Netflix vs Amazon Prime: price, plans, and which to keep
Current US prices, price history, trial terms, and cancellation friction side by side, built from our service guides. Last reviewed August 26, 2026.
The short answer
If you already pay for Prime, Prime Video is a sunk cost and the only question is whether Netflix earns its extra $8.99 to $26.99 a month. If you do not, Prime Video standalone is $8.99, the same as Netflix with ads, and going ad-free costs $2.99 more, so $11.91 versus $19.99 for Netflix Standard. Amazon has held its $14.99 monthly and $139 annual Prime prices since 2022, though it added ads to Video in January 2024. Netflix has raised prices four times in the same period.
Netflix is cheaper by $31.12 a year on its entry plan.
At a glance
| Netflix | Amazon Prime | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest standard plan | Standard with Ads: $8.99/mo | Annual: $139/yr |
| Cheapest plan per year | $107.88 | $139 |
| Most expensive plan | Premium: $26.99/mo | Monthly: $14.99/mo |
| Price changes since 2023 | 3 | 1 |
| Latest price change | March 2026 | January 2024 |
| Free trial | Netflix no longer offers free trials in the US. | 30-day free trial for new members; students get 6 months. |
| Cancellation | 5 steps · app-store or partner billing caveat | 4 steps |
Cheapest and most expensive plans exclude add-ons, student, bundle, and per-seat plans. Price changes are counted from January 2023. US list prices, last reviewed August 26, 2026.
Which one should you pick?
Choose Netflix if…
Pick Netflix if streaming is the main thing you want and you value a deep, constantly refreshed catalogue of originals. It is the more expensive habit, and it does not refund or prorate.
Choose Amazon Prime if…
Pick Amazon Prime if you use the shipping, want the cheapest ad-free video option at $11.91, or like a safety net: Amazon usually refunds an unused renewal if you cancel right after being charged.
Every current plan
Netflix plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Standard with Ads | $8.99/mo |
| Standard | $19.99/mo |
| Premium | $26.99/mo |
| Extra Member (ad-free)Now costs more than a whole Standard-with-Ads account. | $9.99/mo |
Amazon Prime plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14.99/mo |
| Annual | $139/yr |
| Prime Video ad-free add-onPrime Video shows ads unless you pay this extra. | $2.99/mo |
US list prices; taxes, promotions, and app-store billing may differ. Last reviewed August 26, 2026.
Price history, both services
March 2026 · Netflix
Second hike in under two years: Standard with Ads $7.99 → $8.99, Standard $17.99 → $19.99, Premium $24.99 → $26.99.
January 2025 · Netflix
US prices rose to $7.99 (ads), $17.99 (Standard) and $24.99 (Premium).
January 2024 · Amazon Prime
Ads arrived on Prime Video; ad-free now costs $2.99/month extra.
July 2023 · Netflix
The ad-free Basic plan was retired for new members.
November 2022 · Netflix
Ad-supported tier launched at $6.99/month.
February 2022 · Amazon Prime
Annual price rose $119 → $139; monthly $12.99 → $14.99.
How to run both without paying for both
Pay Prime annually, $139 instead of $179.88 on monthly billing, and treat Netflix as the rotating add-on. A month of Netflix Standard every quarter costs about $80 a year, less than half of a full-year subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Netflix or Amazon Prime?
Netflix. Its cheapest standard plan works out to $8.99 a month ($107.88 a year) versus $11.58 a month ($139 a year) for Amazon Prime, a difference of $31.12 a year. Bundles, promotions, and app-store billing can change the final price.
Is Prime Video cheaper than Netflix?
Standalone Prime Video is $8.99 a month with ads, the same as Netflix Standard with Ads. Ad-free, Prime Video costs $11.91 ($8.99 plus the $2.99 add-on) versus $19.99 for Netflix Standard. If you have full Prime, Video is included in the $14.99 monthly or $139 annual fee.
Can I get a refund from Netflix or Amazon after cancelling?
Netflix does not refund or prorate; you keep access until the end of the billing period. Amazon is unusually flexible: end Prime shortly after a renewal you have not used and the charge is often refunded.
Full guides
Netflix price & cancellation guide
The biggest streaming service, and one of the most frequent price raisers, with two US hikes in under two years.
View guideAmazon Prime price & cancellation guide
Amazon Prime remains $14.99 per month or $139 per year, and removing Prime Video ads costs another $2.99 per month.
View guideMore comparisons
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