usual Prime benefits during the trial period, including those Prime-exclusive offers in the two-day Prime Big Deal Days sale. You can cancel at any time during your trial, to avoid being charged the monthly fee when your trial expires.

What are the benefits of Amazon Prime?

Since starting out as a way to get free deliveries, Amazon Prime has grown to include much more. Amazon offers its own video, music, and gaming services, so your Prime membership could include all the entertainment services you might need.

Free one-day delivery: The main draw for most members, this perk gives you unlimited free delivery on millions of eligible items. If you shop regularly at Amazon, this benefit alone can be worth the £8.99 per month subscription fee.
Free same-day delivery: Depending on where you live in the UK, you can get same-day delivery on orders of more than £20. For orders less than £20, you’ll pay a £1.99 delivery fee with a Prime membership. If available, same-day delivery typically costs £5.99 without a membership.
Prime Video: Amazon’s streaming service hosts thousands of movies and TV shows for free, including originals such as Clarkson’s Farm and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Amazon Music: The Spotify-style streaming service gives you access to more than 100 million songs, albums and podcasts.
Prime Reading: Your Prime subscription gives you access to thousands of free books and magazines on your Kindle device.
Prime Gaming: Access to dozens of free games, including classics such as Tomb Raider I-III.
Deliveroo Plus Silver: Amazon Prime includes Deliveroo Plus Silver, which gives you free delivery from select restaurants on orders of more than £15.
Odeon cinema tickets: Once a month, Prime members can get two Odeon tickets for £10. These tickets can be used from Monday to Thursday.
Access to Prime deals: Prime members get early access to short-lived lightning deals, plus exclusive discounts in the biannual Prime Day sales.

Is Amazon Prime worth it?

If you’re a regular shopper at Amazon, the free shipping alone could end up saving you money over time. The entertainment options included, such as Prime Video and Amazon Music, or cheap cinema tickets sweetens the deal, too, offering value for money compared with subscribing to these services separately.

Luckily, you don’t have to guess whether or not Amazon Prime is worth paying for. Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime and you can see for yourself if the service is right for you.