Amazon Crackdown on Shared Prime Accounts Begins this Week

Amazon has announced that it is phasing out its Prime Invitee Program starting Wednesday, Oct. 1. The program has been in place for 16 years and allowed members to share free shipping benefits with others. Instead, Amazon is now emphasizing the Amazon Family program as a new way to share Prime benefits, making it exclusive to those residing in the same household. However, Amazon Family offers a range of benefits beyond just shipping perks, including fast, free delivery, exclusive deals on Prime Day, movies, series, and live sports access on Prime Video, as well as Amazon Music and other entertainment options.

For those affected by the discontinuation of the Prime Invitee Program, Amazon is offering a limited-time deal to transition to Amazon Family. Users can avail 12 months of Prime for $14.99 until Dec. 31. To continue sharing Prime shipping perks with others under the new Amazon Family sharing model, members must be enrolled in Prime themselves and set up a household account, linked through Amazon Family. This allows sharing benefits with one additional adult, up to four teens (before April 7, 2025), and up to four children. Family members can be added and removed as needed, but there is a 12-month waiting period to join a new Amazon Family after leaving one.

For those who wish to continue enjoying shared Prime benefits, they need to be part of Amazon Family and follow the established account-sharing guidelines. Only members with linked accounts and a shared primary residential address are eligible to partake in Prime benefits sharing. Additional steps may be necessary for payment methods and billing addresses, including a Buy Now U.S. billing address for Prime Video sharing. Overall, Amazon’s move signals a shift toward more exclusive sharing of its Prime perks through the Amazon Family program.