Amazon Prime Canada Review: Is It Worth It?

Amazon Prime Canada offers Canadian Amazon shoppers a wide suite of services and features that make the shopping experience better. Many Canadians are aware that being an Amazon Prime member gets them access to fast, free shipping on all of their Amazon purchases, but there's a lot more to Amazon Prime in Canada than just that.

In fact, you can save $400/year or more with Amazon Prime in Canada. This post explains how to do exactly that by capitalizing on the various benefits Amazon Prime has to offer.

9 Benefits Of Amazon Prime In Canada

Amazon Prime offers many benefits in Canada, so let's take a closer look at each of them.

#1 Faster Shipping

Getting your products shipped to you on the very same day that you ordered them is a pretty exceptional perk. At most, Amazon Prime Canada will take two days to deliver your packages to you.

You'll have access to same-day shipping and two-day shipping with Amazon Prime in Canada. Keep in mind that this faster shipping is only an Amazon Prime feature and doesn't come with regular shipping if you're not subscribed.

Keep in mind that highly remote areas of Canada are not eligible for free shipping.

#2 No Minimum For Free Shipping

This is one of the biggest wins of Amazon Prime.

Usually, you'd have to have a minimum of $25-$35 worth of orders to have free delivery for your products.

However, with Amazon Prime, you'll have free shipping no matter what. Even if your product costs $2, you'll have it delivered to your doorstep for free.

It really makes a difference in the way ordering from Amazon works.

#3 Student Pricing

Students get 50% off after a 6-month free trial.

That brings you from paying $79 a year to a clean $39.5! It's a huge deal.

You're saving a ton of money here, and if you're a student, Amazon Prime just might be worth it for you. Students don't typically have time to go shopping for groceries and the like.

It's a lot simpler to order what you need. And what better than to get your order the very same day (or a day later)?

Oh, and get this. If you register for a course in a recognized institution, you're now a student. So … it's pretty neat that you can take advantage of that.

#4 Unlimited Photo Storage

This can be a huge boon to some, but not all people. Personally, my phone's storage is always enough for me.

However, there are plenty of people out there who take hundreds of photos a day, and their phones run out of space fast. You could either pay for cloud storage or go with Amazon Prime.

With Amazon Prime, you'll have literally unlimited storage! You can take all the selfies, groupies, panorama shots, and whatnot, and you'll never face any problems. You can also sort your pictures through Amazon's interface. It's a solid offer right there.

Even if you cancel your Prime subscription, your photos will be available for 3 months before Amazon starts to delete them.

#5 Amazon Prime Music

Gain access to a nearly limitless stream of songs to choose from when you opt-in for Amazon Prime.

It's a great replacement for Spotify, which has a $9.99 price per month. If you think about it this way, you're basically saving around $120 a year just by avoiding Spotify costs if you love your music.

#6 Early Access To Lightning Deals

Amazon Prime has a huge sale once a year. People line up for them (not literally) and it's quite something to have the first bite of this apple.

You'll be able to order whatever you want 30 minutes before everyone else can. That means you'll never be hit with the ‘this product has run out' message when you click to order something.

This early access will help you land the best deals and perhaps your shopping for a few weeks.

#7 Twitch Prime Subscriptions

Twitch is a streaming website where individuals or brands can stream themselves live. Others view them for entertainment.

The main audience of this website is people who want to watch their favourite streamers play video games, but there are other niches as well (you'll even find people programming and entertaining their viewers at the same time).

This website has what's called subscriptions. You basically pay a streamer you like, and in return, you get mini-rewards. These include the ability to chat in “subscribers chat” and will also get you access to exclusive emotes.

It's not for everyone, of course. However, if you're a frequent visitor of Twitch, then you'll be able to use your Amazon Prime to subscribe to a streamer of your choice once a month.

It'll help out your favourite streamer and enhance your streaming experience as well! You won't have to watch any advertisements while you're subscribed.

The subscription you'll get is valued at approximately $5 a month.

Pro tip: By using apps that pay you to play games, you can easily make enough to pay for an Amazon Prime subscription.

