Sharing Prime is about to change
For years, Amazon Prime members could share free shipping perks with friends and family, even if they didn’t live under the same roof. That was thanks to the Prime Invitee Program, which allowed members to extend shipping benefits to anyone, anywhere.
But starting October 1, that perk is ending. From then on, only people who live together at the same primary address will be able to share Prime benefits. Amazon confirmed the change on September 3 and explained that the Invitee Program will be replaced with Amazon Family.
What is Amazon Family?
Amazon Family is Amazon’s new sharing model. Instead of opening the door to anyone, it limits benefit-sharing to people in the same household. With this setup, Prime members can share perks with:
- One other adult (a spouse, partner, or roommate)
- Up to four teens (added before April 7, 2025)
- Up to four children
The catch? Everyone must live at the same residential address and share payment methods for verification.
What happens if you lose access?
If you were using Prime through the Invitee Program, you’ll lose access to free shipping on October 1. Amazon suggests two options:
- Get added to someone’s Amazon Family if you live in the same household.
- Sign up for your own Prime membership.
To soften the blow, Amazon is offering a special deal to affected users — 12 months of Prime for $14.99, available until December 31, 2025. After that, standard pricing applies: $14.99 per month or $139 annually.
What benefits come with Amazon Family?
Amazon Family doesn’t just cover free shipping. Members can also enjoy:
- Access to exclusive deals and shopping events (like Prime Day)
- Prime Video (with ads), including shows, movies, and sports
- Prime Reading and select digital content like eBooks and audiobooks
- Amazon Music Prime with ad-free shuffle mode
- Grubhub+ free membership
- Fuel discounts at thousands of gas stations
In other words, it’s a package that stretches beyond deliveries.
Why is Amazon making this move?
Retail experts believe Amazon is tightening these rules to cut costs and boost sign-ups. The Invitee Program acted like a referral tool when it launched in 2009, but it may not have brought in the new subscriptions Amazon hoped for.
According to Lauren Beitelspacher, a marketing professor at Babson College, the program “was likely costing Amazon money.” By removing the loophole that let friends share Prime across households, Amazon could push more people to pay for their own memberships.
The timing isn’t random either. Amazon recently reported slower-than-expected new customer growth around Prime Day, and this shift might help bring those numbers up.
The risk of losing customers
While Amazon hopes people will sign up, experts warn there’s a small risk of users leaving for competitors. Retailers like Walmart and Target have also invested heavily in fast delivery services, which could tempt shoppers used to Prime’s two-day shipping.
Still, Beitelspacher says most customers see fast delivery as “almost synonymous with Amazon”, making it tough to break the habit.
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Key Points
- Prime Invitee Program ends October 1 – No more sharing perks with people outside your household.
- Amazon Family replaces Invitee – Benefits can only be shared with one adult and children/teens at the same address.
- Special deal offered – Former invitees can get 12 months of Prime for just $14.99 until December 31, 2025.
- Full benefits remain strong – Free shipping, Prime Video, music, books, Grubhub+, and more.
- Reason for the change – Amazon wants to save money and encourage more direct subscriptions.