#8 Kindle Prime Reading

Amazon Prime members in Canada will be able to read from a wide variety of ebooks available on the Kindle store. This is all free of cost, of course.

Once you become an Amazon Prime member, you can read these books (as well as comics) on a Kindle device or your phone as well. Just download the free Kindle app and start reading!

There are thousands of titles to choose from. As these books would normally cost you a lot, getting Amazon Prime would be a great bargain.

#9 Movies And TV Shows For Streaming

Shows like Leave No Trace are highly sought after on Amazon Prime Video in Canada.

There are thousands of movies and shows to choose from, though some people still feel there isn't enough content on this platform for it to be a sole source of entertainment.

A lot of people feel like it's enough as well. You'll just have to see for yourself. I recommend signing up for a free trial of Amazon Prime Canada to find out whether this streaming service works for you.

How Does Amazon Prime Canada Compare To The USA?

Like their American counterparts, Canadian Prime customers have access to Prime Video and Prime Music. The breadth of that content, though, is significantly less north of the border. Canadians also receive access to cloud storage with Amazon Photos, Amazon Prime Reading, and access to Lightning Deals 30 minutes before non-subscribers, which can lead to some big discounts.

Amazon Prime in the US offers 2-hour delivery on many items, while the best that Amazon Prime Canada offers is same-day delivery.

Can I Use Household To Share My Amazon Prime Membership?

Amazon Prime customers in the US have a Household tab where you can create profiles for every member of their family, including kids. Household hasn't made its way to Canada yet, though, so you're out of luck there.

The only way to share your Amazon Prime membership in Canada is to give the other person your login details. It's not the most elegant or secure solution, but it's the only way to do it right now.

Who Is Amazon Prime In Canada Made For?

#1 People Who Just Can't Wait

If you can't wait a week for your products to reach you, get Amazon Prime. You may be one of the many people living in the small towns of Canada, where not everything is available in local shops.

You could either plan everything ahead or get faster delivery. Most people would choose the faster delivery if they can help it. It really comes down to your lifestyle.

Are you frustrated by long waiting periods? Do you usually need Amazon orders to arrive quickly? This service might be just for you.

#2 Gamers

You'll get your games faster than non-Prime users, and that can make a gamer's life worth living. I'm not sure why it works that way, but it's true.

Besides that, preorders will save you money as well, so it's completely worth it to spend the extra $79 on this. You'll end up saving over 10% on costs.

Being a gamer, you probably frequent Twitch as well, which would save you another $5 a month. That alone covers $60 of the $79 you're paying for Prime.

#3 People Who Don't (Or Can't) Go Out

Suppose you just had a baby. Or you live on the 21st floor of some building.

Suppose both of these are true. It'd be a nightmare to do your shopping by yourself. These days, an increasing amount of people simply don't want to leave their cozy houses, and I fully understand.

Some people simply don't have the vehicle to move around and buy what they need. Especially for parents with young children, items like formula and diapers are always in demand. It feels great to have them delivered quickly while they can spend time with what matters most.

Amazon Prime in Canada is a great option for you.

#4 Amazon Prime Video Lovers

If you love Amazon Prime, the costs pretty much balance out. It's cheaper than a Netflix subscription. Much cheaper.

I really have to say, it doesn't offer nearly as much as Netflix does. However, if you're content with it, then it alone is reason enough for you to get Amazon Prime in Canada.

And we have our fingers crossed that Amazon Prime Video will keep improving swiftly as the years go by. That should make it worthwhile for even the most frugal customers.

Pro tip: Read our post on passive income in Canada to learn how you can easily make more than enough to pay for an Amazon Prime subscription.

#5 Amazon Shopaholics

If you're already spending all your money on Amazon shopping, you might as well get Prime. With the lightning deals, you'll start saving up money.

It's worth noting that you might not usually find deals that are great for you. In fact, you could find yourself spending more just to justify your Prime subscription.

With that being said, if you can afford the extra $79 a year, you're going to appreciate all the features that come with Amazon Prime. The faster delivery alone will put a smile on your face.

Here's How You Can Save $400 A Year With Amazon Prime

We won't cover all the nitty-gritty details, but a short overview should be able to show you the value you get when you apply for Amazon Prime.

Service	Average Value Per Month	Value Per Year
Prime Reading	Average one book per month. The average cost per book being $5.	$60
Amazon Prime Video	A Netflix subscription costs $13.99 a month.	$168
Prime Music	A Spotify subscription costs $9.99 a month.	$120
Twitch Prime	A subscription to a Twitch channel per month costs $5.	$60
Amazon Photos	OneDrive costs $6.99 a month for a terabyte of storage.	$84

So, adding these numbers together, you're getting a value of around $492 over the year. Of course, it's a rough estimate, though it gives a decent understanding of what Amazon Prime can offer you.

If you take out the $79 this service costs per year, you're left with a value of approximately $400.

How Much Is Amazon Prime Canada?

$7.99 CAD/month or $79 CAD/year (plus taxes). If you buy an annual membership, that works out to just $6.58 CAD/month. Amazon Prime in Canada also comes with a 1-month free trial so you can test it out before becoming a member. If you're in Quebec, you get a 2-month trial for $7.99 rather than a 1-month free trial.

How Much Is Amazon Prime Canada For Students?

Students pay just $3.99/month or $39/year, which is half of what non-students pay. Students also get a generous 6-month free trial to try out Amazon Prime before purchasing. If you're a student in Quebec, you get a 7-month trial for $3.99 rather than a 6-month free trial.

What's Good On Amazon Prime Canada Right Now?

There are plenty of great things to watch on Amazon Prime Canada these days. Here are just a few:

Boy (2012)	Safe House (2012)	Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)
An Education (2009)	Dante’s Peak (1997)	John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum (2019)
Things to Come (2016)	Hancock (2008)	Official Secrets (2019)
Seven Psychopaths (2012)	South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut (1999)	Adventureland (2009)
A Serious Man (2009)	Ran (1985)	The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
A Better Life (2011)	The Blackout (1997)	Serenity (2005)
Animal Kingdom (2010)	Rush (2013)	Rust and Bone (2012)
Frances Ha (2013)	Interstellar (2014)	Wendy and Lucy (2008)
Swiss Army Man (2016)	Without Remorse (2021)	Joe (2013)
Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)	Stowaway (2021)	The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Lion (2016)	Snowpiercer (2013)	Foxcatcher (2014)
Up in the Air (2009)	Birdman (2014)	99 Homes (2015)
It Follows (2014)	Arrival (2017)	Finding Vivian Maier (2014)
The Shipping News (2001)	Reservoir Dogs (1992)	Fences (2016)
Esteros (2016)	She Dies Tomorrow (2020)	The Painter and the Thief (2020)
Rabbit Hole (2010)	The Souvenir (2019)	The Guard (2011)
Wild Rose (2019)	Coming 2 America (2021)	Snowpiercer (2014)
Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)	The Beach Bum (2019)	A Ghost Story (2017)
Triangle (2009)	I Care A Lot (2021)	Palm Springs (2020)
Eye in the Sky (2015)	The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)	The Man from Earth (2007)
The Boy From Medellin (2021)	Palm Springs (2020)	Winter’s Bone (2010)
Horizon Line (2021)	Little Women (2019)	Begin Again (2013)

Is Amazon Prime Canada Worth It?

Yes, we believe Amazon Prime Canada is worth the cost. It packages a lot of valuable services together to make your life easier, and given that most Canadians are able to afford the annual fee, we believe Amazon Prime offers great value.

Of course, Amazon Prime isn't perfect. It has been improving, though, and while it lacks some of the key features of Amazon Prime in the United States, Prime in Canada is cheaper to make up for the deficit. You can save $400/year or more by signing up to Amazon Prime Canada here.

SPECIAL OFFER: For a limited time, Canadians can also get a $15 signup bonus from TopCashback, a cashback portal that pays you every time you shop. You can earn up to 8% off Amazon purchases, up to 30% off fashion, up to 40% off cosmetics, and up to 50% off travel on top of your $15 signup bonus.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.